SIU SDM Celebrates Incoming Dentistry Class With White Coat Ceremony

SIU SDM Celebrates Incoming Dentistry Class With White Coat Ceremony

SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee Gives Keynote Address

On Friday, Oct. 3, Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) recognized 50 first-year students (Class of 2029) and seven international advanced placement program students (IAPP, Class of 2027) during the traditional White Coat Ceremony. Hundreds of family members, friends, classmates and colleagues filled the Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom to celebrate the students as they pledged their professional oath with faculty and an SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame inductee sharing the stage.

The event opened with the evening's emcee SIU SDM Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Christina Hopp, DMD, and Denise Cobb, PhD, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who gave the opening remarks.

"I want to commend you for overcoming long odds, distinguishing yourself among your peers, and embracing the opportunity and taking advantage of this moment. You are not here by accident, so take advantage of the opportunity for an excellent dental education," said Cobb, who noted members of this class were selected from more than 800 applicants and IAPP students from more than 350 applicants for the international program.

Hopp also recognized Sue Bishop, DMD, who represented the sponsorship of the Central Illinois Academy of General Dentistry, the Illinois section of the American College of Dentistry, the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) Foundation and the International College of Dentists Eighth District.

When Terry Barnfield, DMD, ('86), came to the podium, as a member of the Alumni Association, past president of the Alumni Council, and 2021 SIUE Alumni Hall of Fame inductee, he shared how a life beyond dentistry could take many twists and turns.

"In 1982 I was a first-year student here at SIU School of Dental Medicine. There was no white coat ceremony back then," said Barnfield. "I'll let you in on a secret. If there had been, my class would have voted me to be the least likely to ever be giving an address like this in any ceremony."

Barnfield graduated from SIUE with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in 1982, and Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1986. He is now a general dentist in Salem, Ill. and currently serves on the ISDS Foundation Board. He recently became the Treasurer for Dent-IL-Pac, the ISDS political action committee.

Barnfield is a recent cancer survivor and on the day of the ceremony, he received "an excellent long-term prognosis."

"So let me tell you. There is nothing glamorous about prostate cancer," said Barnfield, a self-proclaimed ambassador for prostate cancer awareness. During the keynote he urged men to go get their annual Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, and their loved ones to make sure that appointment is made.

He also advised the students that even if no one can see them, do good things. "Certainly, we can all agree it's important to be successful. However, there is something more important than success. We should strive to be significant. Being significant will allow us to truly impact others."

Faculty members Jennifer Rapini, DDS, Lauren Hood-Olson, DMD, ('06), and Brian Back, MS, DMD, ('08), issued white coats to student practitioners. Dean Saulius Drukteinis, DMD, MS, PhD, recited with the class the Professional Oath based on the Hippocratic Oath, the Prayer of Maimonides, and the 1947 Declaration of Geneva.

First, Drukteinis reminded the class that in the current bombardment of free-flowing information, opinions, debate and commercials, students must adhere to their ethical responsibility.

"The unknown experiment is how this will shape our minds and even ethical decision making moving forward, particularly when there is a concrete financial incentive to captivate audiences with a shock value of extreme thoughts, actions, luxuries and glamorous lifestyles," said Drukteinis. "I don't know the answer or what will come of the experiment, but I just want to urge our future healthcare professionals to stay grounded and hold true to deep, ethical values, because the world is counting on you, and your patients are absolutely counting on you."

Nick Yuhas, president of the SIU SDM Student Council had the final address.

"The small habits-how we show up to class, how we treat our peers, how we approach even the most routine assignments-become the foundation of how we show up for our patients and for this profession. Excellence isn't built in the big, dramatic moments. It's built in the small, consistent choices you make every single day."

Just as Barnfield mentioned earlier in the ceremony, Yuhas also told fellow students to embrace life's special moments in order to manage stress and maintain their mental health. Lean on their support network and each other.

"Today you put on the white coat for your first time. Someday soon, you will figuratively hang it up at the end of the long day after caring for your very first patients," Yuhas concluded. "Between those two moments lies the real work-work that will challenge you, shape you, force you to grow and mature and ultimately transform you into the kind of doctor your patients deserve. Believe in yourself and that you are capable."

PHOTOS: SIU SDM Class of 2029 and IAPP Class of 2027 and faculty; Keynote speaker Terry Barnfield, DMD, ('82, '86); Nick Yuhas, president of the SIU SDM Student Council; Audience in Morris University Center's Meridian Ballroom