06 July 2023

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U of Michigan: 109 new DDS students bring lofty credentials, compelling stories

By University of Michigan School of Dentistry News

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The DDS Class of 2027 arrived at the School of Dentistry with 109 students bringing lofty academic credentials and compelling personal stories from across Michigan and around the country.

According to a June 27 university news story, the dental students were greeted at orientation with a series of introductory meetings, equipment check-outs and the start of classes.

During the first-day presentations, Interim Dean Jan Hu welcomed the class with a short history lesson about the University of Michigan and its dental school, founded in 1875. Hu said that the new students will help the school celebrate its sesquicentennial in two years, halfway through their four-year course of study toward their Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees.

Hu said the foundational expectations and goals that accompany the students’ time at one of the leading dental schools in the world. The school’s mission is “Advancing health through education, service, research and discovery.” The school’s core values are compassion, leadership, excellence, responsibility, trust, creativity and inclusion. The ultimate goal at the end of each student’s four years in the DDS program is to ensure that each graduate is “a highly skilled competent clinician, with a deep understanding of the scientific foundation of dentistry, and the compassion to serve those in need.”

Dr. Renée Duff, associate dean of Students, praised the collective academic success of the class and compared the students’ goal of becoming dentists and completing dental school to navigating a difficult mountain climb. There will be difficult parts and easy parts, with collaboration and teamwork required to meet the challenging requirements and ultimate goal. The good news, she said, is that the dental school is full of people experienced in the process and ready to step forward and assist, much like the Sherpas who help mountain-climbers in the Himalayas.

“You are surrounded by amazing Sherpas in your faculty and support staff,” she said. “We’ve been on this climb a few times. We are excited to help you navigate the path so don’t ever hesitate to reach out. We’re all here to help, especially Student Services where we aim to support your success with services from financial aid to wellness to academic support.”

Two fourth-year students, Tristan Clark and Tommy Lau, used their experiences so far to provide a discussion of advice and tips to make the academic and clinical requirements proceed smoothly over the next four years. Except, they noted, dental school is never a perfectly smooth drive; there will be bumps in the road and setbacks. The ability to be organized, ask for help, develop mentors and friends, and keep moving forward are crucial skills when students run into difficult times, they said.

Clark said the syllabus and weekly schedules are intimidating because they are packed with courses, many requirements, and seemingly few breaks. “It will all get done, some way, somehow,” Clark said. “It’s going to be a big, long list. You’ll think: ‘There is so much – I don’t know how I’m going to be able to do it all.’ I promise you will. Just lean on each other and make sure you help one another. Be open and frank and friendly, and you’ll be able to do it. It’s so much better if you can work with one another, rather than trying to do it all yourself.”

The demographics of the Class of 2027 include:

• The 109 class members were admitted from 1,656 applicants.
• Continuing a trend at dental schools in recent years, significantly more entering students are women (65) than men (44) in what has been historically a male-dominated profession prior to the passage of federal Title IX legislation in the 1970s.
• 60 class members are from Michigan and 49 are from out-of-state.
• In-state universities represented in the students’ undergraduate preparation are the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, Dearborn, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University, Hope College, Calvin College, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, Alma College, Aquinas College, Eastern Michigan University, Ferris State University, Northern Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University.
• Students in the class also graduated from colleges and universities in these states from coast to coast: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. One student graduated from a university in Canada.
• 14 percent of the class are first-generation college students.
• The undergraduate Grade Point Average of the class is 3.81.
• Five of the class members have a master’s degree in addition to their bachelor’s degree.

Read more about the individual students highlighted in the university news story online.