22/23 FAFSA Reminder

I wanted to remind you to please fill out your 22/23 FAFSA if you have not already. It will soon be time to start awarding this summer, and there are some deadlines to meet.

DDS: If you would like to be eligible for the HPL, please get your FAFSA done before April 15th, and put your parent information on the FAFSA.

DH: The deadline for MTG/MCS has been extended again this year to May 1st, so please complete your FAFSA before that so you could be eligible.

Grads and Accelerated Students: You do not have a deadline, but please complete the FAFSA ASAP so you don’t have to worry about rushing later.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Enjoy the upcoming weekend!

Angela

Dental Night with the Detroit Mercy Theatre Company

The Addams Family Musical:  A 90-minute dramatic concert version
Book: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Directed by Greg Grobis
At The Marlene Boll Theatre, 1401 Broadway Street, Detroit (located inside the Boll Family YMCA)

A comical feast with a wicked twist, The Addams Family Musical takes center stage for a family inspired musical event! Wednesday Addams asks Gomez to keep a secret from Morticia. Wednesday is in love with a young man from a respectable Ohio family who are coming for a visit. What will happen when these two families meet for a fateful dinner party? Hilarity unfolds in this magical musical comedy that is sure to “pull you” in a new direction! Join Uncle Fester, Lurch, Pugsley and more for a heartwarming story of family, friendship and love.

Full information, including ticket prices, COVID requirements, parking information, available at udmercy.edu/life/theatre.  Reservations can be made at DetroitMercyArts.com or by calling 313-993-3273.

Join us Friday, April 1 for DETROIT MERCY DENTAL & LAW SCHOOL NIGHT! 

Dental and Law Students receive $15 tickets to the theatre and a $5 parking voucher for the Z Lot, located at the corner of Broadway and Grand River in downtown Detroit.  Students can also receive 20% off their total bill at the Detroit Beer Company by showing their program.

Class of 2022 Delta Dental Foundation Community Commitment Award

Class of 2022,Delta Dental Foundation sponsors an exciting opportunity called the Delta Dental Foundation Community Commitment Award for one of our Detroit Mercy Dental graduates each year. The award goes to one graduating dental student per year who commits to working in a designated high-needs area for at least one year after graduation. The amount will be $25,000 paid in two installments: $12,500 upon graduation; and $12,500 upon completion of your first year of work. 

The criteria are as follows:

  1. Awarded annually to a graduating dental student at Detroit Mercy Dental
  2. Student has demonstrated commitment to community service by committing to practice in an underserved community:
    1. Located in the state of the school in which he/she attended
    2. Minimum 1-year commitment immediately following graduation
    3. Underserved community must have received federal designation as a Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) due to lack of dental care professionals in that community. A list of those communities can be found at: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-339-71551_2945_47514-176079–,00.html
    4. Should demonstrate educational debt
    5. Should demonstrate strong academic record, service and commitment to underserved populations

The application deadline is Friday, March 18 at 9:00am. Applications should include an updated CV, a 1-2 page personal statement, and verification of commitment to an HPSA (signed contract). Please send all completed applications via email to me at harrisdm@udmercy.edu.

If you would like to apply but are waiting on a final contract, please email me to let me know. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Danielle Harris

Bridges Not Fences & “Undocu-Student Week” Events! Register Now!

We have two panel discussion events in partnership with Bridges Not Fences. One virtually on Tuesday March 1st and one in person on Thursday March 3rd, which will include a mix of Detroit Mercy students, faculty and community members discussing the intersectionality of immigration, race, policy and social identities. Attached to this email is a booklet containing the bios for each of the panelists.


On Wednesday March 2nd, Titan Dreamers will be tabling outside the McNichols library, weather permitting, as an opportunity to meet and greet with folks on campus and promote our events. We have a student advocacy training on Thursday and on Friday evening we are hosting Stations of the Cross, at Gesu Parish, where we will be praying with the way of Christ through the migrant experience. 


If you would like to attend any of our events, we invite you to register below:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=2MKkyGi9ukC4tnUivppxcYGstr3HWPdGvmKjKy2Q2apUNUdNMzNOVk0yOTFHV1REMk8zSVVIRE1TSC4u

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know. 

Peace and Blessings, Erin

Erin McDonald, CSJ, MAPS

Personal Pronouns: She/her/hers

University Minister for Service and Social Justice
University of Detroit Mercy – Shiple Hall 4001 West McNichols Rd.  Detroit, MI 48221

313-993-1560  www.udmercy.edu/ministry

National Lobby Day

ASDA is excited to announce that we will be going to ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day 2022! This will be a 3-day event from March 20-22 in Washington, D.C.. This is an opportunity for us to meet with members of congress to advocate for ourselves, our patients, and the future of our profession. Lobby day is also a great opportunity to network with other dental students and dentists across the nation. 

Although we would love everyone to take part in this event, spots are limited. To apply for a spot at National Lobby Day, please see the attached application and return to sayedil@udmercy.edu no later than this Wednesday March 2nd at 11:59 pm. 

For more information about the National Lobby day agenda, visit https://www.asdanet.org/index/programs-events/national-meetings/Lobby-Day/agenda

Hope to see you at Capitol Hill! 

Ila Sayed 

ASDA Legislative Liaison 

Malta Clinic DOCS event

The next Malta clinic DOCS event will be on Saturday, March 5th from 8:45am-1:00pm.

The link to the Google Form is below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgtnEeHq9lRCz57BS47qCbQfB23ekrytfYyfNUDMWoQUWD9g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please make sure that you read through the following below before signing up:

  • We are changing from using Google Sheets to Google Forms. We will pick the first students who sign-up for each of the spots, and then the next students will be alternates. Students will be notified by Monday if they are selected for their position. Please note that only those selected to fill the position or be an alternate will be contacted via email.
  • The Google Form will be sent out on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. It will be sent out on the following days for the following clinic dates: 
    • Sunday, April 3rd for clinic on Saturday, April 9th
    • Sunday, April 10th for clinic on Saturday, April 23rd
  • Volunteers will only be able to be the DS3/DS4 Student Dentist and DS1/DS2 Assistant once per semester. Other positions (Sterilization, Supplies & Materials, and Runner) can still be chosen, even if a student has already been operator or assistant.

As a reminder:

  • We will be contacting the volunteers 48 hours before each DOCS event to confirm that they are able to come and that they have paid their dues ($10 Venmo @thaijavincent).
  • Any cancellations made after the 48-hour confirmation are not acceptable and will hinder participation in future DOCS events.

Please feel free to email Kellie at hurstkm@udmercy.edu if you have any questions!

Thank you,

Ila Sayed & Kellie Hurst 

Administrative Announcement from Dean Aksu

School of Dentistry Community, 

This email is to formally inform you that Dr. Michelle Wheater, has stepped down as Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Administration effective January 10, 2022.  I would like to thank Dr. Wheater for dedication and service over the last two years. She was an integral part of the team navigating the School of Dentistry through the pandemic.   

Dr. Wheater will be returning to her faculty position in the Division of Integrated Biomedical Sciences. She will also continue to serve as the Director of Research and Scholarly Achievement as well as the Biomedical Sciences curriculum consultant for the Optometry program. 

Prof. Kathi Shepherd will serve as the Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Administration effective February 07, 2022. She will also continue to hold current position as Assistant Dean of Educational Development and Assessment.  

The School of Dentistry is conducting a search for an Assistant/Associate Dean for Academic Administration. This position has overall responsibility for the direction and oversight of the predoctoral, dental hygiene, and postdoctoral programs and in implementation of new programs, academic policies, and the curriculum in cooperation with the faculty. The successful candidate will also be responsible for monitoring student progress, coordinating activities of student evaluation and performance, and oversight of the curriculum and educational mission of the school while assuring compliance with applicable accreditation standards.