WVU dental students selected for regional leadership team
Keerthana Arjuna and Hannah Stapleton, Doctor of Dental Surgery students at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, have been selected to serve on the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) District 7 Leadership Team.
The ASDA District 7 Leadership Team consists of dental students from seven schools, which include West Virginia University, Case Western University, Indiana University, University of Michigan, University of Detroit Mercy, Ohio State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University.
As president of WVU’s ASDA chapter, Stapleton is a member of the District 7 Presidents Circle. In her role, Stapleton will collaborate with presidents from other ASDA chapters within District 7 to discuss upcoming events and key challenges in the field of dentistry. Along with participating in the Presidents Circle, the third-year dental student will represent WVU at the ASDA Annual Session in Minneapolis.
“This year, I’m especially excited to attend the [ASDA] Annual Session, where I will represent WVU as the first delegate,” Stapleton said. “In this role, I will help vote on important resolutions and contribute to the election of national ASDA leadership, playing an active part in shaping the future direction of the organization.”
As secretary of the District 7 Leadership Team, Arjuna's responsibilities include coordinating district meetings, overseeing internal communications and helping plan district events. The fourth-year dental student is especially excited to help plan the joint District 6 and District 7 conference in Nashville.
“As I became more involved and grew within the WVU ASDA chapter, I realized how valuable the relationships, mentorship and experiences were. I knew I wanted to continue building on that momentum and stay engaged at a broader level,” she said. “Serving as the District 7 secretary has allowed me to stay connected with students from other dental schools, collaborate on a larger scale, and contribute to ASDA’s mission beyond just my local chapter.”
In addition to Arjuna and Stapleton serving in District 7 leadership roles, fourth-year student Jaclyn Montag represents WVU on the national ASDA Council on Advocacy.
About the American Student Dental Association
The American Student Dental Association is a national student-run organization that protects and advances the rights, interests and welfare of dental students. Membership benefits include access to valuable resources across a variety of needs, including career support, licensure, health and wellness, scholarships and finances, and more.
At WVU, all Doctor of Dental Surgery students are members of the school’s ASDA chapter.
Photo at top: Members of ASDA District 7 joined together in Washington, D.C., for the 8th annual American Dental Association Dentist and Student Lobby Day. (submitted photo)
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