MedAbroad Info

How much money is required to study in US?

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:03:00 +0000

Money is always a concern for many of us dreaming to study in US. I have been asked this qs so decided to help everyone by posting the article for how much money you need to come to US.

For studying dentistry in the US you need to give Toefl and Nbde and of course interviews if you are called for one.
For studying other programs you would need Not Nbde but GRE along with the same TOEFL
Regarding expenses, apart from fees of the specific course you would need money for ( this applies for Masters program and pretty much also for DDS)
1) applying for GRE and Toefl exams (see online the application fees)
2 applying for application process, every school has different fees for application (see the school you want to apply to for the application fees)
3 courier charges to send those applications
4 Fees to apply and sending the individual scores like GRE and Toefl from ETS to different schools
5 visa fees (you would have to SHOW money in your account equivalent to almost 2 year fees apart from your living expenses so that you can get the visa)
6 ticket fare to come to US
7 living expenses wherever you reach that includes your food , rent and miscellaneous expenses like going to mall and some shopping etc
8) if you are invited for interviews in dental school then expenses to go for the interviews, food, lodging etc unless you have a friend with whom you can stay. I did it that way. When you are a student i love to save some money ..
That should include almost everything.
When you come to US keep 3-4000 $ for your OWN expenses If you are asking how much you might need when you come in here apart from getting your fees
To compensate for the expenses you can work ON- campus and earn at least your grocery and regular expenses. Check for such option before applying to a school. Generally you are paid $7 to $ 15 per hour on an average and you cannot work for more than 20 hours in a week if at all.
Also, the various fees are standard fees like application fees., GRE fees, just see them online and add them and you would get the basic nice count how much you may need!!

That's the bare minimum am talking about. More is always welcome!! If you like what I write then please leave a comment
I hope that helps!!
MedA

Reminder #2:Oral Health Care Practitioner Course: Admission Deadline Approaching

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Sun, 01 May 2011 15:44:00 +0000

This is a reminder for the approaching Deadline for admission to course Oral Health Care Practitioner Course/Advanced Dental Therapist Course at Metropolitan State University, Minnesota for Dental Hygienists. Don't know what are we talking about, click here for more info.

Read More

MedA

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APHA invites abstracts:Reminder

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:54:00 +0000

This article reminds you of an article to send your abstracts to APHA if you have not sent it yet. You don't know what we are talking about? Please do read this article to send the abstracts NOW. The deadline is coming soon.

READ MORE HERE

Abstract Theme: Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies.

DEADLINE: JUNE,1 2011

Limitation: 250 words or less

DENTAL JOBS: New Section

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:43:00 +0000

I am very pleased to announce another amazing section at MedAbroad as we progress and lay the foundation of our own Dental World. You may have guessed it.
It is the NEW Dental JOB Section.

The Job section actually strives to get you some amazing jobs in the Dental World. These jobs are very competitive to get into, but they are from one of the experts in the field of Dentistry and Recruitment.

Please subscribe to our RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to get your JOBs information.You can even subscribe to us in emails on the right!!

You never know you may get your DREAM job right here!!

Please click JOBS on the top and find what you have always been looking for!!

MedAbroad

P.S:

For other Dental Recruiters who wants to post more jobs at our website for FREE,
please send me an email at info@MedAbroad.info

GENERAL DENTIST - FULL TIME HANOVER, PA: JOB

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:42:00 +0000

Job Title:     General Dentist - Hanover, PA
Job ID:     RV-pa-mhe-3034
Location:     Lancaster, PA
Industry:     Healthcare / Practitioner / Technician
Job Type:     Full Time

APPLY ONLINE

Description:

GENERAL DENTIST - FULL TIME HANOVER, PA
pa-mhe-3034

Highly successful $1M PPO driven practice is searching for an Associate. Buy-in opportunity for the right candidate. This General Dentist office is looking for a strong-skilled motivated team player who enjoys Endo and Restorative Dentistry. This practice has 7 operatories equipped, and 3 more plumbed. Large active patient base.

Located 30 minutes from Gettysburg, 1 Hour from Harrisburg, 1 hour from Lancaster, 1 hour from Baltimore
APPLY ONLINE

REQUIREMENTS:

D.D.S. OR D.M.D. or ability obtain proper licensure to practice in PA

CONTACT:

MARSHA HATFIELD-ELWELL
ETS DENTAL
(540) 491-9116
melwell@etsdental.com
www.etsdental.com

Contact: Marsha Hatfield-Elwell ETS
2840 Hershberger Road Suite B
Roanoke, VA
Tel: (540) 491-9116
Fax: (540) 563-1687
melwell@etsdental.com
Date Posted: 4/3/2011 8:40:06 PM

APPLY ONLINE

Reminder:Oral Health Care Practitioner Course: Admission Deadline Approaching

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Read More

MedA

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Reminder: Deadline for Medicine in the Media:

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:20:00 +0000

This article is a reminder for the approaching deadline for Medicine in the Media, The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research. The deadline is 28 February so

Apply NOW HERE!

Don't know what we are talking about? Read More Here

WHAT? Medicine in the Media:

The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research

WHEN? July 13-16, 2011

WHERE? Hanover, New Hampshire

Breaking news: Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (STARS): New therapy for Lung cancer

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:48:00 +0000

Lung Cancer is usually treated by surgery and radiation depending on the type and staging of the lung cancer. Stage ONE lung cancer is usually treated by Surgery. Even though there are many advancements in surgery alone but still there are many contraindications for not doing surgery either due to prevalent medical conditions or for some other reasons.
For such patients, MD Anderson has launched a new technique called STARS, called as Stereo tactic Radiation Therapy for such stage ONE Lung Cancer cases.
This technique is actually not new as it is presently being applied for Brain Tumors.
In the technique a very high dose radiation therapy is given to the patient for 3-4 days instead of 5-6 weeks as in previous Radiation Therapy techniques. It does have a high potential to treat patients with Lung cancer.
See the Video below for more informatioin
As defined by cancer.gov,

Stereotactic radiation therapy (STAYR-ee-oh-TAK-tik RAY-dee-AY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)

A type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely deliver radiation to a tumor. The total dose of radiation is divided into several smaller doses given over several days. Stereotactic radiation therapy is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer, such as lung cancer. Also called stereotactic external-beam radiation therapy and stereotaxic radiation therapy.

MedA
Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Cleft Lip and Palate Cleft 2011 International Conference; San Francisco

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:06:00 +0000

Cleft Lip and Palate Cleft 2011 International Conference

The Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF) invite dental and medical professionals to

What? Cleft 2011 International Cleft Lip and Palate Conference

Where? San Francisco, Calif., June 9-12, 2011.

How to Register? Conference registration is now available online at www.cleft2011icpf.org/.

The advance registration deadline is February 28.

Regular registration will close on June 5.

Registration fees and deadlines are as follows:

Advanced registration: $150.00 (Feb. 28)

Regular registration: $200.00 (June 5)

Drop-in registration during the workshop: $240.00

About the Conference: For more Details click here

This scientific workshop will highlight topics related to cleft lip and palate including technological and surgical-orthodontic advances, prevention and caring for children with clefts. Activities of cleft lip and palate professional and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will also be featured. The conference will include lectures from experts, discussions and workshops with a goal to set grounds for development of an effective approach to cleft lip and palate prevention. Sessions will be held at University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, the host sponsor of the event.
Attendees from around the globe will come from a variety of dental and medical specialties. Expected attendees will include plastic surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, pediatric surgeons, orthodontists, pediatric dentists, pediatricians, geneticists, genetic counselors, speech-language pathologists, anesthesiologists, nurses and other members of the craniofacial team. In addition, members of NGOs focused on cleft lip and craniofacial anomalies, and other professionals involved in the care of children with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies are invited. Conference attendees will be given the opportunity to share experiences, ask questions and discuss treatment of cleft lip and palate with colleagues.

For more Details click here

MedA

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Oral Health Care Practitoner: Advanced Dental Therapists

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Did you hear about this new course called Oral Health Care Practitioner at Metropolitan State University, Minnesota?
Now what is the big deal about this course:
First of all this is a course for Dental Hygienists and it is kind of an advanced level course in which you can do a lot of Basic Dental Services apart from cleaning . You will be able to remove decay and restore teeth for children and adults, as well as extract primary teeth, while under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
MN has always been at the forefront of everything in Dental, so here are basic details about the course and how to apply. Remember, the deadline is in September for early Spring semester admission. (Subscribe to us in emails , see it on the right and we will inform you about the deadline in advance. This way you will get other important dental news and of course the reminder )

The course details is as follows:

Applicants must be licensed dental hygienists in Minnesota,
It is a seven semester course.
Applicants need to have a 3.0 cumulative GPA based on all college level work.
This is not an online program as students apply the theories and skills of dental therapy in laboratory and clinical settings.
Three pre-requisite course or proof of completion of course objectives must be completed prior to program application.
Since this is an advanced level course, I am presuming that you will be paid more for the services you will render.
Unfortunately, you will be able to practice in MN only as other Dental State Laws do not allow you to do so.

Get more details at the link HERE before sending the emails to the concerned people below

TIP: Sending an email and showing your interest always helps.

Contact

Lynda Zimmerman, MS
Academic Advisor
lynda.zimmerman@metrostate.edu
651-793-1378

Christine Milbrath, EdD, RN
Graduate Program Director
christine.milbrath@metrostate.edu
651-793-1403

Did you subscribe MedAbroad yet?

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

MedA

Elite HIV controllers

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 05:30:00 +0000

This is an awesome interview of someone who is literally UNTOUCHED by HIV virus, Bob Hoff.
These people are HIV positive for decades and are called as HIV Elite group. Their CD4 counts (a type of cell that signifies if a person is HIV positive and has reached the level of AIDS) DO NOT fall as it falls in other HIV positive patients in all these years.

Could they be OUR future saviors in preventing and hence curing HIV/AIDS?

See the video HERE

Medicine in the Media: The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:11:00 +0000

WHAT? Medicine in the Media:

The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research

WHEN? July 13-16, 2011

WHERE? Hanover, New Hampshire

Deadline TO apply: February 28, 2011(please subscribe to our emails/or twitter/or/facebook or/linkedin to remind you to apply before the deadline.. MedA will take responsibility to remind you, just subscribe to us according to your preference and we will notify you!!)

APPLY NOW!!

About the Course
The National Institutes of Health, along with partners at Dartmouth College and the Department of Veterans Affairs, is pleased to present a free annual training opportunity to help develop journalists' ability to critically evaluate and report on medical research.

Why should you join? To prepare participants for the crucial task of evaluating research findings including statistics, selecting stories that hold meaningful messages for the public, and placing them in the appropriate context.

Is it for you?

It is for journalists and editors whose primary target audience is the general public.
Applicants may produce news stories about health or healthcare for newspapers, magazines, or newsletters; television or radio; or on-line media.
Participants should be eager to develop skills and knowledge necessary for good medical science reporting, but need not have specific experience or background in medical journalism.

It is FREE (even meals and lodging provided) : There is no cost for the course, and meals and lodging are provided. Participants are responsible for their own travel to Hanover, New Hampshire.

Contact: E-mail: MedMedia@od.nih.gov
Telephone: 301-496-4999
More details can be had from Med Media Course Here, a part of NIH!!

MedA

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

IDS International Dental Show - Trade Show

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:11:00 +0000

WHAT? : IDS International Dental Show - Trade Show
IDS in Cologne is the world’s leading trade show and sector meeting place for decision-makers from dental practices, dental labs, the specialist dental trade, the dental industry and from research and development. More than 106,000 visitors gather information on new products and innovations from over 1,800 exhibitors from 56 countries.

WHEN?: March 22-26, 2011

WHERE?: Cologne Exhibition Centre

KoelnMesse GmbH

Messeplatz 1

Cologne, , 50679 Germany

CONTACT: ids@koelnmesse.de

WEBSITE: www.ids-cologne.de

You can BUY YOUR TICKETS FOR IDS HERE

You can even download the apps for Blackberry, iPhone, Java etc HERE

For any visitor related information, visitors can send an email directly at: ids@visitor.koelnmesse.de

MedA
Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Landmark study: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) important new tool for HIV prevention ?

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:25:00 +0000

The recent research in HIV has shown that a combination of two antiretrovirals (ARVs) called as Truvada could significantly reduce the likelihood of HIV infection among gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). Gay men and MSM seems to be the major population with highest risk of HIV infection. The result showed that overall the efficacy is 43.8% among study participants.

Salient points from the Research

Two anti-retrovirals included a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine called as Truvada
Efficacy of the combination drug depended upon who took the drugs consistently.
But prevention is better than cure, even with this combination drug i.e: It does not negate the positive effects of regular prevention like counseling and condoms. As amfAR CEO Kevin Robert Frost suggested “These results suggest that PrEP could be a very important prevention tool for gay men and MSM when used in combination with other prevention interventions including condoms.”
The results of the initial landmark study requires some more studies to topics like adherence, safety, and the potential to impact HIV incidence,” Collins, amfAR’s vice president and director of public policy said.
This trial was for gay men and MSMs, so a new or similar study is required for other potential High-Risk patients like injection drug users (IDUs), female sex workers, or heterosexual women and men.
Ofcourse, there are potential risks in taking PrEP, including side effects and possible drug resistance. Further safety analysis will be conducted over the coming year.

So what was Pre-exposure Prohylaxis Intitative or iPrEx Study?

The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Initiative, or iPrEx study, was a clinical trial aimed at determining whether two ARVs currently used to treat HIV/AIDS could also help prevent HIV infection among MSM at elevated risk of HIV infection. Two thousand four hundred and ninety-nine participants in six countries were instructed to take either one tablet of Truvada (a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine) or a placebo, once a day. The trial began in 2007. Read in detail about the study at The New England Journal Of Medicine

amfAR Vice President and Director of Public Policy Chris Collins was interviewed about the iPrEx study results on PBS NewsHour on November 25, 2010, with NIAID Director Anthony Fauci.

Disclaimer: The information in the article is for reference purposes only. These are studies and we take full care to explain the importance of the relevant researches and NEVER intend to change the course of treatment you or any of your friends and/or relatives are undergoing. The idea is to present the latest research in the Medical and Dental World. Be influenced and Inspired accordingly. The author does not hold any responsibility for misinterpretation of the articles.

APHA invites abstracts:

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:10:00 +0000

Are you involved as a student in Public Health? Are you working towards a research in Public Health? APHA,The American Public Health Association, is inviting ABSTRACTS of your research. There are many topics among which you can apply to ranging from Aging to Women's Rights through Student Assembly.
The Deadline is kind of far BUT www.MedAbroad.info is keeping you up-to-date in advance because MedA knows that these things do take time. If you Subscribe to us in Emails or RSS Feeds, or follow us on Facebook/Twitter, MedA would send you an update to remind you of the deadline again. Feel Free to subscribe MedA and stay informed. More detail can be read below.

Abstract Theme: Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies.

DEADLINE: JUNE,1 2011

Limitation: 250 words or less

The American Public Health Association is now accepting contributed abstracts for the 139th APHA Annual Meeting (October 29 - November 2, 2011), Washington, DC. The theme of the meeting is:

Healthy Communities Promote Healthy Minds & Bodies.

Abstracts must be limited to 250 words or less (some programs allow larger abstracts; the abstract size is usually mentioned on their Call for Papers). Please develop your abstract off-line before accessing the online submission form. Use the spell checking and word count features of your word processor to check the text of the abstract before submitting it. Two-page summaries (if required) must be less than 2000 words.

Learning objectives must be described (Learning Objectives WILL NOT be included in the abstract text word count).

Each contributed paper must be categorized under one of the topics or areas of interest described in the call for papers. Deadlines for submitting abstracts are listed below. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts on current and emerging public health issues.

Abstracts can be submitted to any Section, SPIG, Caucus or Forum. However, you may NOT submit the same abstract to more than one Section, SPIG, Caucus or Forum.

IMPORTANT! You do not need to be an APHA member to submit an abstract. However, if your abstract is accepted for presentation, the presenting author MUST become an APHA Individual member and you MUST register for the Annual Meeting by the August pre-registration deadline. Submission of an abstract implies a commitment to make the presentation at the annual meeting, therefore please make sure you understand what is required of you before submitting.

Please note: Withdrawing an abstract after acceptance may prevent you from submitting an abstract to future APHA Annual Meetings.

All authors will be notified via email of abstract status on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Please make sure your email address is correct and up-to-date.

If you know for sure that you want to submit an abstract to a particular Section, SPIG, Caucus or Forum please click on the appropriate link below to see its call for abstracts. If you are unsure where your presentation would best fit in the program,

For more details of the topics being offered, please visit APHA website at this link

MedA

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

What is Evidence Based Dentistry, EBD? An interview

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Let me all introduce you to one of the champions of EBD, Evidence Based Dentistry, Hope Saltmarsh. She is one of the very few people who have been trained in EBD and is working in EBD arena since its inception.
This interview in TWO part series will talk in depth about basics of EBD through her real experiences
I would let her say more than me speaking about her.
Let me introduce you to Hope Saltmarsh.

Hello Ms. Hope!!

Hello people, My name is Hope Saltmarsh.

MedA: Tell us a little about yourself Ms Hope.

Ms. Hope Salthmarsh

A few years after graduating from college with a degree in biology, when my children had started school, I attended a local community college to earn an associates degree in dental hygiene. I worked for many years in private practice before accepting a full-time position developing, delivering and later directing a school-based dental program. The program is now the largest in NH serving 21 elementary schools with a staff of 4 and with over 20 area dentists volunteering their time to screen or treat students.

MedA: So, how did you end up being a champion in EBD?

Since 2003, I have been educating medical providers in NH about integrating oral health into primary practice especially for children 0-3 yrs. old. At the outset, using Pubmed I did a literature search on early childhood caries. I gave the studies I’d gathered to the physician I was working with and he graded the evidence. He informed me that the evidence was not of a very high quality. That was the beginning of a journey that has led me to becoming an evidence reviewer for the ADA and an EBD champion.

MedA: I have always heard about “High Quality Evidence” in EBD.What do you mean by “High Quality Evidence?”

I had been quite enthused about the information that I found and it was disappointing for me to have some of the studies I was most interested in dismissed because of their low level of evidence. What a novel idea – some evidence is much better than other evidence and there is a way to judge the level!!
I learned that there are different levels of evidence based on their design. (To illustrate) Picture a pyramid with systematic reviews at the top and expert opinion and animal or in vitro research at the bottom. In between are various types of individual studies of varying strength. The evidence on the upper parts of the pyramid are stronger than the evidence at the bottom. For any given clinical question, you will find evidence that falls somewhere within the pyramid. You can sort through it to find the highest quality evidence by using the pyramid. That is the first step. You need to understand how to appraise the evidence to further distinguish quality, because not all systematic reviews are equally well-done, for instance.

MedA: How did you meet Dr. Richard Neiderman, EBD Director, (He is a busy man to get to ;))

ADA's EBD course participants at Forsyth Oct. 2009 with Hope in third Row

A few years ago, I attended a continuing education course on Evidence-based Dentistry presented by Dr. Richard Neiderman, Director of Forsyth Institute Center for Evidence-based Dentistry. I was interested in the content of the course, but certainly not excited. It really isn’t a very exciting topic until you have a specific application for the evidence you seek. During the presentation, Dr. Neiderman made a reference to a school-based program he was involved with. That caught my attention so I went up to talk to him after the program to learn more about it. I was immediately very interested because using the same equipment in the same kind of setting that I had been working for years, I learned that the ForsythKids program was delivering much more to children than our program did.

MedA: (I believe that’s what is EBD about.. getting things done in the most effective way)

MedA: Tell us a little more about your EBD based work at the school.

The school-program I direct has now adopted many of those evidence based practices for which has been a significant benefit to the children we serve and to the dentists who work with us along with our funders. We visit each school twice a year, our volunteer dentists assess each child, and eligible children are able to receive a cleaning, sealants and/or temporary fillings applied with ART (Atraumatic Restorative Techniques) using glass ionomer cement, and fluoride varnish. This takes us no longer than it used to take us to provide a cleaning, sealants and fluoride varnish just once a year. Using an evidence-based approach to deliver our program as opposed to just looking at what everyone else is doing and adopting those practices has significantly increased the value we give to our patients. This is so important because our patients are at high risk for decay and they have poor access to treatment.

MedA: How did you get involved with EBD? Who all did take part in EBD?

Last year, when I read an announcement of the ADA’s week-long Evidence-based Dentistry (EBD) course offered at Forsyth Institute, I quickly applied. I am so glad that I was accepted to join about 30 others with such diverse backgrounds. Most were from the US, but there were several from South America, a dentist from Russia and another from Egypt. Many were academics there to learn more about EBD to take that back to their schools to train faculty and students.

MedA: What kind of people actually joined at Forsyth’s Institute?

I also met someone from an insurance company, research, a journal editor and a reporter, as well as several from private practice in various specialties. Our primary instructors were Derek Richards, the Director of the Centre for Evidence-based Dentistry at Oxford University (UK), editor of the Evidence-based Dentistry Journal and Richard Neiderman.

MedA: Tell us a little more about program at EBD program at Forsyth Institute.

The course was part lecture and part smaller discussion groups. We were required to do reading prior to the course and every evening we had to read and appraise studies for discussion the next day. The discussions were so interesting because of the depth of experience and variety of backgrounds represented. It was a challenging, exhausting and exhilarating week. It was a wonderful experience and I would strongly recommend it to others.

MedA: Do you think there is any compelling reason to learn EBD ?

If a clinician wishes to provide the best treatment for patients, it will be necessary to know how to keep up with the enormous flow of new information and to have the knowledge needed to pick out the best, most applicable pieces of evidence to use in treating individual patients. The technology at our fingertips makes it possible to do this fairly easily and quickly IF the clinician is well-versed in EBD. Dentistry is based on science and science changes. Clinicians need to be able to keep up.
Another practical reason is that when making purchases, we need to be able to ask sales people the right questions and to search out the information that will enable us to spend wisely.

MedA: Where else one can learn more about EBD?

One of the things I learned about was the ADA’s new EBD website: http://ebd.ada.org
This resource, open to everyone, is funded by a grant from National Library of Medicine and the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research. It is a terrific resource for anyone wanting to find more information about EBD with links to a great many quality resources to extend knowledge. The website also has a large collection of systematic reviews on a broad variety of topics. There are also links to many EBD resources. One takes you to Virginia Commonwealth University’s EBD Resources website where your readers can find lots of information to get them started: http://guides.library.vcu.edu/ebd

MedA: Let me add one of my own: http://us.evidentista.org/index.aspx
And http://nature.com/ebd/index.html

Read the second Part
of the interview here

MedA

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

What is Evidence Based Dentistry, EBD? Interview Continued..

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:15:00 +0000

This interview is the continuation of the TWO part series about Evidence based Dentistry, EBD. Please see the second and the last part about EBD below. (It gets a little more technical here, but very important)

Hello Ms Hope, lets continue about Evidence Based Dentistry.
MedA: We were talking about SR and CS and I feel our readers are not aware of that. So could you elaborate more on this SR and CS thingi?

Hope: There are different kinds of study designs that provide different strengths of evidence. For example, an expert panel might convene to offer advice about a clinical question. This evidence would not be as strong a design as a randomized controlled trial (RCT). And systematic reviews (SR) provide the highest level of evidence because their authors search for all the evidence they can about a particular clinical question and then analyze all of the relevant studies together, often with a meta-analysis, to give the best overall assessment of the current state of the evidence on that topic. That is why only systematic reviews are collected at the ADA EBD website – they put the highest level of evidence at user’s fingertips.

The systematic reviews are arranged by topic and subtopics. Clicking on any SR takes you to its abstract in PubMed. There is often a link there to the full article, which may or may not be freely accessible in full. Because there are so many different professional journals and most dentists do not have subscriptions to many, a wonderful feature of the EBD website is the posting of critical summaries for a growing number of SRs. If you find a critical summary right beside the SR listing, you can read that 600-800 word document and you will get a summary of the results of the review, the authors’ conclusions and a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the way the review was conducted and of the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence itself. The critical summary (CS) ends with a description of the clinical implications.

In March 2010, I attended an ADA training to learn to write critical summaries (CS) of systematic reviews (SR) posted at the ADA’s EBD website: http://ebd.ada.com The critical summaries are intended to help clinicians more quickly access the evidence from the systematic reviews collected at the site. A CS is written in a concise, easy to understand manner. This is a very structured, time-consuming, and demanding process. I can assure you that before a CS appears at the web-site, it has been scrutinized by several experts who look at every word. So far, two of the CS’s I authored have been posted to the website.

MedA: can any one write the CSs? How can I be a part of these CSs? Could you please elaborate this !!
Hope: Anyone who is interested in writing critical summaries for the ADA can apply at the EBD website. It is a volunteer activity and to be eligible you need to have a “dental degree.” I was eligible as a dental hygienist and I am sure it helped that I had attended the EBD course at Forsyth. Accepted applicants will attend a 2-day training. Per the ADA: “Learn how to put evidence-based information to practical use and contribute your knowledge to the dental profession! Here is a unique opportunity... for educational and professional development under EBD experts, continuing education credit, for publication acknowledgement, and to help colleagues use current evidence in decision-making.” My obligation, after the training, is to write at least 10 critical summaries over the course of 2 years. So far, I have finished two and a third is almost through the process.

MedA: How did you end up with your first CSs?
Hope: I was very excited when the first one was posted – but I really know very few people who could share my excitement. The first one, I co-authored with Ahmed El-Kadem, a dentist and faculty member at Cairo University. We both attended the EBD course last year and then a training to be ADA evidence reviewers. We collaborated online to write our first CS. One of the great benefits of being a reviewer is being assigned an expert mentor. He worked closely with us to prepare a CS that we could submit to a Critical Review Panel for the next step in the process. Additionally, each issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association now contains one CS.

You can find our critical summary at the ADA’s EBD website: http://ebd.ada.org . Clink on the lower left picture for Systematic Reviews. Ours is under Endodontics, subheading: Outcomes. You will see a list with 3 columns: Systematic Reviews, Critical Summary, Plain Language Summary. Currently, ours is the second SR in this section that has a critical summary. Soon it will also have a plain language summary that will be easily accessible to the public. The title of the Systematic Review we wrote about is:
Single versus multiple visits for endodontic treatment of permanent teeth: a Cochrane systematic review
Figini L, Lodi G, Gorni F, Gagliani M. Journal of Endodontics. 2008;34(9):1041-7

If you click on that title, you will be taken to the CONCHRANE review. You will notice that to the right of the SR title is “Critical Summary”. Click on that and you will be able to read our critical summary.

MedA What do you think is the future of EBD with respect to students, new dentists and practicing dentists?

Attendees of the March 2010 ADA Evidence Reviewer Workshop at NYU.

Hope: Dental schools will all soon be making EBD an essential part of dental education so that future dentists will be life-long learners who can find and appraise evidence and keep up with our constantly evolving understanding of dental science. An accreditation standard that will be in effect by July 2013, states “Graduates [of dental schools] must be competent to access, critically appraise, apply, and communicate scientific and lay literature as it relates to providing evidence-based patient care.” Another accreditation standard for US dental schools will be, “Patient care must be evidenced-based, integrating the best research evidence and patient values.”

So dental students in the future, and in some dental schools for students right now, the future will absolutely involve a strong understanding of EBD. For those who have already graduated and for many graduating soon, the decision to practice with an evidence-based approach will be their own. A great effort is being made by the ADA and other organizations to teach EBD and make easily accessed evidence-based resources available. I suspect that online tools will develop to meet the tremendous need for excellent, evidence-based information that can be used by dentists who have never received EBD training. Of course, there are also many wonderful resources available online that anyone can use to teach themselves the basics of EBD – if they are sufficiently motivated to spend the necessary time.

As a caution, the term evidence-based is often used by individuals to indicate something that has some kind of evidence. What we require is the best evidence – much of which is now limited and non-existent. An increase in demand for more and better evidence will hopefully improve the situation!

MedA: Is EBD actually like a cook book type dentistry? I mean, for every situation, you gotta do this then that followed by that!!
Hope: I attended the very popular EBD Champions Conference in Chicago put on by the ADA. The goal is to give dental professionals from across the US an overview of EBD and teach them how to return to their states and share what they’ve learned with their colleagues. I learned there that there are many dentists who are very uncomfortable with EBD seeing it as a threat to the ability of dentists to provide their patients with personalized, individual care. Many fear that it will lead to practice requirements that every dentist must provide for each patient – cookbook dentistry, as you said. I guess that because I took the EBD course before I became a Champion, I was surprised because I knew that EBD is actually just the opposite. To begin with, the needs of patients will always be extremely individual. Right now, the science of dentistry has little really strong, good evidence. And that evidence applies to the population studied – not all people. Fortunately, the evidence will improve and grow providing more and better evidence to inform the clinical decisions that dentists make. It is, however, only a piece of the decision-making process that clinicians use along with their expertise and experience to meet the needs and preferences of their patients.

You can find a wonderful description of how one dentist used EBD to provide an individual patient the best treatment possible in The Journal of Evidence-based Dental Practice, September 2010 at www.jebdp.com. The feature article, titled Use of evidence-based decision making in private practice for emergency treatment of dental trauma: EB case report was written by Syrene A. Miller and Greg Miller and appears on pages 135-146. I am sure it will provide you and your readers with a good appreciation for what EBD is and how it could be used in practice.

MedA: Could you tell us a little about your latest experience in EBD?

Hope: I recently attended the National Primary Oral Health Conference in Orlando, FL where I was part of a panel of presenters on EBD. Our goal was to introduce EBD to dental professionals working in health care centers. We shared with attendees the important place EBD has gained in dental schools, what EBD is and how to use it. We also spent a day in the cyber-café assisting interested individuals in exploring EBD resources available online.

MedA: Thanks a lot for enlightening our visitors about this awesome Real Experience Scenario about EBD. I am sure people reading about EBD now will have more than a fair idea what is EBD all about. They will feel confident through the experience and this Authentic Info.

Hope: You are WELCOME Panks.

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Aspirin can prevent (now) Cancers: after heart disease

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Aspirin a day (now) can keep the cancer at bay, as the latest research seems to be promising. Earlier, aspirin, our very own aspirin has been highly recommended for prevention of heart disease and strokes. The regimen for stroke had been 81 mg, popular as Baby Aspirin. ( apparently because the aspirin over-the counter- is for 300mg)
Lancet, one of the most respected journals has published the research at this link
The research says that you may have to continue popping aspirin for upto 20 years everyday for it to prevent cancers, especially Proximal cancers, and probably other cancers (research is still on!)

As the article and research interprets-

Source; The Lancet

"Aspirin taken for several years at doses of at least 75 mg daily reduced long-term incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer. Benefit was greatest for cancers of the proximal colon, which are not otherwise prevented effectively by screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy."

Other cancers that seems to be prevented are pancreatic, brain and even lung cancer (not the one caused smoking though !!) . It also prevents stomach cancers. It's a news for such practitioners who actually advise the patients not up take aspirin for the fear of stomach bleeding as in UK etc.
Now may be the time, to let them start it, as the risks of stomach bleeding seems to be real less, only 1 per 1000 persons as claimed by GUARDIAN
Your general practitioner should be able to guide you regarding this new potential therapy.

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

MedA

Special Care Dentistry Conference 2011

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 16:27:00 +0000

SCDA Annual Meeting

WHAT: 23rd Annual Meeting on Special Care Dentistry
WHEN: April 1-3, 2011
WHERE: Swissotel Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Salient Features:

The 23rd Annual Meeting on Special Care Dentistry, April 1-3, 2011 in Chicago, is the go-to event for dentists, hygienists and others who care for patients with special needs. More than 200 oral health care professionals attend each year – here are a few reasons you should join them:

Quality interaction with thought leaders, speakers and colleagues
20+ specialty sessions developed for those who treat patients with special needs
Highlighted speakers who are well-established & fresh finds, that will inspire and invigorate
An exhibit gallery featuring products and services such as dental equipment and supplies, educational material and more
The SCDA Gala and other networking events that honor practitioners and create an atmosphere for making peer-to-peer connections happen

Register today here

Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Top 10 TIPS for SUCCESS in a Dental School Interview: REAL

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 03:13:00 +0000

SO you have got the interview call, and now what? Here are some amazing REAL LiFE Experiences 10 TIPS for Success in a dental school interview.

So you have your interview tomorrow, but before you rerach there, you would decide what to wear. Of course, formal is what everybody says. Formals every one suggests but your dress should not only be formal but crisp and give you a nice sharp look. If you do not have a VERY nice suit or Skirt (for ladies), then BUY it. It is worth all the investment!!

TIP #1: MINIMAL IS MAXIMAL

TIP #1: Wear minimalistic and nice not-so-strong Perfume. If you dont wear one, make sure you dont smell bad, if not too good. (I can write a whole article on perfume, but let google help you with that :))

So you are all set to leave for the interview, all neat and crisp. And you get late.. because the Cab you are in, is stuck in a jam or your Metro train has delayed due to a signal problem. (Very Common in NY). SO, reaching late for the interview is the big NO NO. I am sure you know about that. At the same time, reaching too early also wont be very beneficial. It just does not give you a big advantage either. Just be on time, a little in advance is really good. If you are new to the place, make sure you visit that place a day in advance.

TIP #2:OBSERVE

TIP #2: If possible, go inside and try to feel the place of interview. OBSERVE, what people are wearing, how are they talking, how are they interacting.. in short get a feel of the place of interview. When you come next day you wont feel out of the world, but relaxed!!Now you are waiting there in the waiting hall.Sitting, idling, fiddling your thumb, anxious because You know how important the interview really is.
And you are thinking what should I have done before coming? You are looking better than the rest, but is this what they are actually looking for?

TIP #3: RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH

so RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH
ABOUT? School, ABOUT the interviewer(s) and ABOUT the department, everything that you can get your hand on. If the school has a need of your talent and you represent that area of expertise, you will be matched (most of the time for interview) with somebody from your area of expertise. If that is the case, you know that you DON'T BLUFF

TIP #4:NEVER BLUFF

TIP #4: JUST can't bluff, they would immediately catch you. If your talent, is not an area of expertise but a general experience of everything included in dentistry then you will be matched accordingly.
RESEARCH on the kind of experience the school is looking for!!(Anyways this thing should already be there in your SOP's and Recomendation Letters.. (stick on to it in answering your questions!!)
For eg, your amazing experience in endodontics, may be an asset to a school, but not in surgery esp if they have a general dentistry protocol to refer everything to a specialist, an Oral Surgeon!!

TIP #5: AURA

I remember when I was being interviewed at UCSF, I gave this advice to a friend that you need to know what the school's general thought process is. The school may be sophisticated with people and doctors living a calm life and yet full of enthusiasm while the school in NY will have a fast paced life. You might need to show your caliber of multi tasking and walking (or (almost running) with that fast paced life.
Talk to people, FEEL THE AURA .. Talk to REAL People, with REAL EXPERIENCES, and REAL INFO to know what the school is all about (that's exactly what our website is all about..REAL). So by making a mental note of the school's mentality, you come in for the interview AND I am expecting that you are crispy-dressed, smelling nice, and with all the research in hand and AURA seeping in your mind, you are sitting at the
interview table.

and your phone rings!!!! BLUNDER!!

TIP #6:DISTANCE

TIP #6: Keep your cell switched off. Tell your mom that your phone is dead for that day, if you have to :).. You will be simply considered inappropriate for the post after this blunder. DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM PERSONAL LIFE for those 2 hours, you deserve that for the ONCE in a lifetime opportunity!!

TIP #7: BE CONVINCED

The whole idea of the interview is, "to SELL yourself". BUT how would you sell yourself? You need to understand and be CONVINCED of your capabilities before you can convince interviewing authorities. As someone said, "you cannot convince anybody, if you are not convinced yourself!!"
If you have done what I have said above, you will be relaxed and will seem to be adequately prepared, mentally at least.

SO you all start talking confidently and your interviewer says "I am sorry, I forgot to take a print out of your CV, can I have another one?"
What do you do then?

TIP #8: BE PREPARED

TIP #8: ALWAYS keep an extra copy of the required docs sent to the admission committee arranged in a nice-neat-easy to carry-in a not so flashy professional folder.
Did you carry a nice pen? I love Black Pen, Precise V5 is my favorite.

TIP #9: SPEAK OPTIMUM

Interviewers are experts in their field. You are called to the interview...TO SPEAK and not sit silently. So speak. But are you chatting too much? What is the optimum talk?

There can be a whole article on this but the TIP is "Take your time", "Speak the way you do", Dont put an accent to imitate anybody, is what I would say!!

TIP #9: I would frame my first sentence in 2-3 seconds (delayed start) and take it from there. FOCUSSING will do the trick. They are there to select you, thats why you are sitting there in the first place. Why do you think I am not sitting in that chair ?
The art of talking cannot be developed soon after reading this article. You cannot be transformed in a moment. Work on the way you talk during the whole 6 months of application.
If you lose FOCUS (what happens with me sometimes) while talking, then develop your focus gradually.
BUT if you have your interview next week, FOCUSING to what the interviewer says and replying honestly always does the TRICK.

TIP #10: SPEAK PERFECT

Many students ask me, what should I answer for this question? so , what is the perfect answer?
The perfect answer or close to it is what your interviewer wants to hear..
Which is????
It is a mixture of what you are + how your experiences fit in schools' policies + mixture of TIPS from # 1 to 9 in the RIGHT mix.
Your research will actually guide you, what kind of replies you need to give for a particular question. You can substantiate whatever you say either with your experience, your grades, or simply your interest.
Read the TIPS again and make a mental picture of what am trying to say, YOUR mind will ACTUALLY know what is the Perfect Answer and no one else knows whats best for you!!

I hope you enjoyed the article but if you have any other TIP, I will love to add to it? Please do so in the comments section above

MedA
Help N Be Helped !!
Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

Breaking News: WHO develops a DNA based TB diagnostic test: today

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:30:00 +0000

Today, WHO endorsed a new and novel rapid test for tuberculosis (TB), especially relevant in countries most affected by the disease. The test could revolutionize TB care and control by providing an accurate diagnosis for many patients in about 100 minutes, compared to current tests that can take up to three months to have results.

Some Key Facts:

It is an automated test, free from any human error.
It is a very sensitive test, even at low volume of TB in HIV patients, this test will be able to diagnose TB.
Can be used as the Initial TB test
Uses Nucleic Acid Amplification Test which is fully automated and based on DNA testing
Diagnoses both TB and Rifampin Resistance (used in TB treatment and one of the drugs for which MDR or Multiple Drug Resistance is present)
Takes less than 2 hours to detect.
People can get immediate treatment.
FIND, the company behind this TB test, has negotiated with many organizations to provide the tests for 75% discount.
This will result in a 3 fold rise in Drug resistance TB cases in the near future
As WHO puts it, the delay of the diagnosis as in previous diagnostic methods which can take even months, results in continuous spreading of the disease. The early diagnosis will be safer for all the professionals involved and of course for public, who will be early diagnosed and treated.
The test is planned to be systematically implemented in 2011
There are minimal dangers to perform such a test
The new technology will not replace the need for microscopy, conventional culture and/or existing
molecular methods such as line probe assay.Conventional microscopy and culture are also still necessary to monitor treatment response once patients are taking anti-TB drug.
Advantage of early detection of TB and preventing spread of TB between people.

MedA

Post your comments below, what do you think about this news!!

Source: WHO

Yankee Dental Congress in Boston: Jan 26-30

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:38:00 +0000

The 36th annual Yankee Dental Congress takes place at
Venue: the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
When: Jan. 26-30, 2011.

YDC does offer more than 300 courses and special events, including:

Team Development Day for dental auxiliaries (Jan. 27).
Dr. Gordon Christensen and Dr. Paul Child on the latest in restorative dentistry and fixed prosthodontics (Jan. 27).
Yankee’s Annual Women’s Conference with Dr. Theresa Gonzales (Jan. 29).
The new Dental Office Design Pavilion and High Tech Playground.

YDC features more than 450 exhibitors, admissions to free courses, alumni events and computerized continuing education record-keeping at the CE Pavilion.
For more information on YDC 36, call the Massachusetts Dental Society at 1-877-515-9071 or visit www.yankeedental.com.

MedAbroad

Dr. Bertolami receives Distinguished Service Award

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:29:00 +0000

Dr. Ronald L. Tankersley, ADA president (left) confers the ADA’s 2010 Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Charles N. Bertolami, dean of the New York University College of Dentistry.

I am proud to be taught by Dr. Charles Bertolami!!

MedAbroad

Sealants (BPA) and Potential Estrogenic Properties

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:07:00 +0000

There has been a growing concern in the Dental World and Parents about the potential estrogenic properties of bis-Phenol A (BPA), one of the co-products of Sealants and Composite fillings.
There has been accumulating evidence that BPA and its derivatives can pose health risks to kids' endocrine system.
A thorough study done by Journal of Pediatrics in an article posted at this link systematically collected and criticaly evaluated the literature for the possible BPA toxicity using various safety data sheets available.
They were cautious that BPA is indeed released from dental resins after enzymatic hydrolysis within the first 3 hours of placing. BPA as such does have some endocne-disrupting effects due to its estrogenic potential. But ADA suggests that the quantity is 200 times lower than the dose what EPA actually permits. "The EPA level is based on daily exposure. The measurable exposure to BPA from sealants occurs one time—at the time of placement."
So should we be scared as of now?
May be not.
As on the basis of proven benefits of resin-based dental products including Dental Sealants and the brevity of BPA exposure, the Journal of Pediatrics actually recommends using BPA with a simple caution which even ADA reitrates. According to ADA, "BPA exposure may be minimized by cleaning and rinsing surfaces of sealants and composites immediately after placement."
The Journal of Pediatrics also suggested to minimize the use during pregnancy whenever possible
and dental companies manufacturing should report complete information about the products with BPA Also every effort done to minimize its usage in the future dental products.

Volunteer: ADA Certificate Of International Voluneer Service

askpanks@gmail.com (MedAbroad) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:33:00 +0000

Are you a dental student, dentist active or retired with ADA membership and has prior foreign country experience of 14 days at least in the past 2 years?
If yes then there is a chance for you to apply to Certificate Of International Voluneer Service sponsored by ADA.
As you know Volunteering is a great way to learn, expand your horizon and change your perspective of looking things in a different way.
It takes more than a leader to be a volunteer. You have not only to be responsible but also should have a quality to handle multi-tasking.
Your dental society or federal dental service will have to nominate you.
If you are a student then your dean of the school will have to nominate you. You have to be nominated by April 1 of 2011 to be considered for Volunteering.
The nomination form can be downloaded here.
Dental Student Application for the certificate for International Volunteer Service can be downloaded here.
Other Guidelines can also be accessed at the ADA website here .

I hope you find this information useful and will certainly use it to your benefit.

MedA