Harvard fellow shadows ADA executive director

By | February 13, 2015
Dr. Christina Rosenthal (center) poses with Dr. Kathleen O'Loughlin (left) and Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays (right) for a photo at the ADA Headquarters boardroom. Dr. Rosenthal, the 2014-15 Joseph L. Henry Health Fellow in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University, shadowed Dr. O'Loughlin for about three days, including attending the President-Elect's Conference hosted by Dr. Summerhays at ADA Headquarters.

Dr. Christina Rosenthal (center) poses with Dr. Kathleen O’Loughlin (left) and Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays (right) for a photo at the ADA Headquarters boardroom. Dr. Rosenthal, the 2014-15 Joseph L. Henry Health Fellow in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University, shadowed Dr. O’Loughlin for about three days, including attending the President-Elect’s Conference hosted by Dr. Summerhays at ADA Headquarters.

A story in the Feb. 2 issue of ADA News highlighted the importance of mentorship.

Dr. Christina Rosenthal, a 2005 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, shadowed ADA Executive Director Kathleen O’Loughlin for about three days at ADA Headquarters. It was part of a special program activity that pairs the 2014-15 Joseph L. Henry Oral Health Fellow in Minority Health Policy with a public health leader.

“Sponsoring our young professionals and mentoring them is what all professionals should be doing in order to protect our collective future,” Dr. O’Loughlin said.

In addition, Dr. Rosenthal mentioned other mentors she’s had throughout her journey in dentistry.

Dr. Christina Rosenthal listens to a presentation during this year's President-Elect's Conference held Jan. 11-13 at ADA Headquarters.

Dr. Christina Rosenthal listens to a presentation during this year’s President-Elect’s Conference held Jan. 11-13 at ADA Headquarters.

There’s Dr. Waletha Wasson, a dental instructor at UT dental school who Dr. Rosenthal says continues to be a “shoulder to cry on”; Dr. Wisdom Coleman, a UT dean of admissions who was instrumental in Dr. Rosenthal’s decision to go to dental school; Dr. Rederick Miller who allowed her to get work experience after graduating from UT; Dr. Joan Reede who gave her the opportunity to become a Harvard fellow; Dr. Raymond Gist, a former ADA president who wrote her recommendation letter to Harvard; and Dr. Delois Roberson, a dentist in Memphis.

“When I expressed an interest in dentistry, I wrote a letter to every dentist in Memphis,” Dr. Rosenthal said in the article. “(Dr. Roberson) was the only to respond and allowed me to shadow her. She even took me to my first Tennessee Dental Association conference.”

Dr. Rosenthal also said how important it is for younger dentists to not be afraid or intimated of reaching out to someone with more experience.

“Realize there are so many experienced dentists who want to help,” she said. “However, they won’t know you need the mentorship and help until you reach out to them.”

To read the full ADA News story, click here.

Who are some of your mentors?

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