Lasting Impressions | Fall 2016

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 29 Amir Akhavan credits his academics and leadership at the CDM in aiding him as he pursues his master’s degree at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. “At the University of Califor- nia—Irvine, I majored in psychology and minored in biology. I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to learn about the human mind and a eld that is full of mysteries that essentially a ects every aspect of life regardless of who you are or what you do,” he said. “ e social sciences gave me a unique perspective on how I practice dentistry today.” Having pursued his under- graduate degree in sunny South- ern California, a move to South Florida seemed like an easy transition. “I also had friends who were already attending NSU at the time, and I thought it would be nice to have their mentorship throughout dental school,” said Akhavan, who took on several mentoring roles while at the CDM. “One of the best decisions I made in dental school was to become involved in leadership opportunities,” he said of his time as executive board president of the CDM’s Student Government Association (SGA). “It is such a privilege to be able to serve and be a voice for fellow classmates and future colleagues. It also gave me the opportunity to work closely with talented individuals. Together, we were able to bring about positive changes to NSU’s CDM.” He especially was intrigued by the changes student government could create. “ e Student Government Association is the uni ed voice of the students,” he said. “We listened to the students’ needs and worked toward resolving some important challenges our students faced.” One important step was to simplify and organize the processes that precede the national board exam. Making the patient-screening process more e cient, organizing mass screenings, transitioning to the review of the X-rays digitally by the examiners, and providing support and comfort to students and their patients on the day of the examination were among the changes made. “We also began a process to allow the students to provide feedback regarding their clinical experience to the administration. Additionally, we started the Students’ Choice Awards to show our appreciation for the faculty and sta members who go above and beyond,” said Akhavan, who received the Student Advocate of the Year Award in 2014 and was a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. “I think our students de nitely bene ted as a result of these SGA initiatives.” He also credits the CDM professors for their help with the SGA and for the education they provided. “Amir Farhangpour [D.D.S.] is one of my favorite professors among the faculty,” Akhavan said. “He is witty, humble, and a sincere student advocate. Every year, he and Michael Georgescu [D.M.D.] tirelessly help fourth-year dental students through one of the most stressful periods of their dental school education: the national boards.” Akhavan’s e orts on behalf of the College of Dental Medicine didn’t end with graduation; he now serves on the Alumni Advisory Board. He said a strong alumni base is vital to, and speaks volumes about, the college. “Our goal should be to focus on creating an exceptional educational experience for the current students that starts from day one of dental school,” he said. His rationale? “If our students feel that they have had an exceptional educational experience, they are far more likely to contribute,” he said. “Fortunately, our administration, under the leadership of Dr. Linda Niessen, understands this