NSU CDM Lasting Impressions Spring 2019

20 | COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE medical world. Being in family medicine now, I can see how much work there is still to be done helping physicians understand the importance of oral health.” TWO PATHS CONVERGED In her internship experiences, Dillon already has seen how her medical and dental training overlap and bring a broader perspective to patient care. On the dental side, she uses her osteopathic knowledge to take thorough medical histories and note when an oral health issue may be related to a more serious systemic issue, such as high blood pressure. She then uses the opportunity to suggest the patient see a general practitioner. On the medical side, Dillon said her dental training and awareness of the importance of oral health make her “see things in a very different way.” She has found herself doing dental consultations and coordinating dental procedures for patients with other medical issues. “The fact that I’ve been able to help with dental consults highlights the continued need for integration between the two disciplines,” she said. As Dillon begins her job search, she hopes to practice both dentistry and medicine in a setting that will integrate oral health with primary health care. She also wants to focus on public health and educate physician assistants and medical students about the importance of oral health. “Having the two degrees has opened a lot more doors,” she said. “The skill set we get is a unique one. Finding a practice that is exactly what I’m looking for might be challenging, but finding one that is open to the idea is in reach and possible.” ALUMNI Impressions ALUMNI IMPRESSIONS FAST FACTS AARON GOODWIN, D.O., D.M.D., M.B.S. Hometown Largo, Florida Education D.O., D.M.D., Nova Southeastern University M.B.S., Florida Atlantic University B.B.S., Florida Atlantic University Professional Tiralosi Dental (dentist) Community international medical/dental outreach trips to Brazil and Israel Personal married to Thulasi, with a one-year-old son, Andrew Little-Known Fact named an All-American swimmer for Indian River State College Aaron Goodwin