Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

42 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Student Impressions engineering and Spanish. Both of these contribute to her success in dental school in South Florida. Engineering relates very well to dentistry, and having a working under- standing of Spanish helps her in communicating with her patients, as well as fellow classmates.” Siegel credited Marshall for her athleticism as well, adding her participation in track and field, triathlons, mud runs, and other running and biking events makes her a role model for others. Luke received the NSU-HPD Chancellor’s Scholarship in the College of Dental Medicine. Marshall receives a monthly U.S. Army Reserve stipend to help cover living expenses and, after graduation, will work with the U.S. Army Reserve one weekend per month for more than two years. Both women also are working on master’s degrees in public health and want to apply those skills through a general dentistry career. Marshall became cognizant of the CDM’s top-notch reputation during job interviews. For one interview, she had to create a treatment plan from a photo of X-rays. “At the CDM, we never create one treatment plan—we always have to find alternatives,” she said. “I went through this case super detailed. I offered different alternatives and explained everything. They said it was a higher level of treatment plan than they would expect from someone coming right out of school and had no questions for me. That shows the CDM has good treatment-planning courses.” Luke said public health work through the CDM’s dental clinic speeds up the learning process due to the volume of patients with varied issues. Her initial feelings of trepida- tion grew into personal satisfaction from helping people with issues ranging from minor problems to severe tooth decay due to past drug abuse. “It’s always a good day when you help them in a way they really appreciate,” Marshall said, adding that she enjoys “getting to know my patients, as well as being able to solve a problem for them in a way they appreciate.” Although it’s good to have patients who are gracious, “School is the time you want to have a patient who’s difficult,” Marshall said. “They’re hard to work with, they’re not satisfied, and they don’t understand what you are saying and won’t listen. If you don’t know how to deal with those things, it’s more difficult. We learn from each other and from our experiences.” Siegel noted that Luke has organized the Women’s Dental Society participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, “even bringing me my T-shirt at 11:00 p.m. the night before the race when she had Bible study. “She was at the race bright and early the next morning, making sure the group was participat- ing. The group raised more than $700 for breast cancer research and awareness,” Siegel added. “She organized other events to bring the women’s group together and for other social causes, such as Feeding South Florida. I see her as being a signifi- cant force in organized dentistry in the future.” As Luke and Marshall begin to plan their future practices, they won’t need to go far to find continued mentoring opportu- nities from other women den- tists, who now compose 29 percent of professionally active dentists, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. u Continued from previous page