As Pandemic Continues, Some Changes for New Semester

D3 students back on campus. For the second year, RSDM students are starting the fall semester in the midst of a pandemic. While some restrictions have loosened, other changes that began during COVID-19 will continue, said Dr. Emily Sabato, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs. “We’re proceeding with caution,’’ she said. “But I’m very optimistic about the year ahead.” The fact that for 18 months, RSDM has been able to remain open and keep students on track, is a sign that this year’s efforts will be even more successful, she said. Now that RSDM employees and students have been vaccinated, some aspects of pre-pandemic education can resume. Lectures will continue to be remote, but students will be able to attend small seminars in groups of 25 or less. “It’s hard to have a conversation among a group of 20 or so people on Webex but we can do that in a room,’’ said Dr. Sabato. Other changes were unrelated to COVID-19 but were instituted to provide relief from back-to-back exams and packed schedules. To that end, first and second-year students are returning to school two weeks earlier. “We’re very cognizant of the stress of dental school and we tried to make organizational changes to make it less stressful,’’ she said. Other curriculum changes, such as shifting radiology orientation and the Implant II laboratory course from the third year to spring of second year will help D2 students be more prepared for clinic. Also this year, there will be three new honors programs for fourth-year students: operative dentistry, pediatric honors and restorative and periodontal studies; these programs are a welcome addition to our existing Special Needs Honors program, which has been extremely successful. “There’s a lot of interest in the honors curriculums,’’ said Dr. Sabato.