Hey JAMmers, what do you think is one of the best ways to reinforce all the new knowledge you learned in dental school and to pay it forward? By being a tutor and mentor! On today's episode, we're happy to welcome Kha Ai Hua​, a current third year at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and a kickass tutor. We three first got to know Kha Ai last year during our first year where she was an immense help with our simulation clinic exercises. Within this episode, we finally learn the answer to an age-old question: How did Kha Ai manage her studies while also helping countless hours helping D1's with operative and pros?

We also share new studying strategies. Now that we're deep in our second year and Kha Ai in her third, we've found the need to modify our approach to studying with the increased volume of content. 

As a final note, though he was not a tutor at the time of recording, we're happy to say that Jake did manage to connect with a tutee and is happily sharing his wealth of knowledge.

For next month's interview, we'll be talking with Donte Nesbitt​, a recent graduate from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and a first year Orthodontic Resident at the University of Nebraska Medical Center! Feel free to message us here or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions you'd like us to ask him.

Cheers, and enjoy!

Welcome to the final JAM session of 2020! Today we're talking with Brooke Frazier, a current D1 at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry! Brooke graduated from University of Urbana-Champaign with B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), where she met Morgan. On this episode she shares with us some of the different challenges she's faced with the first semester of a tough dental school curriculum, as well as her experiences with beginning a chapter in higher education that has been predominantly virtual. We also discuss the ways that students can get involved on campus, interview/application tips, and the joys of having or being an older sibling. 

Now that most of you are likely on a winter break, we hope you can cozy up next to a fire with some hot chocolate for some rest and recovery. And perhaps instead of binging The Queen's Gambit, you can enjoy all 15 JAM sessions at once. In any case, we three (Jake, Alex, and Morgan) wish you all a Happy Holidays!

Welcome back to the fifth JAM session! Today, we're interviewing AJ Foley, a fellow D1 classmate at the University of Iowa. In high school and college, AJ considered the path of becoming a professional athlete. Even though he ultimately decided on dentistry, his athleticism still shines through when you see him flying across campus on his bike or crushing it on the court in intramural basketball.

AJ lays out some great tales of personal growth and finding familiar communities in a new home far away from family, something we're certain many dental students have experienced or would benefit from hearing about. Give it a listen! 

Welcome back to the fourth JAM session! Today, we'll be discussing our different DAT study strategies and experiences on the day of the test. While this episode is primarily targeted towards students preparing for the big test, don't shy away you current dental students and dental school graduates. Tune in and relive your own [fun] memories of studying for the DAT. Maybe you'll even be inspired to pull up some PAT exercises for old times' sake!

Editor's Note: We indicated that goal-setting strategies would be discussed during this episode, but we ran out of time so it will be reserved for a future episode! 

Welcome back to another episode of the JAM Dental Podcast! Today, we're interviewing Jill Belieu, a fellow D1 classmate at the University of Iowa. Jill is considered by many to be Threat Level Midnight, thanks to her prowess in the Arts, Athletics, and Academics. Hers is a tale of great resilience and drive; as a first-generation college student, navigating academia was a task she had to largely figure out on her own. 

At this point, we hope you've appointed your favorite hammock the 'JAM Ham'. Kick back, relax, and open up your ear holes because you're in for some great insight!

 Welcome back to another episode of the JAM Dental Podcast! Today, we're interviewing Larkin Jacobson, a fellow D1 classmate at the University of Iowa. Larkin obtained a degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Denver. Prior to transitioning to dental school, he was an investment banker in New York City working in the Consumer Retail and Healthcare sector. He brings a unique perspective and a wealth of academic and real-life experience to the table. So unfurl your hammock, crack open a cold one, and let's dive right in! 

Welcome to another prime number episode of the JAM Dental Podcast! We hope you're all doing well with the springtime allergies. In today's episode, we interview Dr. Polly Iben, a clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Clinical Director in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Iowa. Dr. Iben has quite the adventurous story, having returned to dental school after a decade working as a radio show host. No easy feat, especially with two young children in tow as well!

Without ruining the fun within, we will say that her story is a prime example of how perseverance and finding the right mentors and peers is to the success of professional pursuit. Enjoy!

Welcome to another prime number episode of the JAM Dental Podcast! We hope you're all doing well with the springtime allergies. In today's episode, we interview Dr. Polly Iben, a clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Clinical Director in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Iowa. Dr. Iben has quite the adventurous story, having returned to dental school after a decade working as a radio show host. No easy feat, especially with two young children in tow as well!

Without ruining the fun within, we will say that her story is a prime example of how perseverance and finding the right mentors and peers is to the success of professional pursuit. Enjoy!

The weather is warming up, and so are we at the JAM headquarters! We're happy to present our first faculty interview of 2021 with Dr. John Syrbu! Dr. Syrbu is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Family Dentistry Department at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He graduated from the Iowa CoD in 2013 and then completed a GPR at the Minneapolis VA. After working several years in private practice, he decided to return to Iowa to help train and mentor the next generation of Hawkeye dentists.

So, let's paint a picture. Say you have an extremely diverse set of interests. However, you hate that those interests always feel like distant islands, unconnected from one another. You want to find a way to tie everything together, but don't necessarily see how. Well, you should go have a chat with Dr. Syrbu. Doodling? Business management? Photography? Writing? He has found fun and interesting ways to bring it all back to dentistry. To learn more about his work, check out his personal site, https://www.johnsyrbu.com/ and instagram, @johnsyrbu.dds.

Our interview also highlights the importance of embracing your interests and not choosing a  path based on what you 'should' do, but what actually spins your gears. Whether you enjoy making discoveries on new dental materials, hope to build the best private practice you possibly can, or want to become an expert on Oral Health in Romania in the 1930's (there's a hypothetical thesis for you pre-dental History majors out there - you're welcome), you will find your niche.

Enjoy!

The weather is warming up, and so are we at the JAM headquarters! We're happy to present our first faculty interview of 2021 with Dr. John Syrbu! Dr. Syrbu is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Family Dentistry Department at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. He graduated from the Iowa CoD in 2013 and then completed a GPR at the Minneapolis VA. After working several years in private practice, he decided to return to Iowa to help train and mentor the next generation of Hawkeye dentists.

So, let's paint a picture. Say you have an extremely diverse set of interests. However, you hate that those interests always feel like distant islands, unconnected from one another. You want to find a way to tie everything together, but don't necessarily see how. Well, you should go have a chat with Dr. Syrbu. Doodling? Business management? Photography? Writing? He has found fun and interesting ways to bring it all back to dentistry. To learn more about his work, check out his personal site, https://www.johnsyrbu.com/ and instagram, @johnsyrbu.dds.

Our interview also highlights the importance of embracing your interests and not choosing a  path based on what you 'should' do, but what actually spins your gears. Whether you enjoy making discoveries on new dental materials, hope to build the best private practice you possibly can, or want to become an expert on Oral Health in Romania in the 1930's (there's a hypothetical thesis for you pre-dental History majors out there - you're welcome), you will find your niche.

Enjoy!