![\"\"](\"https:\/\/magazines.uthscsa.edu\/schools\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2017\/11\/AAWD_Suture_Post-300x300.jpg\")
Karen Troendle, D.D.S., M.P.H., professor of comprehensive dentistry, calls the group\u2019s energy and vision \u201cnothing short of stunning. They asked me to be their faculty advisor, but I am the one who learned so much from them. They had an incredible maturity and poise well beyond their years as well as an amazing set of organizational skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir goal was reflected in the AAWD mission of \u2018Advancing, Connecting, and Enriching Lives,\u2019 \u201d Dr. Troendle said. \u201cMost new or revived organizations on campus may have one or two major events a year. Marinee and her crew were master organizers and publicists who had 98 students attend their first meeting, including several men, the dean and the associate dean of academic affairs. They hosted more events than I could ever imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Cabrera created a student chapter of the year application to summarize the group\u2019s initial activities. Out of more than 70 applications, the AAWD San Antonio Student Chapter won The Phoenix Award from the national AAWD, which held its 2016 meeting at the American Dental Association meeting in Denver.<\/p>\n
Mary E. Martin, D.D.S., M.Ed., then national AAWD president, created the award after reading Dr. Cabrera\u2019s application. \u201cDr. Martin wanted The Phoenix Award to recognize a revitalized chapter that had come back from the ashes,\u201d she said.
\nAt the same meeting in Denver, Dr. Cabrera was surprised to be awarded the AAWD Student Leader of the Year award. \u201cIt was a huge honor to be given this award. Everyone who was nominated was incredible,\u201d she said. \u201cI felt it was really a group effort in the dental school; everyone should have won it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In May, Dr. Cabrera was awarded the Eleanor J. Bushee Senior Dental Student Award from the AAWD. The award honors senior dental students who have achieved academic excellence and have demonstrated outstanding leadership.<\/p>\n
Dr. Cabrera said the most enriching aspect of the experience has not been the awards, but what she gained from the student chapter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the stress of dental school\u2014especially with this incredible pressure to succeed\u2014having something outside of school to look forward to and having the ability to tap into the resources of those women who came before us has been crucial. We can learn so much from the women who blazed the trail before we started dental school,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Troendle said Dr. Cabrera and her fellow chapter leaders have already had an impact on those following in their footsteps. \u201cThe role modeling they provided to the other young women in the organization is impressive. They have shown these students how to be dynamic, competent visionaries and leaders. They set the bar very high for those who follow, and that\u2019s a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dental students revive dormant student chapter of the American Association of Women Dentists. Student leaders organize myriad events and garner national awards for their efforts. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":421,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"magazine":[23],"issue-year":[20],"featured-story":[],"class_list":["post-384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","magazine-salute","issue-year-20"],"yoast_head":"\n