From Dental School to Dental Officer of the Year

On Monday, November 18, 2024, recent graduate Captain Andrew Jefferson (Class of 2022) returned to the College of Dental Medicine to speak with current students about his experiences completing a residency and serving as a dental officer in the U.S. Army. He also offered advice for students who, like him, would be funding their education with military service.

Captain Jefferson’s military experience began before and continued throughout his education at Roseman University. During this time, he learned a lot about effective and empathetic communication. “Roseman University’s emphasis on team-based learning helped [me] develop the emotional intelligence to actively listen to others before providing answers or opinions,” he explained. “This has proven invaluable in patient-care settings, regular team meetings, and helping to resolve disagreements.”

Roseman also provided Captain Jefferson with ample opportunities to practice dentistry. “The College of Dental Medicine’s Oral Surgery program is one of the better experiences in the nation. Upon graduation [from] Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine graduates easily double or triple the number of extractions completed [by] other recent graduates [and] include surgical extractions of third molars,” he remarked. “This helped bolster my confidence and efficiency when completing these types of procedures [professionally].”

After graduation, Captain Jefferson began a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency with the U.S. Army. This program included participation in planning and implant presentation boards, patient care conferences, table clinics, journal clubs, professional lectures, and complex clinical cases.

Though the program’s requirements and timeline are rigorous, residents are individually mentored by comprehensive dentists, endodontists, periodontists, prosthodontists, and surgeons. Captain Jefferson observed, “The experiences you gain there are second to none.”

In 2023, Captain Jefferson graduated from his AEGD as a top resident and began working as a general dentist at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington.

In this role, Captain Jefferson is responsible for providing dental care to members of the armed services. “In some situations, this is the first time in a patient’s life that they have had access to dental care,” he acknowledged. “It has been a great honor to watch and see the quality of life improve within this patient population.”

Captain Jefferson also completes various administrative tasks. “You wear lots of different hats while you’re in the military,” he explained. “I am the dental safety officer; I am in charge of the safety of all seven dental clinics under our command.” He also serves as his clinic’s infection control and environmental compliance officer.

In addition to his clinical and administrative duties, Captain Jefferson enjoys participating in military training exercises and competition. He is particularly proud to have been named Officer of the Year due to his outstanding performance in the Pacific region’s Dental Health Command Best Warrior Competition. “This competition,” he explained, “included grueling physical and mental tasks that encompassed basic Army Warrior Tasks, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, and the M4 Carbine marksmanship.”

In March, he will move onto the next phase of the competition in which he will compete against officers from other medical disciplines throughout the Pacific region. We wish him the best of luck!

When asked what advice he had for current students, Captain Jefferson recommended getting involved. “Don’t close doors on opportunities,” he advised. “Sometimes it can be hard to say yes to extra items in your already busy schedule. However, these extracurricular activities can be fulfilling learning opportunities and chances to expand your professional and personal network.”