December Member of the Month

Congratulations to our December Member of the Month, Bart Knowles, DMD '19! Bart currently serves as Co-Vice Chair of our Chapter's Advocacy Committee. This past October and November, Bart was instrumental in organizing our first ever Advocacy Academy. This three part series introduced chapter members to Lobbying, the ASDA House of Delegates, and the steps to write a resolution. Thank you Bart for all you do to help make our Chapter #idealBoston!

1. What is the best part of being Co-Vice Chair of our advocacy committee? 
The best part of being Co-Vice Chair of the BU ASDA Advocacy Committee is having the opportunity to collaborate with our Legislative Liaison (Shawn Jones), fellow Co-Vice Chair (Asia Yip) and our dedicated committee members, working together to spread awareness to dental students at BU GSDM regarding current dental legislation that impacts both our dental student lives as well as our future as dental healthcare providers.

2. What is your favorite ASDA memory? 
Favorite ASDA memory has to be traveling with my ASDA colleagues to Montpelier, Vermont for Vermont State House Day, on behalf of the VSDS. As a group, we had such a warm and welcoming experience at the State House and furthermore had a very insightful discussion with respect to the dental needs of the rural regions of Vermont with local and state representatives.

3. How do you spend your free time when your not studying or busying advocating on behalf of Dental students?
Spending countless hours bogged down in the library can do a number on your social life, therefore whenever our schedule lightens up, I try to do my best to get out and be social as much as possible. I'm also a life long hockey player and a BU Dental Jawbreaker (BU Dental's Intramural hockey team). We had a pretty decent season this Fall and I'm looking forward to putting pucks in the back of the net come Spring League time! 

4. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go and why? 
I've always wanted to travel the Mediterranean coast from Spain, through France and finish on the Italian coast. Beautiful beaches, warm weather and sky blue water will always be on the destination list for me. Sounds like it's going to be a costly trip one day, therefore I'll be taking donations ;-)

5. Any final thoughts? 
Final thoughts: I want to challenge any and all of those who are currently involved in ASDA and those who have not yet had an opportunity to be involved to jump in and get their feet wet. My personal experiences with ASDA have made the grueling haul of dental school so much more enjoyable. The social experience, friendships and connections I've made through ASDA and volunteering opportunities fuel the drive to keep you mindful of what a privilege it is to be a dental student here at BU GSDM.