Student Lobby Day 2007

Close to 50 dental students met with legislators in St. Paul on March 8 during Student Lobby Day. Although students annually visit the capital, discussions this year were particularly instructive due to the number of new legislators elected in recent state legislative races.  Dean Lloyd and Minnesota Dental Association (MDA) representatives met with Student Lobby Day participants to provide background on dental education and dental access issues such as the need to invest in competitive faculty compensation, technology and facilities, the high cost of dental education, and the need for a new approach to expanding access to dental care, including increased funds for critical access providers.

For second year dental student Molly Henry, being involved in state lobby day offers a rare opportunity to educate legislators about issues that she feels will affect her now and in the future. Molly is a member of the Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN), which is a subset of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). During the event, she spoke with Senator Pat Pariseau, whose district includes Farmington and Lakeville, Minnesota.  Senator Pariseau has sponsored legislation that would allow retired dentists to see low access patients on a volunteer or part-time basis.  According to Molly, during their discussion of the need for increased funding to support access to dental care in rural areas, “Senator Pariseau seemed very receptive.” 

On March 26, eight School of Dentistry students traveled to Capitol Hill for National Lobby Day.  There they focused on ADA sponsored legislation, including one bill that focus on educating youth about the effects that methamphetamines and tobacco usage have on the oral cavity and another bill that would reduce the interest on student loans to health professionals from 6.8% to 3.4%. Here, Dr. Swift and Students are shown speaking with Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum.