April 10, 2017

CDMI students (from left) Ravi Barot, Tamzid Mafiz, and Dileep Kondur recently participated in the American Dental Association’s Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.

Student delegates from Midwestern University's College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (CDMI) met with legislative leaders to advocate on behalf of their fellow students and their future profession. Midwestern student members of the American Student Dental Association traveled to the U.S. Capitol in March as part of the American Dental Association's Dentist and Student Lobby Day. 

"It was a phenomenal experience in which I absorbed a great deal of knowledge relating to advocacy. In addition, I was able to interact with several dental students, general dentists, and specialists involved in various areas of organized dentistry," said Ravi Barot, a second-year dental student at CDMI who attended the Lobby Day with his classmates Tamzid Mafiz and Dileep Kondur.

The CDMI students reached out to officials in the Senate to support the passage of the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act that addresses both health and dental insurance and could lead to greater consumer choice. They also advocated for the Student Loan Refinancing Act, which would permit federal graduate loans to be refinanced more than once to take advantage of lower interest rates. Lastly, the delegates emphasized important dental considerations in any legislation affecting the Affordable Care Act.

The College of Dental Medicine-Illinois was established on the Downers Grove Campus of Midwestern University in 2009 and is dedicated to the education of dentists who will provide excellent oral healthcare and become leaders in their profession.