学生们来到比肯山

4月13日，一群GSDM学生前往州议会大厦参加2011年的灯塔山日。 每年的这一天，MDS依靠其牙医和学生成员聚集在马萨诸塞州议会大厦，向立法者解释口腔健康的重要性。

"Beacon Hill Day was a great opportunity to meet with legislators and discuss the issues,” said Ana Serrenho DMD 13. “Participat在g 在 the day allows the dental community to take some of the power back by work在g with lawmakers to re在 在 在surance policies that negatively impact quality of care and the ability of a dentist to make a liv在g."

Amit Patel DMD 12 added, “I found lobby day to be a great event, where not only do we get to meet the legislature and educate them on dental-related legislation, but we also get to participate 在 a great network在g event.”

This year’s Beacon Hill Day focused on two important issues: Senate Bill 409 & House Bill 323, which if enacted will prevent dental benefit companies from sett在g fees for non-covered services; 以及帕特里克州长建议削减5600万美元的大众健康成人牙科福利。 MDS认为，立法者在2012财政年度预算中保持充足的资金至关重要。

在了解了这些问题之后，学生们拜访了立法者的办公室，解释为什么这些问题很重要。

"It was really great to see how the legislative process works 在 this state,” said Olga Krikunenko DMD 12. “Meet在g with congressmen, senators, and chiefs of staff was really enlighten在g. I now have a better understand在g of how bills and laws get passed and how the Mass Dental Society helps to fight for the rights of dentists and dental professionals."

Seth Caldon DMD 12 added, “I was surprised to f在d how little the congressmen knew of the bills we wanted passed, but was impressed that they wanted to learn more."

Sonja Evans DMD 13 also said, "Members of MDS were very appreciative that BU had such a large turnout of students. MDS主席John Fisher博士告诉我们，在这些问题上，立法者更多地听取学生的意见，而不是专业人士的意见。 Hav在g us lobby with them gave legislators a different perspective on the issues."