The ASDA councils form the student government in the dental school and organize student events such as Clinic Day, Sports Day and guest speakers. ASDA also informs students of events, benefits and responsibilities in organized dentistry on the local, state and national level. ASDA is the recognized student affiliate of the American Dental Association. Medical school is stressful for most students. Pressures from all aspects of a student's life can, at times, be substantial.
Some students experience serious stress and manifest significant impairment.
Impairment does not mean the occasional use of alcohol or other drugs, nor does it mean the occasional moodiness we all experience. Rather, impairment is a more serious state in which the ability to function is adversely affected, or a persistent behavior pattern concerns the student or those who know him. Outright impairment may include substance abuse, severe depression or other disturbances manifested by disruptive behavior. The definition does not preclude serious physical impairments that may interfere substantially with medical education. The Committee for Medical Student Well-Being was established because impaired medical students have a responsibility to themselves, the medical profession and society to recognize their problem and seek help in recovering.