Former Tiger Dan Hammer: A Leader On A Mission

Courtesy of Contact Point Magazine

Every year at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, new leaders emerge from the student body who impact the school in unprecedented ways. Class of 2011 student Dan Hammer is one of those leaders.

Upon graduation from University of the Pacific in Stockton, Dan found himself pondering his next move. In a fateful encounter during a graduation ceremony, he was approached by Dugoni School of Dentistry faculty member Dr. David Chambers, who asked him if he'd ever considered a career in dentistry. Before he knew it, Dan was touring the dental school campus and meeting with faculty and administrators. Soon after, he took the Dental Admission Test, applied for and was accepted into the Class of 2011.

"Looking back, I'm so glad I came to Pacific for dental school," said Dan. "Through positions with ASDA I've had the opportunity to familiarize myself with other dental schools and meet dental students from all over the country. None are as happy as the students at Dugoni."

In his time at the Dugoni School of Dentistry, Dan has held the titles of student body president; ASDA District 11 trustee; ASDA Chapter president; and Faculty Appointment and Tenure Student Committee member, among others. He excels in his studies, is successful with his patients and is always smiling, even when he doesn't get enough sleep (which is often).

However, what really sets this leader apart is his ability to identify areas for improvement at the dental school and act upon them. Dan has founded or co-founded at least three important initiatives at the dental school -- projects that he dreamed up and then created from scratch.

A community service endeavor, Pacific Pays it Forward, was launched in 2009 by Dan and a classmate. The program aims to get dental students involved with community service projects outside the world of dentistry. Interacting with after-school programs and holding a holiday food drive are just two of the opportunities created by Pacific Pays it Forward within the past year.

"We have lots of opportunities to give back to our local community through dentistry, but Pacific Pays it Forward creates a way for students to get involved with community projects outside of dentistry," said Dan.

When asked what accomplishment he is most proud of to date, Dan said it's been spearheading the creation of a strategic plan for the Associated Student Body at the dental school. Known as ASB L.E.A.D.S (Leadership with Exceptional Advocacy for Dugoni Students), it is the only student-driven strategic plan in the country.

"With the strategic plan, we really were able to re-focus the vision and mission of the student body and develop concrete goals and measures," he said. "We made ASB's functioning an efficient process."

But lately, Dan's been focusing on his newest project, the Dugoni Practical Leadership Initiative (DPLI), which he founded with two classmates earlier this school year. DPLI is a program aimed to give students practical leadership skills they'll be able to use in their studies, future practice and community.

"I noticed that students are lacking exposure to leadership skills they can relate to and actually use throughout their lives. As dentists we are leaders in our communities - we have no choice in the matter. So DPLI was created as a way to help students obtain practical leadership skills through a series of events and workshops," explained Dan.

We asked Dan what motivates him to take on so many projects in addition to an already packed schedule. He told us that he seeks to live with no regrets or missed opportunities, but really he just wants to help others.

"To me, leadership is public service. I don't take on all these projects for personal gain," he told us. "I do it for the greater good and to help others."

Dan's many projects will certainly help others for years to come. Although he'll soon be graduating from the Dugoni School of Dentistry, his contributions to the school and dental education will continue to be felt by many.

In July 2011 Dan will be entering the United States Navy as a lieutenant with a four-year commitment. After that, he says he'd like to be involved with organized dentistry and dental education, and eventually hopes to complete an orthodontic residency program. We'll undoubtedly be hearing about this leader's accomplishments for a long time.