Barksdale dental residency graduates last "B" class

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julian Moore
  • 2d Dental Squadron
BARKDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 2d Dental Squadron is hosting an advanced education in general dentistry residency graduation June 16 at the Barksdale Club.

The AEGD residency is a highly competitive one-year, post-doctorate training program for active-duty Air Force dentists held at the 2d DS Clinic.

Residents receive advanced training in periodontics, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics and comprehensive dentistry from board-certified specialists. In addition, residents receive additional training in pediatric dentistry, orofacial pain, radiology, oral pathology, forensic dentistry and hospital dentistry from Air Force dental specialty consultants during attendance at various courses.

Lt. Col. Richard Moore, Lt. Col. Kirk Stetson and Maj. Son Vu will graduate from this advanced training program and are slated to depart for their new assignments immediately after graduation.

This year's graduates will join the ranks of many other dentists to come before them.
"The Barksdale program has a proud 32-year history with more than 150 alumni," said Col. Salvador Flores, AEGD Residency director.

The Barksdale program is one of 12 Air Force AEGD-1 residencies located throughout the country, and is the only one for dental officers already on active duty. The other residencies accept recently graduated dental students coming onto active duty.

This year's class marks the end of the AEGD-B active-duty residency and it will be converted to the AEGD-C Residency program which accepts recently graduated dental students for their first tour of duty.

"Our Barksdale family is proud to have been the home of the AEGD-B program," said Colonel Flores. "The residency is fortunate to have a full complement of specialists, all possessing a wealth of expertise to pass on to patients and residents alike. This talented staff will take on new challenges of the AEGD-C residency next year."

Maj. Gen. Gar Graham, Dental Services assistant surgeon general will preside as a special guest speaker for the event marking the end of the AEGD-B program and the beginning of careers in dentistry for the three graduates.

"We want to honor the graduates of the AEGD Class of 2009," said Colonel Flores. "All Air Force members can be confident that each highly trained dentist graduating today possesses not only the advanced clinical skills, but also the values and integrity necessary to serve our Air Force family wherever in the world you or they may go."

To attend this event contact the 2d DS at 456-4018.

Editors Note: Senior Airman Joanna M. Kresge contributed to this story.