Dental residents complete program

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Four Air Force dentists are scheduled to graduate from the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program during a ceremony at 10 a.m. July 26, at Barksdale's Chapel 2 Annex.

The graduates are Capt. Stephen Boh, Capt. Christopher Hinahon, Capt. Megan Rickert and Capt. J. Brett Ryan.

The guest speaker for the event will be retired Lt. Col. (Dr.) Tal Lanius, who re-entered active duty in 2007 after a 29 year break in service, and finally retired in 2012.

The AEGD residency is a one-year, post-doctorate training program for licensed active duty Air Force dentists, who receive advanced training from a staff of board-certified dental specialists stationed at Barksdale.

"The dental specialists possess a wealth of expertise in the fields of orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics and comprehensive dentistry," said Staff Sgt. Lemuel Dunnings, the 2nd Dental Squadron dental residency program flight chief. "By the time they graduate they will have had 250 hours of didactic training and completed over 8500 procedures."

The program's director, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Michael Webb, is one of the 177 Barksdale program's alumni who graduated during the course of its 36-year history. The base program is one of 13 throughout the Air Force.

"Dentists compete for a limited number of positions after having served an initial tour of duty as an Air Force dental officer," Webb said. "The 2d Dental Squadron's AEGD residency has a long history of excellence and you can see this exemplified by our Wall of Honor for past graduates of the Residency Program. 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."

The graduates will go on to new permanent duty stations. Boh was selected to go to Pope AFB, N.C.; Hinahon to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea; Rickert to Barksdale; and Ryan to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.