Two chances to see our recruits at the same time

[MusicCityBilliken]

I remember a few years back that Perry did not qualify till the summer. Still plenty of time.

[Quickdraw]

You are partly right, partly wrong. Someone interested in becoming a dentist is loking for a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree program. This is the type of professional program that has been completed by a general dentist. Similar to the way medical programs work, this is a program to which a student is admitted after completing an undergraduate degree, although that is not a requirement--a fair number of dental students have not completed their Bachelor's degree; but they have completed all necessary undergraduate coursework which would be prerequisites for a dental program.

SLU does not offer a general dentistry degree program. We did have a D.D.S. program, but it was phased out in the decade of the 70's (or thereabouts). The dental programs we do offer are specialty degrees. Just as doctors with a degree as a physician go on to specialize in cardiology, internal medicine, etc., a general dentist can go on to specialty areas. SLU has specialty programs in Orthodontics, Endodontics (root canal treatment), and Periodontics (gum disease and related treatment).

A kid wanting to apply to dental school would first be looking for a college where he could take pre-med type classes to satisfy requirements for admission to dental school. That could obviously be done at SLU; but it would obviously be only a stepping stone to one of the 55 or so dental schools in the U.S.

Do we know if Mr. Murkey is the type of student who would be able to handle being a pre-med student and a Division 1 basketball player? That is a rare combination. But, if I recall, former Billiken Ted Mimlitz did that very thing--in fact, foregoing his final year of eligibility so that he could enter medical school.