The best dental providers are defined not just by the care they provide, but also by how comfortable they make patients feel. Clinical skills matter deeply, but so does genuine compassion. Students spend two years in hands-on clinical training, where they develop not only their technical skills but also the bedside manner that defines a truly exceptional provider. That kind of growth takes time, patience, and practice.
Occasionally, a student distinguishes themself early in their rotation — someone whose potential is evident from the start. Faculty had already taken note of one such third-year dental student, but what came next was something far less common in the medical and dental fields: direct, meaningful feedback from a patient.
Loma Linda University Health's Healing Hands program was established in 2014 to give grateful patients and families a way to honor healthcare workers who made a difference in their lives. Since its founding, more than 500 LLUH team members have been recognized. First-time honorees receive a silver lapel pin along with the patient's personal comments; those honored ten times earn a gold pin. Recently, the School of Dentistry received word that a D3 student had been selected for a Healing Hands award, a program that has recognized LLUSD faculty before, but never a student. The patient's words were generous and specific. They described the student as an exceptional clinician; calm, self-assured, and confident without arrogance. His communication skills and maturity stood out, as did his genuine empathy and kindness. In the patient's view, he embodies everything LLUSD strives to instill competent care, patience, humility, and compassion.
During a lecture session, Lisa Tradup-Flom, senior development officer, Tim Sherwin and Rolando Zeledon, MS, MS, both senior development officers for the School of Dentistry, arrived to make the presentation. When Nigel Maxwell came downstairs to accept his silver lapel pin, his classmates cheered.
The patient's message to Nigel was simple: keep doing what you're doing. That humility and skill will take you far. The School of Dentistry couldn't agree more and is grateful to the patient who took the time to share their experience. Those words mean more than they may know.