Q&A with DSS President Fady Barsoum on U of T Dentistry’s Student vendor fair

This year’s vendor fair will be held on November 15, 2021. We caught up with DSS President Fady Barsoum, Class of 2T2, to find out what he’s most looking forward to about the event.

What are you most looking forward to about this year’s vendor fair? 
I am most looking forward to having the vendor fair this year so I can learn about all the wonderful products and services that are available to me. Now that I am a fourth-year student, I want to take advantage of any deals before going into private practice.

What are some of the takeaways you’ve had from previous vendor fairs?
Some of the takeaways from previous vendor fairs are that the representatives are all great people. They are there to help us learn about their services and give us insight as to what is at our disposal as future dentists. It is always a great event where students can form connections with the representatives and participate in fun challenges to earn prizes.

What do you think are the long-term benefits of the vendor fair for you and your classmates?
As future dentists, it is important to familiarize ourselves with the different products and services that are on the market. The vendor fair is the exact outlet we need to educate ourselves on such items. This is a night full of valuable information that will benefit each student in the long term.

Can you elaborate on how you think events like these prepare you for life after graduation?
Events like this shed light on the magnitude of the commercial world after graduation. It allows students to grasp an understanding that there are many options out there and that it is their role to perform due diligence to pick the right one for them. Having the vendor fair allows them to exercise that search and enables students to form relationships with the representatives that they can carry forward into life after graduation.

Why would you encourage your fellow classmates to attend?
I would encourage my fellow classmates to attend because of the value that each vendor brings to the table. Students can gain the knowledge of the market and the vendors can form relationships with the students. This relationship building and exchange of knowledge is part of the process to becoming a competent and well-rounded dentist.

Photo: Fady Barsoum (Jeff Comber)