Inspired

Originally published in the Official Alumni Publication of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, TroDent, Fall 2014 edition.

Editor’s note:  
In 2011, Dr. David Eggleston began a Hiking/Jogging Scholarship at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry.  The scholarship has grown in popularity during the past three years. This year’s hike paid almost $30,000 (divided into shares)to students who participated. Those who beat Eggleston hiking to the mountaintop, and those jogging under an hour to the mountaintop, were rewarded two shares. Joggers who finished ahead of Dr. Parish Sedghizadeh received three shares. We asked Eggleston what inspired him to start the event and how it inspires him personally.

See images from the event:
tinyurl.com/hiking-jogging

See video at:
youtu.be/UrT_D6DiAzk

A few years ago, UCI student Andrew Vo DDS ’15 was shadowing me at my office while contemplating a career in dentistry. Among his assortment of part-time jobs, he was a spin instructor and physical trainer for 24 Hour Fitness. How perfect was that? I could get some free exercise training while giving advice on dentistry—so we went hiking.  Andrew can annihilate me pole-vaulting (I’ve never pole-vaulted), cycling and in the gym, but I can hold my own hiking with him. After a year or so of hiking together, he started dental school and invited some dental students to join us.

In 2011, I challenged the students to a hike up Black Star Canyon, just east of Irvine Lake in Orange County. In a moment of improvised bravado, I told them I would make a scholarship donation to anyone who could get to the top ahead of me. We set a date for the challenge and thus started the Hiking/Jogging Scholarship annual event. Three years have passed, along with a steep learning curve. By all accounts, our fourth annual event was a huge success. More than 200 participated, including faculty, friends, dental student families and a few pet dogs. Be sure to check it out at www.schikeandjog.com. We are very grateful to Patterson Dental, along with numerous individuals, who have stepped up as sponsors.

Hiking is an excellent cardiovascular exercise and a great way to slow down the degenerative diseases of aging. Hiking avoids the knee damage of running, the run-over danger in road cycling, the broken bones of mountain biking and skiing and the tennis elbow of tennis.

Maintaining a rigorous hiking regimen requires an achievable goal for inspiration. It’s hard to get up at 5:30 on a Saturday morning for a 10-mile speed hike if there is no incentive.

My goal is to maintain the ability to hike with 20-something-year-old dental students. It is just a personal goal, certainly nothing like a goal of ending world hunger or preventing birth defects. However, it leads to an improvement in personal health and well-being, which can help in achieving more altruistic goals.

Since dentistry is a sedentary profession, I hope the Hiking/Jogging Scholarship event inspires dental students to consider a lifetime of vigorous exercise and all the ensuing benefits. 

The current dental students have the potential to be a great generation of dentists, maybe even the greatest generation. They are motivated and dedicated. Beyond that, they have a camaraderie that supersedes competition. They genuinely want to help each other as well as their patients, which bodes well for the future of the dental profession. The students are my inspiration to help in any way possible.

Race You To the Top

Originally published in the Official Alumni Publication of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, TroDent, Summer 2012 edition.

State budget deficits brought tuition hikes to many public colleges and universities across California, but none of those hikes looked quite like this.

As part of his new scholarship program, Ostrow alumnus David Eggleston DDS ’70, Pros ’72, took 36 dental students (plus four guest hikers) for a competitive hike up Black Star Canyon in Orange County.

Each of the dental students was guaranteed a $200 scholarship at the trailhead but could earn more if they finished the hike ahead of Eggleston.

An avid hiker, Eggleston said his best time is 1 hour and 49 minutes.

Dr. Eggleston & Students

In all, 12 students beat Eggleston to the top of the 7.6-mile winding path (with four miles of switchbacks).

Twelve of them walked away with $500 scholarships. The first two to reach the summit received $1,000.


“As a student, I received enormous help from USC alumni,” Eggleston said. “I will never be able to pay them back, so I hope to ‘pass it on’ like they would have wanted.”

In contrast to the race uphill, the leisurely hike downslope afforded the students lots of time for camaraderie. The hikers represented each of the four DDS classes—including ASPID—plus dental hygiene, Eggleston said.

First-year students commented how great it was to spend time with fourth-year students in such a relaxed atmosphere.

“It was great to get insights from upperclassmen,” said Andrew Vo DDS ’15, “like which clubs to get involved with, how to balance school, tips on how to study, and ways to improve clinical work, all while having fun.”

Waiting at the end of the hike with food and beverages were Eggleston’s wife, Laraine; his dental office staff; and his friend, Dr. Michael Gahagan.

The next event is scheduled for October 2012. Eggleston said he plans to expand the program into two separate competitions.

Like last fall, there will be a hiking group competing against Eggleston to the top. He’ll add a second competition where joggers or runners will have to reach the top within a set time of a little more than an hour.

All of the arrangements will be coordinated by Vo.