Twenty-six budding orthodontists, dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants made the rounds at Hatala Orthodontics, P.C., Johnson City on February 2, "walking in the shadows" of Dr. Mark P. Hatala and his orthodontic staff as part of Groundhog Job Shadow Day, an annual international effort to acquaint students with the world of work through on-the-job experiences. Susquehanna Valley High School's Jordan Bado, Sydney Lister, and Evan Salisbury were among those who spent the day experiencing a typical day in a busy orthodontic practice, as they consider any number of potential careers in the field.
Among other things, the students observed Dr. Hatala and his staff performing orthodontic examinations, adjusting braces on patients and using 3D image scanners and x-ray machines. Most importantly, students were able to learn much more about the special skills and education required for these fields.