Reflections

Hometown:
Richmond, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
University of Virginia–Bachelors of Education in Kinesiology

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Born and raised in VA, I am a newly-married first generation dentist and one of eleven children. Outside of dentistry, I enjoy cooking, reading historical fiction, barre workouts, and gardening. One fun fact about myself is that before dental school, I was a part-time wedding florist!

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
There is richness in how interwoven teaching and personal lifelong learning there is in dentistry. I love how people-oriented dentistry is and to get to be at the forefront of building lifelong, transformative relationships is so exciting. What an honor it is to use my skills in this field!

Hometown:
Falls Church, VA, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
University of Virginia–Biology and Spanish

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I grew up in a family-oriented multicultural household with my little sister, our cat Charlie, and my parents who immigrated from Spain and Taiwan. I enjoy creating digital art, discovering new restaurants in Richmond to post on my food Instagram, and playing pickleball or tennis.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
Dentists hold the unique power of impacting their patients by alleviating pain and transforming self-perception. My dentist not only fixed the gap between my front teeth, but he gave me the confidence to smile. Everyone deserves to have a confident smile, and I want to be able to create that change.

Hometown:
Ashburn , Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
VCU –Biology, Math

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am a rising D3 who has lived in Richmond for quite some time now – I went to VCU for undergrad where I majored in Biology and minored in Math. I am a mom to a former shelter cat, Momo, and a betta fish, Petey. I recently started learning how to rock climb.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
Dentistry is one of the only primary care specialties that has an intimate hands-on component. I find the educating aspect of dentistry really rewarding – not everyone realizes cavities are 100% preventable.

Hometown:
Charlottesville, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
University of Virginia–Biology

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am passionate about research (over 800 hours of experience, author of published abstract and paper in progress), teaching (served as a student teacher and substitute teacher), community service (Charlottesville Free Dental Clinic), mentorship, and scuba diving (advanced open water certified).

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
I love connecting with patients, gaining their trust, and giving 110% effort in order to help relieve patients' pain and restore what I believe is everyone’s most important feature, their smile. I also enjoy the technical work of dentistry, working with my hands to create beautiful results.

Hometown:
Centreville, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
Virginia tech–Bachelor of science

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Native to Virginia, you can catch me visiting my 3 younger siblings any chance I get! Always the first one to rally the troops for an impromptu weekend trip to the beach/mountains. A dancer for 20 years, I foster my creativity with barre/dance classes, and drag my classmates into them too!

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
I am a fixer, and I strive to heal others. Growing up in dad's office, I had the opportunity to connect with to the world in a new way. It enables me to strengthen others' vulnerabilities and absolve their pain. Combining artistry with caregiving brings new opportunities to heal the world around me

Hometown:
Richmond, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
University of Virginia–Bachelor of Arts, Biology

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I was born in a tiny city, Elkins, WV, but have called Richmond home since I was a year old. I am married and mom to 3 furry kids, 1 dog and 2 cats. Prior to coming to dental school, I was a Licensed Veterinary Technician for 9 years. In my free time, I love doing DIY projects, hiking, and reading!

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
I love being a caretaker and having the ability to change lives and smiles in my hands! With dentistry, I can help provide relief to those in physical pain, but also improve self esteem. I still get excited everyday that I get the opportunity to make dentistry my chosen profession!

Hometown:
Leesburg, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
George Mason University–Biology

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am 27 years old. I moved to America from Pakistan at 16. I am fluent in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and English. I enjoy cooking and exploring new places to eat. I also like hiking and running.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
Dentistry is exciting because you get to not only alleviate pain and aesthetically restore dentition but also detect life threatening illnesses simply by examining a patient’s oral health. Moreover, it gives you the opportunity to develop lifelong relationships with you patients.

Hometown:
Bluefield, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
Wake Forest University–BS in Health and Exercise Science

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Because I lived much of a sheltered live in Southwest Virginia throughout my childhood years, I saw traveling as an exciting opportunity to learn and grow. I spent six months of my college career studying in Sydney, Australia and another three weeks after graduation backpacking through Europe.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
I am passionate about dentistry because I believe it gives me the opportunity to discover new strengths and abilities, conquer new challenges, and solve new problems.

Hometown:
Midlothian, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
James Madison University–Biology

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My favorite hobbies include art, music, running, community service, and traveling.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
Dentistry is the one profession that combines my artistic skills, love for science, and passion for service. There is no better way to become a leader in the community, demonstrate a unique skill, and change the lives of so many people around you. Very few careers offer the same opportunities.

Hometown:
Yorktown, Virginia

Undergraduate school/degree:
Virginia Tech–Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I have been married for almost two years, and my husband and I have a wheaten terrier, named Hobie. My hobbies include running, cooking, and sailing. One of my favorite things to do is to host dinner for friends at our home.

Why are you passionate about dentistry?
I am passionate about helping people and making a positive difference in their lives. I love working with my hands, challenges, and thinking on my feet. Dentistry is the perfect combination of all of these things.