What will you always remember about the WVU School of Dentistry?
I’ll always remember the friendships you form in dental school with your fellow classmates and faculty. There is a certain force that binds you together with all these people. It isn’t just because we are all in the dental field; it has to do with the struggles and triumphs we all go through together during our journey here. You see all these people every day, and it’s going to be strange to not pop into an assistant’s office to chat or just hang out with my friends all the time. These friendships will be with me for the rest of my life though, and I’ll never forget the people here.
What's next for you?
After graduation I am heading into a General Practice Residency at a hospital in Canton, OH for the next year. It’s another year of advanced education, and I am very excited about it. I will get to learn skills that you don’t get to practice in dental school and I’ll be ready for whatever the world throws my way after this next year. I was torn between entering into the world of private practice right out of school or a residency. After consulting friends and family and mentors I decided the GPR was the right fit. However, I won’t be completely cut off from WVU while there. Two of my co-residents are WVU dental graduates as well so it will be like a little West Virginia colony over in Ohio.
How excited are you to get into patient care and practice?
I am extremely excited to get into patient care and practicing. It’s an indescribable joy seeing how you have changed a patient’s life from just working on fixing their smile. While I am continuing my education next year with a GPR I will be seeing patients regularly, and it’s just so exciting to know I am starting my career. It’s time to put these fine skills the dental school has taught me to use!
What brought you to dentistry as a profession?
I grew up around the dental profession. I always knew I wanted to work with and help people in some way. One day it clicked and the two seemed to go together perfectly. My mother worked for an oral surgeon from the time I was born, so I was always in that office. Originally I wanted to be an architect but when I was touring colleges I realized I didn’t want to be stuck behind a desk all day and I asked my mom about dentistry. I loved the atmosphere of where she worked and it always seemed like everyone was having fun! I talked to my personal dentist about it and he was elated I had decided on dentistry and really started showing me what dentists can do. After that, I knew I made a great decision and couldn’t wait to get into dental school.
How did you choose WVU and Morgantown?
I chose WVU and Morgantown because it was the only place I could see myself in. I’m from West Virginia and feel a sense pride for this state, so it was an easy decision that I would be going to WVU for dental school. The dental school here also has an amazing reputation for educating and training top quality dentists; that made my decision easier as well. All my mentors were educated and trained here at WVU so I felt like I was following in their footsteps in a way and that helped me realize I was making the right decision to enroll here. It’s been so great being in this town. I am going to miss it a lot but I’ll be back for all the football games and any other excuse I can think of!