Background

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Program: Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical, 2011
Medical School: Temple University School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2018

Q&A

Tell us a little about your background before you came to Drexel.

I attended dental hygiene school at the University of Pittsburgh. I received my dental hygiene certificate and bachelors of science at Pitt. I was working as a full time dental hygienist since 2008 before beginning the Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical program.

Why did you decide to enroll in a post-baccalaureate program? And why did you feel the Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical (PMED) was a good fit for you?

I had been a practicing dental hygienist long enough to know I wanted to return to school to continue my education to become a dentist. The Drexel Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical program offered all the pre-requisites I would need to apply to dental programs and was centrally located to my job and home at the time. I also had a friend that attended the Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical program at Drexel and spoke very highly of the faculty and curriculum.

Since graduating from the Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical program, what did you do to continue building your dental school application?

The one class not included in the Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical program that I still had to take was biochemistry, so I enrolled in that course on Drexel's main campus. Once the pre-requisites were complete, I began studying for the DAT. While studying, I was still working full time as a dental hygienist and doing additional shadowing at an oral surgery practice on the weekends.

What influenced you to want to become a dentist?

I think the experience of being a hygienist and working in the real world really made me realize how much I loved dentistry. I felt as though I wanted to be able to do more for my patients beyond the scope of a dental hygienist. Being a general dentist allows for a variety of procedures and a unique opportunity to build relationships with patients.

What has allowed you to achieve your current accomplishments?

My good health, family, and ambition have allowed me to achieve my current accomplishments. Of course my current and previous educators made it possible for me to advance from every level, to finally finish school and become a dentist in May 2018. I would be remiss if I did not mention my patients and how much they have and continue to teach me about being a competent healthcare provider.

As one of our top students, what advice would you give to current and future Evening Post-baccalaureate Pre-medical students?

I would encourage them to follow what makes them passionate. Do not get discouraged if you meet adversity and failure on your way to your passion - getting to your goal or your desired career won't always feel exciting and easy. Continuing to stay engaged and working hard will always get you where you want to be.