What do you think you got at the UI College of Dentistry that you wouldn’t have gotten at another school?

Iowa focuses on early clinical experience. You get to see your first patients in your first year of dental school doing cleanings, and then in your second year, you start minor operative work, including your first restorations. By your third and fourth years, you are completely in clinic, essentially working a 9-to-5 job. I think what really sets us apart is that our emphasis is always on what’s best for the patient. Getting that early clinical experience allows us to be the best providers for our patients.

What is something you’ve learned at Iowa that will be valuable throughout your life?

Something our pre-dental advisor told us that I have kept with me throughout dental school is that you’re more than just your numbers. You’re more than your DAT score or whatever you got on an exam. Those numbers don’t tell you how empathetic you are or how you’ve impacted your patients. I like to carry that with me every day and remind those around me that you are so much more valuable than those numbers.

Who was your most important mentor here, and what role did they play in your experience?

I’ve had countless mentors throughout my time here at the college, but two who really stand out are my fourth-year group leader, Dr. Michael Santucci, and one of my prosthodontic faculty, Dr. Joseph Curtis. They took me under their wings and supported me through some of the more stressful times. It was important to me to have faculty see me as more than just a student — I wanted them to see me as a person as well — and those two have always been very encouraging of me, both clinically and personally.

What has it been like to be part of the College of Dentistry community?

It’s a very tight-knit group. We have about 80 students in each class, which allows you to get to know everyone. You have the same schedule, the same requirements, and the same challenges, so you form a special bond. We also have a small faculty-to-student ratio and get to know a lot of the support staff, from those at the front desks to the custodians. Those are bonds I’ll cherish long after graduation.

How would you describe what it’s like to be part of the Hawkeye community?

To me, being a Hawkeye is feeling overwhelmingly proud of the community that I come from, the community that I’m able to give back to. My family has been full of Hawkeyes for generations, and everyone loves to come back to Iowa City, whether it’s for a game or a dinner out or a family reunion. “Proud” is the best word I can think of to describe what it means to be a part of the Hawkeye community.

Who would you like to thank during commencement?

I would like to thank my parents. They have been my sounding board through my undergraduate and graduate time here at Iowa. They have been my rocks. They have been my biggest cheerleaders, and they’ve also been there for me in the tougher times. I just can’t say thank you enough.

What will you miss the most about being a UI student?

That first really nice day after the winter when you walk across campus and the Pentacrest is spotted with blankets and students hanging out, playing games. There’s so much joy and happiness on that first 50-degree day. I’ll really miss taking those walks, especially along the river, and seeing my fellow Hawkeyes out and about.