AADOCR NSRG – Vice President Candidate
Reasons for Running:
Before receiving my white coat, which signified the beginning of my experience in patient care, I recited an oath to put patient wellbeing first, continually attain new knowledge and skills, and commit myself to the betterment of my community. Two of the most important lessons I’ve learned since then are that there is always room for improvement, and that changes only happen when dedicated people work to make them happen. These sentiments are the reason I am running for NSRG vice president. My dental school experience has allowed me to grow immensely as a scholar, provider, collaborator, and researcher. The interactions I’ve had with my classmates, instructors, and patients have shown me proof of the importance of advocacy and innovation, and as I’ve gotten more involved, I’ve also seen that, for many people, there is still work that must be done. Recent events, like the Covid-19 pandemic and protests for social reform, have only highlighted these issues further. Thus, I feel compelled take this opportunity and do everything I can to further the NSRG’s core values of scientific excellence, social responsibility, and community - not for myself, but so that around the world everybody can access the care they deserve.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
I began pursuing research during my sophomore year as an undergraduate. I was excited by the opportunity to work on the cutting edge of academia. My passion for research quickly grew, and I became motivated to pursue that passion into dental school and beyond. As an undergraduate researcher, I designed and collaborated on many research projects investigating phenotypic plasticity and their regulatory pathways in yeast. Those experiences resulted in a publication in the academic journal mBio, helped me graduate with honors, and provided an opportunity to advance my education. In dental school I have continued to build new experiences in research and beyond. Currently, I am working on a student research project investigating how Covid-19 infection alters the microbial and immune profiles of saliva and contributing to a systematic review article as a co-author. In addition to research, I have dedicated a lot of energy towards advocacy and leadership within my cohort and many extracurricular organizations. I currently serve as a class officer, Legislative Liaison for the Iowa chapter of the American Student Dental Association, president of the Iowa City chapter of the dental fraternity, and a delegate in the University of Iowa Graduate and Professional Student Government.
