CAAPID Personal Statement Examples

Helping the Underserved in Rural Colombia

As a Colombian-American dentist whose life is centered on advancement in Pediatric Dentistry, especially for children of families with few resources, communication with children who are native speakers of Spanish is a top priority. Born in Colombia, my parents brought me to the USA when I was six years old; since then, we have made our home in Houston, Texas. By the time I finished high school, my passion for dentistry had grown steadily.  

My father is a dentist and after years of shadowing him, I readily saw the importance of connecting with Spanish-speaking communities. So, I decided to go back “home” to Colombia for dental school. Following my dream right out of high school was very appealing, making the decision a lot easier, even though I knew I would have to leave the country I loved and had grown up in. It was an eye-opening experience living and going to school in Colombia. By the time I finished dental school, I sounded like any well-educated Colombian without an accent. Not only did my Spanish improve, but I had many experiences that have shaped me into who I am today, an authentic strong-willed Latina culturally, linguistically, and emotionally.  

I have two loves, dentistry and children. I am highly dedicated to the goal of helping children from underserved families, especially here in the USA, where so many of them are speakers of Spanish as their first and often only language. If selected to complete a residency position in Pediatric Dentistry, I will be able to realize my dream of attending to the oral health of primarily Latino children here in the USA, one after another, every day, all day long in Texas, where I grew up. 

Some might say that I have a protective and motherly personality. I hope to have a family of my own in the future, and if I am blessed with children, they will leave me sooner or later to build their own lives. However, the thought that the little ones who come to sit in my dental chair every day will still be with me brings me great joy.  

I vividly remember my first day at the pediatric clinic as a dental student. I was anxious and so excited that I could not sleep the night before. I had already completed my first clinical semester treating adults, which I enjoyed very much. That being said, my first pediatric patient was especially significant: the first day of the rest of my life. My dream of practicing pediatric dentistry was finally coming true.  

Dilan was a shy, adorable 4-year-old accompanied by his mother. I remember so distinctly how he looked me up and down. I could tell he was scared and nervous; his mother told me he had previously had a traumatic appointment with the dentist. He was crying and reluctant, so I asked him what he liked to watch on TV, and I acted silly and goofy, pretending to be a friend of Spiderman; soon, there was a smile on his face. This enabled me to show him that there was nothing to fear. I enjoy this side of pediatric dentistry, bringing me back to my inner child to help my patients accept the treatment. His treatment plan was complex and extensive, and I knew I had to plan. With the support of Spiderman and my patient management skills, his treatment was a complete success over several appointments. I loved the satisfaction of treating a challenging case like Dilan and enabling him to overcome his fear. I also had the opportunity to educate Dilan’s mother about ways that she could prevent further oral decay. This was another reason I chose Pediatric Dentistry. This long-term sustainable contribution comes with the opportunity to provide oral health education to the patient and their family from a very early age. 

During my breaks from dental school, I flew home to Texas, where I spent my time shadowing and assisting a pediatric dentist, Dr. ____. I loved everything about her clinic, mainly her focus on helping special needs children- I observed when and how to use nitrous oxide and CO2 laser on children, for example. 

Pursuing Pediatric dentistry will allow me to become the professional I have always wanted. I am ready and confident that I possess the passion, traits, and skills needed to become a great pediatric dentist. With the help of your program, I hope to grow as a dentist and be able to join a highly successful team. I would be honored to be a part of your pediatric dentistry program, and I thank you for considering my application. 

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600 CHARACTER LIMIT 

Working with a team and helping the underserved have been central goals of mine for a long time.  As a student in high school, I went on a mission trip to Africa to serve an orphanage, and I then went with a dental brigade to Nicaragua to support rural communities that lacked healthcare. During dental school, I volunteered with other students for the Tocancipa Foundation, dedicated to aiding single mothers of low income that had no access to dental care for their children. I also tutored English at no cost to children who had few resources. I hope to one day build a team of dentists and create a mission to help communities in need.  

CAAPID Personal Statement Examples