Moving to the Philippines for dental school and then to practice was an eye-opening experience. Having been born and raised in the US to Filipino parents, I was unsure what to expect but was incredibly surprised by the differences in attitudes to dentistry. For most people in the Philippines, a visit to a dentist is an occasional and unavoidable evil to which recourse is made only when dental pain becomes unbearable rather--rather than a regular and necessary maintenance exercise as visits to the dentist are seen in America. This tendency to neglect oral health did, at least, provide me with incredibly early and frequent exposure to a wide range of severe oral health conditions that are rare in a Western country. It also incited in me a genuine passion for spreading preventative dental education to create 'teeth for life' for the younger generation both in the US and abroad. Now, I hope to be accepted to an Advanced Placement Program for foreign-trained dentists in the USA.
During the third and fourth years of my dental training in the Philippines, I worked every Saturday in poor local neighborhoods. The experience of seeing so many grimaces of pain turn into smiles of relief, and the gratitude of patients, absolutely confirmed my career choice. In the fall of 2015, I was fortunate to be allowed to work as a volunteer with ‘Operation Smile’ during which I assisted in oral reconstruction procedures under the direction of leading Chinese and European practitioners and learned much in the process. I have also provided voluntary assistance on several medical missions, which was a beneficial and satisfying supplement to my formal training.
I hope to qualify to practice in a poor area of the US, and I believe that the relevant experience that I have accrued will enable me to be particularly effective in a poor community. I regard preventative education in oral hygiene and dental care to be an obligation and will seek to establish relationships with local institutions, especially schools, to further this end. The earlier that dental education is provided, the more likely that healthy habits will be acquired, and I will aim to assist in the provision of that education, especially to the young.
Since returning to the US, I have volunteered in several practices. I have been able to shadow several dentists, including specialists in orthodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery, in addition to routine general practice. This has given me valuable insights into how dentistry is practiced here, with cross-disciplinary cooperation and efficient clinic administration. I have also sought to stay abreast of the subject by regularly reading professional journals. I am extremely excited to be part of a discipline in which so many advances in materials and techniques are being made, and I intend to seek to stay fully abreast of all such passages as they occur. I would be very keen to assist in research on new materials to test and prove them for the earliest and most comprehensive applications possible.
I was raised to work hard and to excel rather than merely to ‘do enough.’ I gained a GPA of 3.8 for my bachelor's degree and third place in the class rankings for dental school. When I arrived in Cebu in the Philippines, I did not speak the local Cebuano language when I arrived but acquired fluency within a year while also studying dentistry. I offer these as reliable indicators of my academic ability and potential, diligence, and commitment.
I seek to be a ‘well-rounded’ person and believe that all work and no play ‘makes Jack a dull boy'. I earned a minor in Theater during my undergraduate years, and I enjoy acting when the opportunity arises. I also play guitar, which has assisted in acquiring and retaining an excellent level of manual dexterity. I also enjoy choral singing and swimming. I have enjoyed some modest success in competitions in both singing and swimming.
I have happily trained, worked, and socialized with people from many ethnic and social backgrounds. I love to learn about other cultures and share information about my own. I am an ‘easy-going’ person who enjoys meeting new people and has been blessed with a good sense of humor. I relate well to patients and gain their confidence easily and quickly. I am deeply aware of the importance of seeing patients as unique individuals rather than a set of notes and x-rays and will seek to avoid that trap with determination throughout my career.
I believe that I have provided evidence of being academically able and a committed and diligent person with an excellent dental education and significant and broad practical experience. I am confident that I have the potential to excel within the program and to become an excellent and highly effective practitioner once qualified.
Thank you for considering my application.
Foreign-Trained Dentist, DDS/DMD, Filipino American
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