My native land, where I was born, Yemen, is one of the world's poorest and most politically turbulent countries. This is illustrated, most recently, by the country making President Trump’s list of seven no-fly nations. Because of an acute lack of resources perpetuated by political unrest and destruction, oral health resources are highly underdeveloped. Thus, it was the highlight of my life so far when a few months ago, in December of 2016, I was able to accompany a dental mission to Yemen, serving as a translator and assisting with extractions and fillings. I hope to contribute to the diversity of your general residency program as someone with fresh experience from the front lines of one of the world's most challenging dental missionary assignments. I could not be more pleased that dentistry is a global profession characterized by human solidarity.
Earning my BS in Biology in May 2013 and devoted to research from early on, I published a research paper in a scientific journal while still an undergraduate student. I worked as a Dental Assistant for an Endodontist for five months in 2014. I was also paid to do academic research as an undergraduate student during the summer of 2016. Currently working towards completing my DDS Degree at XXXX Medical College School of Dentistry, I look forward to giving my all to a general practice residency program.
In 2016, I started researching tissue and saliva as sentinels of toxicant exposure at XXXX Medical College. In the summer of 2016, I was a professional researcher at the University of XXXX, working on the role of TLR2-/TLR4- genes in bone resorption in mice. After my first year of dental school, I was accepted into the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a Public Health Dentistry Scholar. I am incredibly passionate about researching preventative dental interventions that can prevent oral diseases. I am particularly proud of my role as IT tech for our dental school class, ensuring our equipment works correctly. When it doesn’t, they call me, and I feel a special joy each time this happens. I have also served as an Academic Vice President for our class, and for the past three years, I have been President of our Student Professional Ethics Association.
This past December, providing free dental care in the city of Aden in my native Yemen, my home, I realized more fully the gravity of my responsibility to help these people. The UN has recently issued a hunger crisis for the increasing number of children dying from hunger in Yemen, rapidly deteriorating conditions. I am fortunate to be here in America, and I would like to be able to one day open my free dental clinic in Aden. I also look forward to a professional lifetime of research into issues in preventative oral health interventions for many oral diseases. If accepted into your general practice residency program, I hope to distinguish myself in assisting medically compromised patients.
I am part of the Yemeni American Leadership Association. We try to serve as positive role models for young people in America’s Yemeni community. While in dental school, I volunteered to help with oral health screenings and education with Head Start. I attended different elementary schools, the annual health expo, and the Elam Mental Health Clinic. I have also helped with RAM (Remote Medical Area) weekend events in various locations, with as many as one thousand patients seen and treated at each event: mostly extractions, fillings, and cleanings.
I will be happy to be the first member of my family to earn a graduate degree. I attribute my success to a lot of dedication and hard work. Ten years from now, I plan to be shuttling back and forth between my two dental practices, one in America and the other in Yemen. In both countries, I hope to focus on the underserved, especially in the land of my birth, where the underserved are the rule rather than the exception.
Thank you for considering my application.
IDP Applicant from Yemen Personal Statement Editor
