A young, cosmopolitan Indian woman and a dentist who could not be more devoted to my profession, I hope to be selected to begin a DDS/DMD Program here in the USA, where I have been building a new, permanent home with my family. In preparation for excellent performance in a DDS/DMD Program for international dentists in the USA, I pursued a Master’s in Public Health at XXXX University in New York. An avid and relentless student, I could not be happier with the thought that completing this master's degree will help me excel in your doctoral program and beyond. It also dovetails nicely with an emphasis on helping the underserved, which I look forward to cultivating and building upon throughout my professional life.
As a master's student in Public Health, I connect the dots concerning the critical relationship between dentistry and public health. Courses in epidemiology, social and behavioral health, biostatistics, health promotion, disease prevention, and finance have all been helping me enormously to gain more sophisticated perspectives on the many ways that cultural factors play a role in oral health. On the one hand, epidemiological and bio-statistical calculations help identify the distribution and prevalence of oral health conditions correctly; on the other, healthcare outcomes assessment and finance help design an appropriate program with the available budget to make the most of available resources.
I also work as an intern at Public Health Solutions, a non-profit organization working to benefit the residents of Queens, NY. They create programs that help ensure the basic welfare of vulnerable community members, including their oral health. I also volunteer at XXXX Hospital in Brooklyn, shadowing dentists, the best residents, and dentists in the dental department to keep myself up to date with the latest treatment procedures. I especially enjoy getting involved with unique cases and learning how to create optimal treatment plans for these rare conditions.
As a young person, I developed a great passion for oil paintings. In time, I saw dentistry as something akin to working with oils, requiring the same skill of hand and attention to intricate detail, precise strokes, and focus. I love how dentistry constantly evolves with innovative technologies and increasingly effective procedures. I envision someday designing and operating a dental office that would be efficient, comfortable, and provide a charming, stress-free atmosphere. Only the absolute best dental care will be provided by conserving the original teeth where possible and working to improve oral hygiene. I also hope to treat many patients who cannot afford my care.
For me, dentistry is much more than gainful employment, it is my vocation, and most importantly, it provides me with a vehicle for giving back to my community. It is the feeling of accomplishment and contentment that nothing else can provide. I remember one patient, an older gentleman, who could not afford dentures and had problems eating. I offered to pay for his treatment and made the complete denture for him at no charge. The gentleman was overjoyed and smiled widely as he blessed me with all the work that I had done. My other unforgettable moments in life have been serving in dental check-up camps in rural India, where dental hygiene is, at best, an afterthought. I spent the days cleaning teeth and educating people about the importance of dental care. I have spent the past five years obtaining as much theoretical and practical knowledge about dentistry as possible. I have attended to and cared for many patients, so I have hands-on experience with many procedures I learned in dental school. I have presented projects and seminars on preventive care, oral hygiene, and oral cancer to various audiences. Finally, I have researched partial dentures, bleaching, and implants.
During my one-year internship rotations, I was involved with various non-government organizations and served at health centers in nearby villages. I also served at Manavsadhna, a famous Gandhi ashram. I educated the less privileged kids about oral health and dental hygiene, distributed toothbrushes, and samples, and demonstrated how to use them most effectively. The main issue with many individuals is that they are unaware of the importance of dental hygiene. I seek to pursue holistic approaches in dentistry that always incorporate patient education: spreading dental health knowledge and services to my community, thinking globally, and acting locally, and helping to ensure that my patients and future generations take a proactive approach to their dental health.
Thank you for considering my application.
Foreign-trained Dentist Advanced Placement