International Dentist Personal Statement

Foreign Trained International Dentist

I write in support of my application to an advanced placement program for international dentists. An Egyptian American with dual citizenship and a dentist, I was born in Florida, USA to Egyptian parents, spending much of my childhood in Egypt. While I consider myself a native speaker of English, my first language was Arabic. Now 27, by the end of 2023, I had completed dental school in Egypt, a one-year internship, and earned an advanced certificate in Implantology. I also enjoyed a variety of volunteer and teaching experiences.

While the USA will always be my home in many ways, the Middle East is equally central to my long-term plans, for it shall be there, in Arabic, where I make my principal contribution to the underserved, those who have the greatest need for my help. There are almost one million refugees in Egypt from 62 nationalities, and they are not economic refugees as is often the case elsewhere. These individuals came to Egypt fleeing death, violence, rape, and torture. Syrians, Sudanese, and South Sudanese are the three most numerous groups, with Eritreans, Ethiopians, Yemenis, Somalis, and Iraqis also represented in large numbers, all coming from countries with brutal civil wars in the recent past. I met several refugees while I was in Egypt and helped to arrange for their dental care. Most refugees live in urban areas such as Greater Cairo, Alexandria, Sharkia, and Damietta, eking out an existence as vendors or in menial jobs. The number of Gazans in Egypt is minimal, because the government denies them entry. As an American whose mother tongue is Arabic, with a dental degree from Egypt, I am in a perfect position to help.

I feel special affection and concern for Gazans who share a border with Egypt because they have been subjected to ongoing waves of genocidal violence for many decades, which has recently claimed more than 50 thousand lives, at least one third of them children. As an Arab, I feel called to help Gazans, particularly because I am also an American, with our tax dollars being used to pay for many of the bombs that continue to drop on Gaza. After finishing the international dentist program, I look forward to visiting Gaza for an extended period—one of the few places where almost everyone is underserved—and providing dental care.

I first earned a high school diploma in Egypt in 2017, focused on Biology. I finished dental school in 2022 at Alexandria University in Alexandria, Egypt with a 3.97 GPA.  Next, I earned an advanced diploma in implantology, also at Alexandria University, in 2023. In 2024 I had the great privilege of serving as a Teaching Assistant in Operative Dentistry at two universities simultaneously, Alamein University and the Arab Academy for Science and Technology (02/2024 to 06/2024). In August of 2024, I began serving as a dental assistant in Florida. I currently serve as a registered dental hygienist at Chamberlain Dental in Clearwater.

I am thankful that I began conducting research while still in dental school, most notably, I contributed to a research study entitled "The Impact of Anti-Asthmatics on Salivary Factors and Dental Caries Patterns in Children with Bronchial Asthma in Alexandria, Egypt." This study, conducted under the supervision of the Head of the Community Dentistry Department, required us to visit schools across Alexandria, collect saliva samples, and diagnose children to gather data. We also decided to give back to the community by conducting oral hygiene workshops for children, teaching them how to brush their teeth properly, and providing them with toothbrushes. The video documenting this project was later chosen by the dean to serve as a motivational tool for future dental students. After graduation, I completed a one-year internship, rotating through various public and university hospitals. I sought every opportunity to gain hands-on experience and expand my knowledge. I also worked part-time at a dental photography studio of which I was co-founder, taking professional photographs of dental cases and procedures. I volunteered to teach dental photography workshops to dental students, emphasizing the importance of clinical documentation.

Well before coming to the USA in 2024, I began preparing for the INBDE as a first step toward fulfilling my dream of studying in America. When I arrived, I began working as a dental assistant and studying to become a registered dental hygienist, observing and assisting with a variety of advanced procedures, such as LANAP for patients with terminal periodontal disease and diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. The mentors I had the privilege of working with greatly influenced my aspirations, and I am now more determined than ever to become a provider of exceptional dental care. I accepted three simultaneous part-time positions as a dental assistant last year to gain diverse experiences, even assisting in complex oral rehab cases when I did not have hygiene appointments. This further solidified my commitment to advancement in dentistry. deeply enriching my understanding and skills and driving me forward in the lifetime pursuit of excellence in oral health care.

Thank you for considering my application.

International Dentist Personal Statement