I hope to be selected to complete an Oral and Maxillofacial Residency Program that will offer me a highly active and diverse training experience, dealing intensively with every aspect of oral and maxillofacial surgery. I feel strongly that my extensive professional experience - clinical, teaching, and research - has prepared me for excellence in your program.
Graduating summa cum laude from XXXX University in 2005 with a BS in Biochemistry, I also relished playing on the university’s nationally ranked intercollegiate men’s soccer team. Awarded one of only four Math and Science Scholarships, I had the privilege of working as a Teaching and Research Assistant in the Biology Department. I was also inducted into the Alpha Chi Honors Society, amassed over 450 volunteer hours in a local hospital ER as an EMT, and volunteered to mentor local at-risk kids. My rigorous college curriculum and extracurricular activities taught me how to juggle many tasks successfully and work within various teams.
Another highlight of my career was participating in a research project in Israel, working alongside XXXX, Head of Cardiology at the XXXX Medical Center. Most of our work was focused on documenting the natural closure of the foramen ovale to assist in the accurate diagnosis of congenital heart defects in neonates. I loved my research, especially informing nurses and parents about the project and reassuring them that the research was necessary and harmless to their infants. During this period, I also learned a great deal about how the oral health of older children impacted their overall health. Repeatedly, l saw cases where life-saving cardiac surgery was postponed due to poor oral health. This was when I fell totally in love with dentistry.
When I returned to the USA, I began medical school at XXXX University School of Medicine. Still, I was soon beset by serious health-related challenges, chronic fatigue, and attention problems, unusual for an athlete. I was forced to take a leave of absence from medical school and was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. With the help of a team of General Dentists, an Orthodontist, and Oral Surgeons, I was advised to undergo orthognathic surgery, which was quite successful. During my downtime, I reflected a lot on Dentistry and shadowed several dentists. Even though I had returned to medical school after surgery, I had decided to withdraw my acceptance and reapply to dental school.
I see Dentistry as the optimal expression of my nature, interests, and central passions, working intricately with my hands, providing compassionate and cutting-edge healthcare, and satisfying my intellectual curiosity and pursuit of excellence. I am currently attending Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. One of the most rewarding aspects of my education is spending much of my time volunteering with and assisting the OMFS Residents during clinic and on-call rotations. I am excited to work with a team of individuals passionate about coming to work, sharing their knowledge with me, and challenging me to think critically. As the Secretary of the OMFS Interest Club and an Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program member, I have worked extensively with XXU’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons on two research projects. Our Geriatric Trauma Project has been submitted for publication, and the Nasal Conformer Project is being prepared for publication. I have been most honored by the opportunity to present this research at the podium and as a poster presentation.
I feel strongly that my accomplishments provide me with a distinctive perspective on the science and practice of dentistry that will help me excel as a resident in your Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program. I keenly look forward to a long professional lifetime fully engaged in teaching and research and the practice of our profession.
I thank you for considering my application.
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