Students

On Saturday, February 26, 96 children came to the School of Dentistry to receive free dental care from DDS, dental hygiene and dental therapy students and their faculty. Services included comprehensive examinations, cleanings, sealants and fillings. The event is part of the American Dental Association’s national Give Kids a Smile program aimed at providing oral health services to children who might not otherwise be able to receive them. Give Kids a Smile was established as a national program in 2003, and nearly 1,500 partners host events each February in honor of Children’s Dental Health Month. 

Three women working to translate their dental degrees into United States licensure are taking every opportunity to learn while they’re back in school—and they’re giving back along the way. 

Though it is often a cornerstone of higher educational experiences, international programming and study abroad opportunities have been rare at best throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is more than one way to embrace a global mindset through education—and a School of Dentistry team has made an international experience possible without leaving campus.

The School of Dentistry welcomed 16 new learners to the Program for Advanced Standing Students this January, comprising the class of 2024. 

The Program for Advanced Standing Students, or PASS, is a 29-month program designed for graduates of dental schools outside the United States and Canada who have moved to the United States and want to practice dentistry within the U.S. 

When Peter Wilkinson, DDS ’22, reflects on what drew him to dentistry, one aspect stands out: the people. “I started out college in engineering, then I got a job in a research lab and considered pursuing a research career,” recalled Wilkinson. “But that seemed socially limiting and when I thought about what I really cared about, I realized I wanted to work with people and make a difference in their lives.”

Annika Johnson, DDS ’22, got an early start on her dental education thanks to a special mentor. Her mom, Becky Johnson, graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1992. 

Mohammed Akl, DDS, MS, an advanced education resident with a knack for design and a love for research, is the inaugural holder of a new scholarship supporting research in prosthodontics.

For Emerson Gonyea, DDS ’23, and Jenna Gardner, MDT ’22, the School of Dentistry has been a key part of their love story. Now, it’s a main character in their engagement story, too.

The United States celebrates National Dental Hygiene month in October, honoring the dental hygienists who care for our teeth and promote healthy habits throughout our lives. At the School of Dentistry, we are proud to educate learners who are prepared intellectually, technically and ethically to meet the oral health care needs and challenges of the future.

Pedro Lopez Vega’s life seems to have followed a path that feels inevitable. Life has not been easy for the Dental Therapy class of 2024 student, but everything he has experienced has brought him to where he is today—and shaped his vision for the future.