A dentist from India, I have been making a new life for myself in America since 2013. Since March 2014, I have been working as a Registered Dental Assistant at XXXX, a clinic near where I live in Houston, Texas. I have fallen totally in love with the practice of dentistry in America. It brings me such joy that I am anxious to get to the clinic early each day to begin. I have learned a great deal about some of the most advanced procedures in our clinic that will help me to excel in your DDS Program and empower me towards a long career, giving my all to my patients and increasingly making my contribution to the underserved, first in the USA and later in my native India which is in such great need.
My duties at XXXX include maintaining accurate and timely records of test results and applying standard quality control procedures to assure their accuracy, regulating sterilization and asepsis protocols, managing, and ordering materials, and keeping records for state inspection and various laboratory works. I enjoy operating, calibrating, and performing routine maintenance on specialized equipment. I maintain our supply inventory, organize files and records, and prepare solutions and stains for prescribed tests. I also greet patients, set up the operatory, take and develop radiographs, and assist the dentist with various treatments and procedures. In addition to my full-time position as a Dental Assistant, since May 2015, I have worked as a research technician at the XXXX Center for Biomaterials and Biomimetics, part of the UXX School of Dentistry complex. This has also enabled me to learn about important aspects of dentistry that will be useful in the long term, especially back in India, which confronts significant challenges in waste disposal.
I am very much in love with America and considering joining the US Army as a practicing dentist after completing my DDS or DMD program for at least several years, allowing me to give something back to the newly adopted country that has taken me in. I also see this as excellent preparation for a lifetime of professional service to my community at the local level here in America. Serving in the military would allow me to care for the oral health needs of a critical sector of our population, those giving their lives for our country; I cannot think of anyone more deserving of dental care. In addition, the US Army is disproportionately ethnic-minority men and women, African American, Latino, Asian, African, etc. It would be a special privilege to gain additional experience with such a vast diversity of patients. Finally, dentistry in the US Army is very high-tech, using the latest equipment and procedures, helping me continue to advance and stay at the forefront of rapid developments in dentistry and broaden my professional horizons. My long-term plan is to practice as an academic dentist. This will allow me to advance my research skills and stay updated on the latest developments in Dentistry.
I have always stepped forward to serve my community and took an active, if not leading, role in numerous dental camps while in dental school. Since I arrived in America, I have also worked extremely hard as a volunteer for several worthy causes related to oral health. I continue to strengthen my leadership and communication skills – ever more adept at fostering teamwork among my colleagues. My professional experience as a dental assistant and a research technician at the Biomaterials Laboratory has helped me fully acclimate to America; now, I am convinced that I am ready to hit the ground running in your DDS/DMD program.
Regularly attending and participating in conferences and seminars in various dental areas, I have consistently labored to stay up to date with the latest dental research and technology developments. I have groomed and disciplined myself to be pragmatic and caring, making a conscious effort to constantly enhance my capacity for self-criticism and improvement with a firm determination to succeed in dentistry in the USA.
I am especially interested in research on dental materials' optical properties. My other areas of unique engagement with literature are oral cancer and periodontitis. My volunteer work here in Houston also stands at the center of my world. In addition to serving as a Dental Assistant at events organized by the XXXX Medical Center, for the past 16 months, I have also been volunteering at the Cardiac Care Unit of a local medical center. I never miss an AIDS Walk, an Oral Cancer Awareness Walk, or fail to participate in a Give Kids a Smile event at the UXX School of Dentistry.
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