Having completed dental school and gained extensive experience practicing dentistry in my native India, I have made the USA my permanent home. I ask for admission to your competitive DDS program to become the finest dentist possible. I seek to give my all to advancing preferential treatment for the underserved in dentistry in constant pursuit of contributing to philanthropic or altruistic efforts – here in America and in India. While I seek a lifetime of dental practice at the service of my patients of all ages, my most recent and most prominent experience here in the USA has been in the fulfillment of a mini-residency program in Pediatric Dentistry, hosted by XXXX University in October of 2015, involving clinical, case-based studies, seminars, and laboratory work.
I was ecstatic to learn from and interact with American and international professors/dentists who are among some of the most outstanding dentists on the planet. I even had the opportunity to listen to one of the world-renowned professors whose books I had read as a dental student in India. Discussing clinical cases allowed me to learn from the experiences of the leaders in my field, test my knowledge, and stay abreast of the latest tools and technologies in dentistry, such as the Haptic Dental Simulation, a virtual training system for administration of local anesthesia in mandible. I also learned a great deal about the best way to handle patients with special needs. Finally, it was also a great privilege to listen to dentists recount their stories of practicing on behalf of the underserved in developing countries such as Columbia and Turkey. This reminded me of my work in India and reinforced my commitment to the underserved members of my community here in America and back in India.
Growing up in India, I would frequently help my grandfather in his orphanage and school for the blind and visually impaired. My grandfather's dedication to helping the weakest and most vulnerable members of our community was a prominent factor in developing my human, social, and communal values. Early on, helping granddad instilled in me a great appreciation for the value of community service. As a dental student and later a dentist, I was pained while volunteering in rural areas in India with the desperate lack of awareness I encountered concerning hygiene and dental hygiene. Oral health diseases are highly prevalent in India, especially in the countryside.
After earning my DDS Degree, I look forward to going on to cultivate a lifetime specialization in Endodontics. I plan to set up my dental practice. By being independent, I hope to be best able to schedule the time that I will need to continue to grow professionally, working towards publication, and helping frontline organizations struggling to provide dental care to the underserved in India, providing them with as much support and solidarity as I can. For the short term, I would like to work in hospitals to enhance my skills further and acquire several more years of hands-on experience following the completion of your program.
Since I permanently moved to the USA, I have already been active as a dental professional back in India. I have spent years practicing dentistry in rural, remote areas and in the city, working with patients from diverse backgrounds, and I understand the psychology of diverse types of patients. Working in rural areas with extreme conditions and limited equipment helped to fortify my dedication and commitment to my profession. The camps and rallies reflect my passion for helping my community and the educational programs I organized and attended in schools, colleges, and villages.
I have been studying intensely since I came to America to stay up to date on the latest tools, trends, and resources in American dentistry, including completing several ADA CE Online courses (two hundred credits). I have also spent countless hours in observerships with a variety of dentists. Finally, I have been volunteering as a Dental Assistant and Technician, as well as an Interpreter for the Hindi language at the Trinity Clinic in Carmel, Indiana, since 2014.
I believe with the knowledge and the readiness to work hard; I have much to give as a DDS student in your program and beyond. I could not be more passionate about dentistry. No other field could bring me the same level of personal or professional satisfaction. My experience and educational background have instilled in me the qualities that will enable and inspire me to meet the rigors of this demanding profession. I feel that my demonstrated passion for implementing what I have learned and my desire to help those in need make me a strong candidate for dental school.
It would be an enormous honor and privilege to be selected for your program, and I assure you that I will give my all.
I thank you for considering my application to your competitive program.
International Dentist DDS/DMD Indian Applicant
Comments