AADOCR NSRG Councilor Candidate 2026-2027
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Graduation Date: 2028
Reasons for Running
As a dual-degree student at UCSF and an alumni of the UCSD Pre-Dental Society, my goal is to become a clinician-scientist bridging the gap between research and clinical care, with a focus on improving oral health in underserved communities. Through my academic and extracurricular experiences, I've witnessed how research, clinical practices, and access to care can improve patient outcomes. I am eager to join the NSRG leadership to collaborate with like-minded peers, support future dentists and clinician-scientists to support their career development through workshops, webinars, and initiatives.
My work with the UCSD Pre-Dental Society Free Clinics, through various roles over five years, deepened my commitment to service and addressing dental disparities. I helped provide free care to underserved populations, managing clinic operations and educating patients on oral hygiene. This experience highlighted the critical need for accessible dental care and showed me how incorporating research findings in practice can improve patient outcomes.
At UCSF, I’ve conducted research on tooth morphogenesis, supported by an NIH/NIDCR F30 fellowship, and presented my findings at prestigious conferences. These experiences underscored the importance of organized dentistry, scientific communication, and networking. I am excited to contribute to the NSRG community and advance research and care accessibility.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry
Dual Degree DDS/PhD Student
- Conducted research on early tooth morphogenesis in murine models
- Awarded NIH/NIDCR F30 fellowship
- Presented research at UCSF Research Day, Society for Developmental Biology, IADR/AADOCR, and Gordon Research Conference
- Won first place in the SCADA competition
- Defended thesis in Fall 2024
- Board Member of UCSF student research group
- Board Member of UCSF OMFS Club
UCSD Huntington’s Disease Clinical Research Center
Master’s Student Researcher and Volunteer Training Coordinator
- Studied clinical and salivary biomarkers of Huntington’s disease progression
- Recruited, coordinated, and led regular training sessions for student researchers
- Presented at the American Academy of Neurology and American Neurological Association annual meetings
- Defended thesis in Summer 2018
UCSD Pre-Dental Society
Clinic Data Coordinator and Volunteer Manager
- Tracked patient demographics, care value, and clinic efficiency across four free clinics
- Coordinated patient flow, instrument sterilization, and transdisciplinary health discussions
- Served on the executive board of the UCSD PDS overseeing organization activities such as volunteer training, guest seminar series, and dental school application workshops
Volunteer Dental Assistant and Health Ambassador
- Took x-rays and assisted dentists in providing free dental care to underserved populations
- Conducted oral health education at schools, community health fairs, and free clinics