AADOCR NSRG Graduate Student Representative Candidate 2026-2027
University of Washington School of Dentistry
Woodinville, WA
Graduation Date: 2026
Reasons for Running
I am excited to run for graduate student representative because of the positive and enriching experiences I’ve had with AADOCR, the student organization, and the national conferences I’ve attended over the past two years as a DDS/PhD student. These experiences have played a significant role in shaping my research skills, motivating me to push myself to improve while also learning from others in the field. They have provided invaluable exposure to dental research beyond my university, deepening my understanding and broadening my perspectives.
As a graduate student representative, I hope to contribute to enhancing this already incredible experience by offering my unique viewpoint. As an Iranian-American immigrant living in Washington state, a woman, and one of the few in a dual-degree dentist-scientist program, I bring a diverse perspective that I believe can help foster a more inclusive and dynamic environment for all students.
Research Conducted / Student Activities
Preventive dental care utilization and dental caries for Medicaid-enrolled adolescents in Oregon: Analyzed Medicaid enrollment, claims files, and survey data from adolescents (12-18 years) enrolled in Oregon Medicaid who received a dental screening. Published first-author paper in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry.
Emergency department use for nontraumatic dental conditions among Medicaid-enrolled children with special healthcare needs: Aimed to determine if emergency department (ED) use for nontraumatic dental conditions (NTDC) differs between children with and without SHCN, and whether opioid prescriptions after NTDC-ED visits differ. Led data analysis and manuscript writing. Published in JADA (first author).
Associations between self-reported stress and hair cortisol measures for Medicaid-enrolled adolescents: Evaluated associations between self-reported stress and biological stress (hair cortisol) in adolescents. Led data analysis and manuscript writing.
Disability rating and dental treatment complexity of veterans in the U.S.: Explored the association between veterans' disability ratings and the complexity of dental treatments in the Everyone for Veterans (E4V) program, which provides free care to low-income veterans ineligible for VA services. Led study design and data analysis.
