What was your career goal when you graduated, and where are you up to on that journey?

My career goal when I graduated was to be a dentist! While taking the lab courses and getting clinical exposure, I realized that I want to further specialize in prosthodontics. Currently, I am a second year dental student at Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine.

What are you currently working on professionally?

As of right now, we are still taking some didactics and lab courses. On top of that, we have also been in clinic since mid January.

How has the Department of Biological Sciences helped you prepare for your goal?

I was part of the Bio Honors Program and it has helped more than I could think of. It has surrounded me with like minded individuals whose goals are also similar to mine. It has also prepared me for the rigor, complexity, and effort professional health school requires.

What faculty member or class brings back the best memories?

I have many favorite professors, but the most notable ones are Dr. Sehgal and Dr. Poulin. If you’ve ever thought, “ugh I wish I had a better professor,” Dr. Sehgal is a great example of everything you’ve been wishing for. She is undeniably one of the most passionate professors I’ve ever had, who made it her top priority to make learning fun and made sure you understand the concepts very well. With her there’s never any dumb question, you can ask her anything and she will respond to make sure you understand the concepts she teaches. I remember asking her so many questions, I let my curiosity run wild. And no matter how simple my questions were or how far away they were to the topic we’d be learning, she was always happy to answer all of them. I asked so many questions after every lecture that I became a part of her schedule. She is literally one of the best professors I’ve ever had. Another professor I will not stop talking about is Dr. Poulin. She is everything. She wears many hats. She’s your professor, mentor, personal advisor, and many more all in one. Dr. Poulin is another one of those professors that cares so deeply about her students. She introduced us to challenging primary articles and helped me navigate them efficiently and effectively, which is still beneficial to me to this day. She has helped choose between which dental schools to go to. She has guided me and pointed me to the right direction in more ways than I can count. I personally think I wouldn’t be where I am today without these two professors. I honestly can say so much more about how great they are but I am just beyond grateful that they were a part of my journey.

What is your advice to the current/future BIO students?

Be yourself! You are exactly where you need to be. This is your life and you only get one, make do with it how you want unapologetically. Pursue your interests selfishly, travel, work, do whatever fulfills your heart. I know all those sound cliche but I truthfully stand behind those beliefs. You’re unique, there’s only one of you in the world, forge your OWN path and make sure it’s unforgettable:)