Title: Associate Professor, Prosthodontist/Adult Restorative Dentistry
Hometown: I grew up in the small town of North Brookfield, Mass., a rural community in central Massachusetts. I was raised on a farm where my family has lived for over a century.
Education:
- BA, Biology and Music, Assumption College, Worcester, Mass.
- DMD, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass.
- AEGD Residency/Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, Oklahoma City, Okla.
- MDS, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, Memphis, Tenn.
- Certification of Specialty Training in Advanced Prosthodontics, University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, Memphis, Tenn.
My professional journey:
I have been involved in dentistry for quite a long time now! I began working as a dental assistant when I was 17 and was subsequently trained as an orthodontic lab technician. After dental school and completing my AEGD residency, I spent some time in private practice in New England before being presented with an opportunity in academia. I served as an assistant professor in the Division of Prosthodontics at the University of Oklahoma, where I was involved in prosthodontic clinical care and teaching nearly a dozen pre-clinical courses, including serving as the course director for fixed prosthodontics. Ultimately, I returned to residency to pursue specialty training in prosthodontics and have now joined the UNMC team as my first professional endeavor post-residency.
Accomplishments I am most proud of:
I come from a long line of hardworking, honest people whose sacrifices and ingenuity provided me with opportunities that I was able to seize and build upon. Mostly, I feel humbled and honored to have had such rich life experiences, from growing up on a farm, where I was solidly grounded, to pursuing a highly specialized career that has taken me across the nation. If there’s one thing I feel proud of, it’s that these two relatively rare and contrasting experiences are both integral to who I am today—a prosthodontist, a farmer’s daughter, and so much more.
My research and professional interests:
From a research standpoint, I am most interested in evaluating current materials and modern fabrication techniques in comparison to long-established industry standards. Innovation in dentistry is advancing at such a rapid pace today, but I’ll always be the one to stop and ask, “Is this truly better? Or at least equal? How do we know for sure?”
My teaching interests are similarly aligned. I’m passionate about creating high-quality lecture content that educates students on achieving the highest levels of clinical excellence and helping them unlock their potential to reach these heights. I don’t necessarily believe in “old dentistry” versus “new dentistry”; I believe in “good dentistry,” and that’s what I aim to communicate to both students and patients. I’m focused on educating clinicians and patients about the wide range of resources available to help solve oral health problems using materials and methods that provide predictable, safe, and high-quality outcomes.
How I fell in love with dentistry:
I first developed an interest in dentistry when I was eight years old. Curious about health professions, dentistry struck me as “a fun job.” In high school, I began to explore the profession more seriously and was fortunate to be warmly welcomed by my general dentist and three orthodontists, who opened their practices to me and encouraged my participation in patient care. Not only did these four clinicians share decades of combined dental knowledge with me, but they also provided a clear picture of what it means to be an upstanding professional and member of society. They were outstanding role models for a young person.
From these experiences, I knew early on that dentistry was not only “fun,” but also a fulfilling and viable career option. As my career has progressed, I have been incredibly fortunate to continue meeting truly talented and kind professionals who had immense faith in my potential and became friends and mentors through our shared love for the pursuit of excellence in dentistry and dental education. It is these colleagues (students and retirees alike!), along with the many gracious patients I have encountered, whose trust continually humbles me and fuels my enthusiasm for our work to this day.
Why I joined UNMC:
Having previously taught at a similarly sized institution, I was excited by the prospect of teaching at a smaller college, where there’s more opportunity for individualized instruction. When I came for my interview at UNMC, I was struck by the mutual respect among the UNMC faculty, staff and students. Many individuals at the College of Dentistry are dedicated to providing a high-quality education and training skilled professionals, and I am looking forward to contributing to that effort.
About my family:
I have two brothers whose families live in Massachusetts, very close to my parents. I also have a large network of cousins and extended family in New England and take great joy in visiting them whenever I can—especially my nieces and nephew.
My favorite thing to do on a day off:
At present, I am enjoying exploring Lincoln and greater Nebraska.
Three things people may not know about me:
- As an undergraduate student, I studied abroad for a semester at Cambridge University, where I did my DAT studying in an 800-year-old library!
- I have taken two solo backpacking trips across Europe.
- I love to cook and host dinner parties.