Alessandra DePaolo

UConn School of Dental Medicine

Ali grew up in Cheshire, CT, and attended Cheshire High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and biochemistry, pre-dental track, with a minor in psychology, from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.

During her gap years, Ali worked as a dental assistant for two general dentistry and prosthodontics practices in the Washington, DC-Maryland-Virginia region, which exposed her to an array of patient populations and clinical services, as well as the ins and outs of running a dental practice. She also volunteered at breakfast meal services with Thrive DC and taught tap dance to children and adults at CityDance Studios.

“I am drawn to playing the role of intermediary between technical concepts and applied actions, using expertise to share my passions with others in a digestible way. I have found this purpose as a dance teacher, student researcher, and dental assistant,” Ali explains. “My clinical experiences emphasized the multifaceted nature of stress and systemic disease, and their relationship to oral health. The UST/AS Program was the perfect opportunity to contextualize my dental training within comprehensive healthcare, focusing on high-risk populations and interprofessional teamwork. As a Connecticut native, it was important for me to familiarize myself with the nearby urban and rural communities and the healthcare systems they navigate in our state. I hoped to gain confidence in cross-cultural care at Connecticut FQHCs [federally qualified health centers] and clinical sites in order to enhance my skills in educating diverse communities and promoting healthcare accessibility throughout my career.”