Daniel Beauvais

UConn School of Dental Medicine Class of 2016

I grew up in West Springfield, Massachusetts, though my family now lives in West Suffield, Conn. I attended Boston University and earned a B.S. in Human Physiology. I sought involvement in the UST to continue to give back to underserved communities, something I’ve long been been interested in. I volunteered at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, which sees patients of many different backgrounds. This was a very rewarding experience that gave me a unique perspective on some of the issues in the healthcare field today. In order to serve the community through education, I interned with the Boston University School of Dental Medicine’s Oral Health Promotion office. In conjunction with the director of the program I went to classrooms and childcare centers with teaching tools and dental “goody bags” to give to children from underserved communities in the Greater Boston area. Many of these children had little knowledge of basic dental care, and our services increased awareness and healthy practices. I look forward to being able to continue to serve in a meaningful way through UST.  I consider myself privileged to be a young member in such a promising and fulfilling field as healthcare, yet at the same time I have a responsibility to use the knowledge I acquire through my education to give back to those who need care the most. By serving the community, I hope that I will be able to teach patients about preventative care and spread awareness that will ultimately have a positive impact on many peoples’ lives.