Danielle Phillip

UConn School of Dental Medicine

I was born and raised in Valley Stream, NY, and earned a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences from the University of Connecticut in the spring of 2025. I also double minored in Spanish and molecular and cell biology.

My experience volunteering at an orthodontic practice in an underserved community in Brooklyn, NY, inspired me to work in a similar community one day. I have also served as a volunteer coach for a local track club composed of minority children, and have participated in outreach initiatives with my church.

In UST/AS, I want to fully immerse myself in the healthcare team by collaborating with other aspiring healthcare providers and learn how to interact with and treat my future patients. I also know that I will be treating a large number of underserved patients in clinics during my third and fourth years of dental school, so the UST/AS Program during my first two years will prepare me for that, as well. If I can contribute to making quality healthcare more accessible, I will feel as though I fulfilled my purpose. Rates of periodontitis and dental caries, as well as deaths from oral cancer, would drastically decrease if dental care became more accessible for everyone.