Emily Sachs

UConn School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2018

I grew up in Pomfret, Connecticut. I graduated from Providence College in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. For the past two years, I have volunteered at the Mission of Mercies in both Connecticut and Rhode Island. Prior to that, from sophomore to senior year of college, I volunteered at inner city schools in which I presented information to children about oral health awareness. I was also a tutor for local high school students around the Providence area, and I volunteered at a pediatric dental office for a year.

The patients that would come into the pediatric dental office were from middle- to lower-class families. Witnessing children that had either never been to the dentist or had not come in years, I learned about the importance of oral care. Throughout my childhood, I was ignorant of the ways vulnerable populations lived. Living in a city taught me that not everyone is fortunate enough to have the means to support themselves financially, which leads many people to go without basic necessities such as healthcare. I felt that joining the Urban Service Track would allow me to combine working in a field I am passionate about with a cause I am very passionate about. Our healthcare system is expanding; I would like to help continue this expansion by giving back to the underserved populations in any way I can. Not only will UST be a learning experience for me, but it will also be a perfect opportunity to provide for and to educate the underserved.