Lawn Ruth

UConn School of Dental Medicine, Class of 2013

An Arizona native born to parents in the military, I have lived in various locations among families of many cultural and economic backgrounds, including residents of Okinawa, Japan. After graduating from Smith College with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, I attended school for dental assisting in Connecticut. I worked for a while as a dental assistant and later taught courses in that field. My passion for serving the poor first surfaced when I volunteered at St. Anthony’s Clinic in the Bronx and with a dental/medical team in Honduras as part of the Light of the World Charities. I have learned that compassionate and generous medical practitioners can help patients overcome feelings of powerlessness in a health care delivery system that is neither uniform nor fair. I know that the UST will foster interdisciplinary teamwork and help me refine the skills I need to become a leading role model in dental outreach.