Leading in excellence

Headshot of Roland Oyou

Roland Oyou, DDS ’25, had to grow up fast.

“Being the oldest child of an immigrant family in the United States means that life responsibilities are assumed prematurely,” he explained.

But that same rapid development of responsibility helped him find a passion for where he is today. In fact, one of the earliest roles he took on was that of translator for dental and medical care.

“I was nine years old when I saw a dentist for the first time,” he recalled. “The dentist left a strong impression on me. They were kind and explained things slowly and clearly so I could translate to my parents. The patience they had while caring for my family’s oral health exemplified their vocation to caring for people in adversity.”

That’s how Oyou found his way toward healthcare.

“I wanted to continue helping underserved individuals in similar situations as my family, by bridging the gap between culture, language and oral health.” 

Once he knew he wanted to study dentistry, choosing the University of Minnesota was an easy choice. A Twin Cities resident for much of his life, Oyou “had ambitions to one day be a Golden Gopher.” And the School of Dentistry was a perfect fit with its focus on community outreach, involvement and equity in providing dental care to all populations.

Now that he’s a student, Oyou appreciates the school’s focus on clinical excellence and teamwork—and how the two inform one another. “I believe a health care system that reflects its patient population and holds providers to high standards of teamwork and collaboration is the key to positively improving healthcare disparities in all communities,” he explained. “I know the School of Dentistry holds these values dearly, which can be seen through the clinical and interprofessional experiences provided to us from year one of dental school.”

Oyou values those experiences, from early clinical endeavors to working with public health students to provide health information at Give Kids a Smile, and feels they are preparing him to be an excellent clinician.

What’s most important to Oyou, however, is being a leader and a model for his community. “I want to provide high-quality dental care to my patients while also being a mentor to students like myself who are planning to pursue studies in dentistry or other oral health care professions,” he said. “The school’s focus on lifting one another up through the sharing of knowledge, excellent didactic and clinical courses, and community involvement, are preparing me well for my future as a community leader.”

INVOLVEMENT

Dental Student Ambassador
Member, American Student Dental Association
Member, Hispanic and Latino Dental Student Association
Member, Pediatric Dental Club
Member, Student National Dental Association
Volunteer, Give Kids a Smile

HOMETOWN

Anoka, MN

 

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