Breaking barriers to advance discovery and care

For Fayzeh El Banna, DDS ’26, the path to dental school was arduous and challenging. But that path is exactly what inspired her passion for oral health care.

El Banna was born and raised in Lebanon as a Palestinian refugee, along with her parents and five sisters. 

“I grew up in a humble home, and my parents were absolutely very empowering,” she reflected. “Not having had the chance to go to college due to the civil war in Lebanon, they pushed me and my sisters to focus on our studies as a way to secure our future. I grew up with big dreams; my whole life has been focused on succeeding academically and has led to where I am today.” 

Her exposure to healthcare began early in life, when El Banna volunteered at the hospital and clinics in her refugee camp. As she developed a love for health and sciences, and as she witnessed the barriers to care that existed in her community, El Banna also witnessed her oldest sister becoming a dentist. 

“She was a great role model for me growing up,” she explained. “I was always intrigued watching her carving wax to make teeth or denture models.” El Banna noticed that her sister’s career path aligned well with her own love for art, as well as her interest in science. 

“Dentistry allows me to use my hands and creativity to alleviate people’s pain and enhance their beauty, all while interacting with them and using scientific knowledge,” she said. 

Pursuing that dream meant moving to the United States at the age of 17, attending Carleton College and pursuing science research alongside her biology degree. Her love for scientific discovery continued as she pursued research at the University of Minnesota Medical School while shadowing at dental offices. 

Getting to where she is now, as a dental student, took hard work, dedication and focus—but El Banna couldn’t be prouder of where she is. 

No step of her journey was easy. “While being an international student has made my journey much more fulfilling, it has certainly made it more challenging,” she said. “Very few people are fortunate enough to travel abroad to pursue their education. My status meant that I had to work harder than everyone, starting with fewer resources to compete for even fewer opportunities. I couldn't afford any slip ups, and had to be extremely committed to my educational goals, no matter what.” 

But that same status is what drives El Banna to be the best healthcare provider she can be. 

“As a refugee, I grew up without clean water, electricity or proper healthcare. I have seen members of my family and community suffer from the lack of resources in the healthcare field,” she explained. “I have realized that those disparities exist even in the United States. If not for being a refugee and seeing first-hand the struggles they go through, I am not sure that I would have the same passion for serving people in healthcare. And being a first generation student gave me the drive I needed to be better, and work harder to secure my future and ensure that better opportunities are provided for me and my family in the future.” 

El Banna has found a home at the School of Dentistry, where she can combine her love for research and healthcare, focusing holistically on oral and overall health. 

“When I imagine myself as a dentist, I think of my success and progression in two related aspects: my skills as a healthcare provider in the clinic, providing my patients with high quality dental care driven by scientific discovery, and my ability to take on leadership roles that aim to enhance dental care and treat it as part of overall health,” she explained. “The University of Minnesota School of Dentistry’s mission and vision greatly align with my goals and values, and I knew that the school would allow me to become the dentist-scientist I aspire to be.” 

Through the challenges and successes, El Banna is confident that her journey has brought her to exactly where she needs to be—bolstered by the support of her family and her own dedication to excellence.

“Coming from an underserved community, and growing up as a refugee with minimal resources,” she reflected, “I am very proud of the hard work I have put into my education and am very happy to be where I am.”