A career rooted in service, compassion and equity

Sometimes, a moment sticks with you and changes the trajectory of your future—showing you what’s out there and what you can do.

For Hannah Methner, DDS ’29, that moment happened her junior year of college. Methner was volunteering at Masonic Children’s Hospital with pediatric patients. A young cancer patient at the hospital hadn’t smiled for weeks—and she’d just lost her first tooth. So Methner dressed up as the tooth fairy for her. “That simple moment of connection revealed how profoundly oral health can impact a person’s sense of normalcy, dignity and joy,” she reflected.

That moment was Methner’s first embodying the tooth fairy, but it wouldn’t be the last. As an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota, she participated in Discover Dental School, which “opened [her] eyes to what’s possible within dentistry” and solidified her decision to pursue dental school.

Methner volunteered and worked in a variety of health care settings as an undergraduate student, then took time off from school to build her experience, serving in private, nonprofit, corporate and specialty clinics. She served as an intern at Hope Dental Clinic and held a student support worker position in the Orthodontic Faculty Practice, among other roles.

“These roles have sharpened my skills and strengthened my commitment to dentistry as the perfect blend of science, service and human connection,” she said. Her experience at Hope showed her the impact an empathetic provider can have on an anxious patient, and her work at the School of Dentistry showcased “the collaborative, supportive environment in which students lifted each other up, shared knowledge freely and genuinely cared about one another's success.” She shared, “I recognized that’s the community I want to grow in.”

Methner knew what her path ahead would be—but she didn’t have a clear road map. That’s because she is a first-generation student—the first in her family to complete a four-year degree, let alone a doctoral degree.

Though her parents didn’t attend college, they emphasized the importance of education and supported her every step of the way. “That inspired me to carve my own path not just to uplift myself, but to open doors for others like me,” she reflected. “I saw higher education as a way to build a meaningful career and serve my community in ways my family didn’t have access to. Dentistry was a perfect fit, where I could make a lasting difference in people’s lives, advocate for equity and be a source of trust and support for patients who feel overlooked and underserved.”

Being a first-generation dental student “means I approach every opportunity with humility, resilience and gratitude,” she said. “It means I’ve had to figure out things on my own—from the DAT to navigating health care careers. But it’s also taught me to be resourceful, persistent and never afraid to ask questions or seek help. To be the first in my family to earn a four-year degree is an honor. It’s a responsibility I carry with pride, knowing that I’m paving the way for others and showing what’s possible, even when the path isn’t clearly laid out.”

Methner is excited for the future, planning to work with a community-based or nonprofit clinic and reduce barriers to care—after soaking up every moment of the next four years.

“I want to be the kind of provider who not only treats teeth but sees and honors the whole person,” she said. “I hope to build a career rooted in service, compassion and equity. My journey to dental school has been one of growth, service and resilience, and I’m ready to carry those qualities into dental school and into the lives of the patients I’ll serve. I know that dentistry is where I’m meant to be, and I’m excited to continue this journey at the University of Minnesota.”