Passion forged in fire

Isaac Armstrong, DDS '28, didn't have a traditional pre-dental job--but fighting wildfires taught him lessons that prepared him well to serve patients in the clinic.

Armstrong spent the two summers prior to joining the School of Dentistry fighting wildfires in Montana and throughout the United States. The work was "indescribable," he said.

"I also had to learn a lot about myself and a lot of what it means to work with a team," he explained, "because in that sort of a situation it's pretty high-stakes. And so, emphasis on safety, emphasis on following procedure, communication, all of these skills. I really got to see them come together and work in harmony." 

After a summer of hard physical work, Armstrong felt refreshed and ready to get back to the classroom for the fall semester. 

Hear more from Armstrong about his experience, which he shared at the 2025 Summer Celebration of Donors, in the video above.