Serving communities near and far

Quang Tran, DDS ’29, takes service seriously. He gets that from his family.

“My family’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice and commitment to service,” he explained. That story traces back to Tran’s grandfather and uncles, who served during the Vietnam War. “Through my Uncle Hien’s service, we were able to immigrate to America,” he recalled.

That dedication to serving their country and community inspired Tran—who chose to join his family’s legacy and serve in the United States Navy. “My service honors the sacrifices of those who came before me, including my family, and I take pride in knowing that my efforts contribute to strengthening my community,” he said.

Tran wore many hats in his Naval career before joining the School of Dentistry. He began as a Hospital Corpsman, participating in “foundational Navy medical training” that is “the entry point for all enlisted medical personnel.” The experience “gave me basic medical knowledge, patient care skills and first aid training,” Tran recalled.

After completing his training, Tran served as a dental assistant, then a dental lab technician. Throughout those experiences, he witnessed the great impact that dental care can have on a patient. “What stood out to me most was the visible relief and gratitude patients expressed after their treatment,” he recalled. “Helping to ease their pain, restore daily function or regain confidence in their smile deepened my appreciation for dentistry.” As a dental lab technician, Tran immersed himself in the innovative world of digital dentistry—training new technicians in CAD/CAM technology and embracing digital workflows.

Throughout his naval career, Tran stayed actively involved in service opportunities beyond what was required of him. He served as secretary of the Coalition for Sailors Against Destructive Decisions, where he “supported peer-to-peer initiatives to provide young sailors with an environment to promote positive behaviors and safe decision making.” As a volunteer coordinator for the Junior Enlisted Association, he supported career development and mentorship for junior sailors. And as the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Co-Chair, Tran helped plan an event complete with food and dances traditional to Asian American and Pacific Islander culture, in an attempt to “foster more inclusion and community in the command.”

No matter what he was doing, Tran’s number one priority has always been serving his country and his community. And today, he’s taking that to a new level—ready to serve his patients, as well.

Tran is a recipient of the Health Professional Services Program scholarship, which supports his education in exchange for his service as a Navy dentist after graduation. Though he has a lot of work—and time—before that goal, Tran hopes to “deploy with a Marine unit or abroad a ship to provide dental care to service members in different settings,” he said.

“My goal is also to take advantage of the humanitarian opportunities to visit developing nations and provide equitable care to underserved communities in those countries,” he said. And one day, he hopes to establish a private practice and enhance access to care for his community.

There are a lot of unknowns as to what comes next for Tran, and what his journey throughout dental school and beyond will look like—but he’s excited to take it on, and hopes that he can continue to branch out and serve communities across the world in the process.

“Through my experiences in the military, dentistry and community service, I’ve gained a better understanding of different cultures and perspectives,” he reflected. “I urge others to explore and branch out beyond their immediate communities to truly appreciate the variety of experiences people bring. As health professionals, I believe it is important to connect with people from diverse backgrounds so that we can learn to work together and foster a more collaborative environment.”