A well-rounded education at the School of Dentistry

This piece was contributed by Cole Johnson, DDS ’24

I chose the U of M School of Dentistry for multiple reasons. The school has all of the specialty programs which have opened doors to broadening my future scope of practice. With an interest in orthodontics, oral surgery and prosthodontics, I have been able to work with residents and faculty in those fields to help learn more about each profession and the skills necessary for procedural success. Combining my interest in specialty care with my interest in practicing in a rural setting, I hope to provide a broad scope of restorative and specialty services in a small community. Reducing the amount of referrals I make and increasing the access to care for patients that are in need of specialty care.

Another reason I chose the UMN School of Dentistry was because of the many outreach programs it has to offer. The school has a large network of locations for the students to practice and continue to learn in. Whether you are interested in working in a rural or urban setting, the U has many opportunities in each. I was able to practice in rural settings for my outreach and was able to develop an understanding of what it was like to practice in a small community. These experiences gave me insight about the importance of having a broad scope of care in a setting where access to care is limited.

The School of Dentistry is also home to an amazing group of faculty. The faculty come from many different backgrounds, adding diversity to the school and making all welcome. The school has faculty from other countries, states, private practices, corporate practices and all specialties. This adds benefits to a dental education in depth of knowledge and the unique applications of that knowledge in different real world settings. Many of our faculty are also highly involved in research which creates more opportunity for students interested in the future development of dentistry. These faculty are always eager to have new students join them.

I chose the state of Minnesota due to its variety of fun it has to offer. Staying in Minnesota meant I can maintain most of my hobbies and interests outside of dentistry. It encompasses all seasons allowing me to enjoy my favorite hobbies at different times of the year. The Twin Cities community also has many organizations to become a part of. My interests through dental school have involved mountain and road biking, cross country skiing, golfing, volleyball recreational leagues and UMN intramural recreational leagues. These examples only scratch the surface of the opportunity that is here.

Making the University of Minnesota my home for the last four years has given me lifelong friends and colleagues. I am happy to say I will be graduating with some of my closest friends and look forward to practicing dentistry with them. I am grateful to be receiving a great dental education through this school and am excited to begin giving back to the community of Minnesota as a licensed dentist.