DDS

The decision to pursue a dental degree is not taken lightly. Choosing to invest in a future as an oral health professional, deciding where to attend school and preparing a thorough application are complex tasks, often loaded with stress and uncertainty. A summer program at the School of Dentistry seeks to alleviate that stress and prepare prospective dental students to be great students and dentists.

An occupational therapy student is using her capstone project to improve the health and wellbeing of dental students at the University of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training (MinnCResT) program held its annual symposium on Thursday, August 18th, celebrating a summer of successful research for PhD candidates, post-doctoral fellows and summer research students.

The incoming learners include 105 members of the DDS Class of 2026, 8 members of the Master of Dental Therapy Class of 2025, and 21 members of the Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Class of 2024.

Aruna Rao, DDS ’12, was named a 2022 10 under 10 award winner by the American Dental Association. The ADA 10 under 10 recognizes “dentistry’s rising stars: dentists who are making an impact in the profession less than ten years after graduating from dental school,” according to the ADA’s website.

Kim Mansky, PhD, and Amy Tasca, DDS, PhD, are no strangers to working together. In fact, the director of the Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program served as the primary advisor to Tasca, holder of the Robert J Isaacson Chair of Orthodontics, during Tasca’s graduate studies. They haven’t stopped working together since.

Kristelle Yewah, DDS ’23, is a soccer star turned dental student—and now, she’s primed to become a soccer star again with the women-led, community-owned Minnesota Aurora FC.

On Thursday, May 12, the Office of Student and Resident Affairs hosted the annual DDS Senior Awards Banquet, presenting 57 awards and honors to new graduates.

With friends and family in attendance, the school honored 123 Doctor of Dental Surgery graduates, 26 Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene graduates, 8 Master of Dental Therapy graduates, 36 candidates for advanced education in dentistry, four candidates for the Master of Science in Dental Hygiene and one graduate student in oral biology.