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Next Port Stories: Janice Singharaj '25
Janice Singharaj (she/her)
Major: Cell, Molecular, and Biomedical Science
Minor: Chemistry
Enrolling in Graduate Studies
What degree are you seeking and/or what program are you enrolled? Doctor of Dental Medicine
Please list the school/institution you are enrolled. OHSU School of Dentistry
Where will you be located (city/state/country)? Portland, OR
What are you most excited about for your Next Port?
I am excited to be one step closer to my dream of being a dentist!
Was there a class, internship or experience that shaped your direction to your Next Port?
Dental assisting on mobile dental clinics in underserved areas, such as jail clinics, and abroad in remote villages in Guatemala led me to finding my passion for public health dentistry. I hope in dental school that I am able to continue working with more marginalized communities to hear their stories and carry them with me when I one day become a practicing dentist.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Network! Step out of your comfort zone and look for opportunities to divulge in your interests, whether it's through UP or connecting outside of the University in the city of Portland.
Who at the University of Portland had the most impact on shaping your next step?
Dr. Mihail Iordanov and Professor Mylan Rakich were the two professors that had the most impact in shaping my next step. Thanks to Dr. Iordanov, I fell in love with microbiology. Being able to apply the knowledge from his introductory science course to my love for dentistry was extremely rewarding, along with getting the chance to dive more into researching microbes in relation to my Thai heritage. Professor Mylan Rakich worked to help me embrace my creative side, showing me that art is the dental profession. He guided me through sculpting a tooth from stone! These two professors showed me that the dental discipline is the perfect mixture of art and science.
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