HumanKind @ TUSDM
Every person here at Tufts Dental has a story. Each story being a unique journey shaped by purpose, challenges, growth, and connection.
HumanKind @ TUSDM is a new initiative led by Yenna Chu (D27) and Nancy Marks dedicated to celebrating and strengthening the human side of dentistry through storytelling, reflection, and community.
Jeancarlos Ferman (D25)
“During the first week of Hispanic Heritage Month last year, HSDA hosted our inaugural HSDA Week, which is a week of programming that highlighted different attributes of who we are as a community and as an organization. We had over 60 members come out to support our events, whether it was a lunch & learn, general interest meeting, community service, or fitness activities. I would say that HSDA Week was a highlight for me being the President of HSDA.
Through HSDA, I’ve also realized how important it is to give back to support others as they pursue their dreams, as we are at a terminal point in our educational journey. Making it so that those come after me are able to see themselves in this field and not feel like they’re not well-supported or well-represented. It has made me see how essential it is to have mentors who understand your background and the challenges you face. This has only driven me to excel in dentistry and advocate for increased representation in the field.
Samantha Rivera (D24)
“Since my early childhood, I’ve carried a deep ambition that continues to shape my journey. Becoming the first dentist in my family fills me with immense pride. In just a few days, I’ll be starting as an associate dentist in Orlando, near my hometown of Clearwater, after graduating from Tufts. This opportunity feels like a culmination of all the hard work and dreams I’ve nurtured.
I chose general dentistry for its diverse skill set – encompassing implants, endodontics, pediatrics, prosthetics, and more – which captivates me. My ultimate goal is to establish my own practice, but I understand the importance of patience and continuous learning. Beyond my career aspirations, maintaining connections with my closest friends from dental school is a priority.”
Babak Senfi (D24)
“In dental school, you are engaged in an education that includes didactics, patient care, professional development, and, on top of that, hands-on skills. Balancing all of that is a lot!
The hardest part of dental school for me was finding a balance between being able to do your work well, but also finding time for yourself and finding ways to lean on your support network. It is so important to reenergize yourself because burnout is real in dentistry. You want to be proactive and oversee it before it happens. I realized that it’s also about the simple things. Go out to dinner with friends, try new spots, explore different areas of the city, go salsa dancing, or go walking. It doesn’t matter what you do, it matters that you do something.”
Hannah Tran (D24)
“When you go through dental school, you don’t realize how much you’re changing as a person. It’s easy to just focus on yourself and have a one-way path to accomplish your goal and get to a certain spot, but I think it’s actually about the friends who really help you get through it. When you look back at your friendships and the people who helped you get to that point, it’s like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that through all those trials and challenges that we went through, we were still able to pick and support each other.
That’s probably what I’m most proud of—being able to maintain and grow with those friendships because it’s really difficult to do that.”
Jasmine Perry (D25)
“My son, Kenneth, is 6 and he’s such a great kid. He loves drawing so I like to take him to places where he can be creative. We actually went to the museum recently. I realized we’re not always going to live here (in Boston). Even though in that moment I was stressed out and thinking that I should be at home studying for my stuff, it was worth it. Somehow, I’m trying to act calm because he just wants to spend time with his mom.
When you’re a parent, you have a different kind of brain. Even if I wanted to go home and sleep now, I have somebody who’s looking to eat tonight. If I sleep and I don’t want to eat, that’s fine. But he’s still hungry so I have to think about someone else.”
Grace Davis (D26)
“After undergrad, I packed up my bags and moved 11 hours away from my closest family to a small town called Boone, North Carolina where I knew nobody. I had gone through some really hard times. Both of my parents passed away during my first year of undergrad. I really struggled throughout undergrad trying to figure out who I was after that loss, so I took a year off school and moved out to the middle of nowhere.
I had this amazing apartment where the balcony overlooked this beautiful mountain. In the mornings I’d wake up and go do yoga, sit there, and look out at the mountains and breathe, as simple as that.”
If you are interested in sharing your story or getting involved, please fill out the form here!