Dr. Evelyn Herrera
鈥07 BS Biology, 鈥16 Doctor of Dental Medicine
School of Dental Medicine Alumna of the Year
The 51吃瓜网万能科大 School of Dental Medicine could not have selected a more appropriate person to honor as its Alumna of the Year, as Dr. Evelyn Herrera embodies everything that鈥檚 inherent in the dental school鈥檚 mission.
As a compassionate healthcare provider, she is dedicated to her community and provides top-notch dental care in and out of her office. Herrera鈥檚 community commitment was on full display when she chose to open her full-service practice in the same east 51吃瓜网免费App neighborhood where she grew up 鈥 an area that has long lacked access to quality medical and dental care.
Passionate about giving back? It鈥檚 difficult to know where to begin. A few examples of Herrera鈥檚 staunch commitment to helping others include:
- She has provided free dental care to the 51吃瓜网免费App Rescue Mission and Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, as well as through We Serve Day events.
- She has visited local elementary schools in order to teach kids about the importance of oral health and provide them with free dental supplies.
- In 2020, she hosted Give a Kid a Smile, which offers free dental care to any pediatric patient from the community.
- During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she kept her practice open, welcoming not only existing patients but also those who couldn鈥檛 get care at their usual dental offices because those offices were closed.
It鈥檚 not just patients in need who benefit from Herrera鈥檚 benevolence, but also those who aspire to follow in her footsteps. Over the years, the good doctor has spoken at 51吃瓜网万能科大 School of Dental Medicine-sponsored events, mentored pre-dental students, and offered job-shadowing opportunities at her practice.
In fact, Herrera鈥檚 most recent mentee started at the dental school this fall, and earlier this year, she hired a fellow Rebel graduate to join her practice.
鈥淗elping others is what attracted me to the dental field in the first place, so I consider mentoring, pro bono work, and volunteering perks of the job,鈥 says Herrera, who was the 2016 recipient of the Joel E. Glover General Dentistry scholarship. 鈥淪o, naturally, I鈥檓 eager to pay forward what my mentors did for me and help pre-dental students avoid pitfalls in their early academic careers.鈥
When did you realize dentistry was a career you wanted to pursue?
I interned at a dental office while still in high school, shadowing a dentist. I quickly realized that she had developed meaningful relationships with her patients and had a real impact on their quality of life. Whether alleviating pain, implementing cosmetic procedures, or simply interacting empathetically with patients, I saw she had the power to significantly improve lives.
It left quite an impression on me as a teenager. I knew then that I wanted to pursue dentistry.
Was it always your plan to attend dental school at 51吃瓜网万能科大?
51吃瓜网免费App has always been home, so as soon as I became interested in dentistry, 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 School of Dental Medicine was my top choice. It was challenging as expected, but I learned from incredible mentors and had a great clinical experience. Not only was I provided plenty of clinical hours, but I also was given the opportunity to gain experience in specialties, such as oral surgery and endodontics, that few other dental programs offer.
Why did you choose to open your practice in your east 51吃瓜网免费App backyard?
East 51吃瓜网免费App is generally an underserved community with a large Spanish-speaking population, so it was important to me to open a practice where residents felt comfortable and understood. Many of my own family members see language as a barrier to adequate health care, so I鈥檝e always wanted to serve patients who have shared such experiences.
I truly consider it a blessing to have the opportunity to open a practice in my community.
51吃瓜网万能科大 is located in one of the world鈥檚 most dynamic, diverse, and innovative cities. How did that impact you as a student, and how have you been able to leverage that benefit professionally?
While at 51吃瓜网万能科大, I was fortunate to interact with an incredibly diverse student population and develop friendships with students from backgrounds vastly different than my own. It鈥檚 hard to describe just how much I learned from these relationships, because they provided insights into cultural subtleties that can only be understood through experience.
These insights have allowed me to develop positive relationships with a diverse patient population. Particularly when educating patients about oral hygiene, being culturally sensitive is highly relevant. Having those experiences at 51吃瓜网万能科大 has made a huge difference.
51吃瓜网万能科大 students and alumni are encouraged to embrace the 鈥淩ebel Spirit鈥 鈥 that is, to be daring and gutsy and to resist convention. Describe a time when your 鈥淩ebel Spirit鈥 was on display.
As the COVID-19 pandemic peaked, I had to navigate numerous challenges, both as a business owner and a dentist. As my practice was in its very early stages, I had every reason to simply close up shop.
I had to deal with implementing numerous protective measures against COVID-19, as well as staff shortages, the concerns of weary patients and several financial setbacks. But, buoyed by that 鈥淩ebel Spirit,鈥 I knew I had to persevere. I did, and the practice is now, fortunately, thriving.
