Hometown: Piscataway, New Jersey

Name of Undergraduate Institution: Rutgers University – New Brunswick

Major(s)/Minor(s) in College: Major: Biology, Minor: Sociology and Public Health

Name of Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Residency Program: Currently applying to residencies for 2021.

Favorite Quote: “The race is not given to the swift but to those who endure to the end.”

Contact Info: meriam.macauley@umaryland.edu

Additional Links:
Blog: walkingnpurpose.com

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Where are you currently at in your career path and why did you decide to pursue this career path?

I am currently in my final year at University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Growing up I was so intrigued by the intricate hand skills and art involved in dentistry. I would always ask my dentist why and how he did certain procedures. Eventually when I was seventeen, I started shadowing at my dentist’s office and eventually started working there full time. From then on, I knew dentistry was the career path for me.

If you could go back and have a chat with your naïve college freshman self, what would you tell her?

I would tell her that self-doubt will be her biggest giant to defeat in college. The path is already laid out in order to enter dental school; however, she must trust that she is smart and capable enough to make it through. I would also tell myself not to rush the process but to allow room for growth and development at my own pace.

Did you take some time off before dental school? If so, what did you do during that time?

Yes, I took a gap year before I started dental school. During that year I worked full time at a dental office and traveled. I knew I wanted to relax and get myself mentally ready to transition into dental school.

Do you have any passions outside of school? If so, what are they?

Mentorship is very important to me. I remember when I first decided I wanted to become a dentist; I had no idea where to start. I didn’t know what to major in college, how to apply to dental school, or even what the Dental Admission Test entailed. It’s so important especially as first-generation minorities entering these fields to show the younger students in the same predicament how to navigate this path. That is why mentorship is so important to me because I am able to help other minorities who are interested in dentistry prepare themselves to enter this field. 

Thank you for sharing some of your experiences and valuable words of wisdom with us Meriam, we really appreciate it! Best of luck to you as you finish out your dental school experience and transition into the next step of your career in dentistry!

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Posted on February 24th, 2021