Hometown: Tampa, FL

Name of Undergraduate Institution: University of South Florida

Major(s)/Minor(s) in College: Biomedical Sciences Major

Name of Dental School: Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry

Residency Program: Prosthodontics Residency – Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University

Favorite Quote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Contact Info: @thecosmeticdentist & @dr_raish on Instagram for cases and anything dental.

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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 a first-year Prosthodontics Resident at the Dental College of Georgia. I decided my third year in dental school that I wanted to become a prosthodontist because I experienced several difficult cases that required a specialists’ attention and those cases had to be referred. I wanted to be able to treat my patients and to acquire the knowledge necessary to provide quality care. My goal was to be able to restore functional and aesthetic smiles and give my patients improved quality of life and confidence.

If you could go back and have a chat with your 1^st year postgraduate self, what would you tell her?

I would tell her to stay focused, create a one-year and a five-year plan, and to not forget to enjoy the moment and appreciate the process.

What advice would you give to a dental student looking to pursue a similar path as yours?

I would recommend networking and finding mentors in the field. It is highly important to make connections and to research the field in which you are interested. This will allow you to solidify your decision for wanting to pursue that particular path and receive guidance by an experienced professional(s) in the field. My mentors have tremendously influenced me throughout my journey and they are a major part of how far I have come.

What advice would you give to someone getting ready to start their application process to residency?

I would suggest researching the various programs of interest ahead of time. Contact the program directors for externship/shadow opportunities. Make sure that the programs that you plan to apply to know who you are. Taking the time to visit and learn about the program in person is a great way to show interest.

Thank you for sharing some of your experiences and words of wisdom with us Dr. Ramirez, we really appreciate it! Your advice will not go unheard by the people reading this feature, especially those who are thinking about pursuing Dentistry as a career!

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Posted on February 18th, 2019