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Posted: 7/31/14

Five TAMIU Grads Accepted to Dental Schools

 

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Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is playing a vital role in preparing Pre-Dental students to help guarantee bright smiles for Texans.

This Fall, five TAMIU pre-dental program graduates have been accepted to dental schools in San Antonio and Houston.

The graduates and their respective dental schools include Selina Fuentes, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC)-San Antonio Dental School; Enrique Ramírez, UTHSC-San Antonio Dental School; Joseph Farías, UTHSC-Houston; Jessica Sosa, UTHSC-Houston; and Abiel Saldívar, UTHSC-Houston.

TAMIU’s partnership with UTHSC-San Antonio Dental School and UTHSC-Houston Dental School offers students conditional pre-acceptance to dental school when they meet program requirements. The programs began more than 10 years ago to increase the number of qualified health care professionals in underserved areas in Texas.

Amede Rubio, TAMIU Pre-Dental program advisor, said he is proud of the students’ acceptance into dental school.

“I’m so proud of each of the students’ accomplishments,” Rubio said, “Their acceptance to dental school is a testament that hard work indeed pays off.”

Each student serves as an exceptional example to others seeking a similar path for their lives, he said.

“I wholeheartedly believe that they will be very successful in dental school and in their professional careers,” he said, “They are truly some of TAMIU’s finest.”

One of the graduates, Jessica Sosa, said she is excited about her dental school acceptance.

“I can honestly say that I’ve dreamed of attending dental school since I took interest in dentistry at 14 years old and it’s crazy to think that in a couple of weeks, I’ll be on my way to making my dream a reality,” Sosa said.

Sosa said she plans to utilize her dental degree to assist those in under-served communities in need of dental care.     

“The Texas Mission of Mercy (TMOM) and ‘Give Kids a Smile’ are truly admirable charitable foundations that provide dental care to the less fortunate,” she said, “I plan to travel multiple times per year to under-served communities to donate my time to amazing events and organizations as these. Furthermore, I aspire to open up my own practice in the beautiful state of Texas.”

Sosa thanked TAMIU faculty members Dr. Ruby Ynalvez, assistant professor of biology; Dr. James Cohen, assistant professor of biology; Dr. Michael Kidd, assistant professor of biology; and Amede Rubio, instructor of biology, who assisted her and contributed to her admission to dental school.

“Lastly, I would like to share my gratitude to the most inspiring mentor of all,  the late Dr. George H. García, DDS,” she said, “I had the pleasure of working with Dr. García as a dental assistant for almost three years. He was my toughest critic and taught me things beyond dentistry. He shaped me into a professional individual and through his mentoring, I came to know the true meaning of passion: true passion is only felt when done selflessly.”

All of the TAMIU students accepted to dental school were members of  The TAMIU Pre-Dental Society, a student-run organization geared towards grouping people that have a goal of attending dental and dental hygiene programs, Rubio explained.

In addition to student mentoring, the Pre-Dental society offers mock interviews, personal statement preparation, access to dental school admissions test study software and materials, and general advising by trained faculty.

TAMIU’s Fall Semester 2014 begins Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014.

For enrollment information, click on tamiu.edu, email enroll@tamiu.edu or contact the Office of Admissions at 956.326.2200 or stop by offices in the Zaffirini Student Success Center.

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