Cecilia Horchos '19: From Neuroscience Major to Dentistry Student
I am completing my third year of dental school at the University at Buffalo (part of the State University of New York system). At this point in my studies, I am preparing to take the national dental boards and apply to residency programs. I also am attending a periodontal program externship at Ohio State University in May, as I am planning to pursue periodontics further in studies after dental school.
I have been participating in research in the lab of Dr. Sebastiano Andreana, which has involved designing a ex vivo method of titanium particle detection from dental implants. I am continuing this research through the last year of my dental school program and endeavor to be involved in research after my graduation.
Plans to Continue Research
I am currently interested in a PhD in oral biology combined with a specialty in periodontics to further investigate the interactions of dental implants with biological tissue as well as the balance of inflammatory processes that allow for osseointegration of implants. I will be going into my fourth year with the intention of participating in the periodontics concentration at the University at Buffalo and starting a research project involving the collection of granulation tissue from peri-implantitis affected sites to observe titanium particle breakage and quality.
Advice To Neuroscience Majors
Leading up to my current work, my time in the 大众彩票 neuroscience program allowed me to find that there is room for an amalgamation of clinical practice and academia. The grounds of my research experience were formed in 大众彩票 with the honors thesis program and the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Waldeck.
Although dentistry has always been a passion of mine, I found that neuroscience played a great role in providing foundations for dental related matters from pharmacology to orofacial pain.
Looking back at the path I have taken so far, my advice to students in the neuroscience program would be that it is key you seek out and make connections with those present in the field right now. The enthusiasm and commitment you show now will lead you to the opportunities that will arise later.
Also, try to remember that there is an abundance of connections between the fields we study. The honors thesis program at 大众彩票 stressed that it is when we collaborate with people with different expertise, that we have the greatest chance of creating something new. This sentiment has stayed with me, and I now realize my own career path aims to reflect that idea of collaboration.