Michael Riley DDS ’24 became fascinated by dentistry following an innocent childhood mishap, but that was just the beginning of his journey. AT THE AGE OF 5, Michael Riley’s older brother pulled him around the playground in a wagon. The typical childhood revelry ended when Riley’s front teeth encountered a slide, and chaos ensued. An […]
Initially interested in a career in computer science or video games, Ostrow grad Garrett Cecchini endeavored for a profession that would afford him an opportunity to develop lifelong relationships. LEARING TO PLAY ROCK CHORD PROGRESSSIONS on his acoustic guitar was never part of his dental school coursework, but that’s no matter to Garrett Cecchini […]
Ostrow graduate Alejandra De La Cruz aims to use her new dental degree to give back to those in her underserved community. THE ROAD TO DENTISTRY was not without its detours for Ostrow graduate Alejandra De La Cruz DDS ’24, As a high school student with college dreams, the bookish De La Cruz took AP […]
Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, to offer commencement address to Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry’s Class of 2024. AT FIRST BLUSH, Father Greg Boyle acknowledges he’s a seemingly odd choice to offer the Commencement address to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC’s Class of 2024. After all, Boyle has been a […]
USC dental student uses training from being a member of the Dr. STAT/IV team — a team of 20 to 30 third- and fourth-year dental students trained to administer anesthesia, nitrous oxide and perform life-saving first aid care at the dental school — to save infant’s life in baby-and-mother fitness class. ON A CRISP DECEMBER MORNING, Blake […]
Investment banker and Ostrow Distance Learning student Collin Concepcion plans a career change to dentistry, where he hopes to make a difference in the lives of others. IT WAS DURING A DENTAL CLEANING that Collin Concepcion began to reconsider his life’s work. The Los Angeles corporate banker had always gravitated toward helping others since he […]
Even while providing high-quality radiographic images to students and residents, the Oral Radiology team likes to have fun making TikTok-like dance videos. WHO SAYS WORK HAS TO BE a grind? Not the team of radiological technicians, residents and students hard at work in Ostrow’s Oral Radiology Department. Amid the flurry of X-rays they take for […]
Sam Sheridan reflects on “four of the best years of his life” as he prepares to embark on a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. THE ROAD TO A DENTAL CAREER was not without its winding curves for Sam Sheridan DDS ’23. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Bucknell University, Sheridan spent a […]
Brian Acevedo didn’t follow a traditional path to dental school. Still, he arrived exactly where he needed to be. TRUTH BE TOLD, Brian Acevedo never had interest in becoming a dentist. When the South Los Angeles native accepted a dental assistant job at his family dental office after high school, he was motivated by practical […]
Originally from the Middle East, Albatniji is the class president for the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID) Class of 2023. AS LONG SHE CAN REMEMBER, Mona Albatniji dreamed of being a dentist. “There is no backstory,” she says, with a laugh. “It’s just what I wanted to do from the beginning.” Following that […]
