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Doctoral Candidate, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
My name is Jose Silva. I am an immigrant from Mexico and I moved to the US when I was almost 11 years old. My american education started in elementary school and would continue until I graduated from Cherry Creek highschool in 2014. I attended Colorado State University where I graduated with a degree in biology with an emphasis in human anatomy and physiology. During my stay at CSU, I worked at three pediatric practices. That is where my love for pediatric dentistry began. I loved interacting with the patients and leaving them with a smile and a high-five.
Making my decision to go into dentistry might have been one of the easiest choices I have done. I knew I wanted to be a dentist since I was little. I always wanted to follow my parents into the field, and the fact that my father is an orthodontist and my mom was a general practicioner only helped. I learned to talk clinical spanish at the dinner table, and my mind was always filled with questions. I have always wanted to know more and my imagination never took rest. Dinner was typically concluded when my curiosity met its fill, for the day.
Growing up in colorado I developed a love for soccer, snowboarding, fishing, camping... and the great outdoors. I without a doubt had a very different upbringing compared to my colleagues. I have always carried myself as the happy-go-lucky kind of guy with a little bit of spunkyness and a vivid imagination. I never wanted to grow up, and I see that working with kids is a great way for me to cling to my roots and a great way to keep my inner kid alive.