Dental Student and Research Assistant
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
Hello! My name is Francis Paoli, and I am a third-year dental student at the University of Colorado from Mexico with aspirations of becoming a pediatric dentist. Growing up, I witnessed the adverse effects of socioeconomic disparities and limited access to healthcare on individuals and communities. This experience fuels my passion for working to create a world where everyone has access to the care they need.
While earning my Bachelor of Science in Public Health and Microbiology from the University of Washington, I worked in a pediatric dental office. Learning about the prevalence of dental disease and how integral oral health is to our physical and psychological well-being solidified my desire to pursue a career in this field.
As a dental student, I've had the privilege of working with patients of all ages and backgrounds. Furthermore, I have made noteworthy endeavors contributing to the betterment of my community. As a student senator, I have been an advocate for my colleagues. I also founded a club called Students for Sustainability, dedicated to exploring ways to reduce our school's environmental footprint. I have also volunteered in classrooms, teaching students about oral, physical, and mental health while helping them improve their proficiency in English and Spanish.
My fascination with dental materials and my dedication to disease prevention have led me to volunteer as a research assistant in the Department of Craniofacial Biology of the School of Dental Medicine. My research project, focused on improving caries prevention, has brought me to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Conference.
Through my journey, I've learned that dentistry isn't just a profession rooted in compassion; it's also an opportunity to lead, influence, and reshape the future of healthcare. Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare, and I am committed to doing my part to make that a reality.