Bringing It All Together
The end goal of a BYU education, James Lee says, is to give students chances to apply what they’ve learned. For him, that happened at the Simmons Center for Cancer Research.
Lighting Others' Smiles
February 2019
Despite significant advances in oral healthcare, millions of low-income Americans still suffer from poor oral health. Children in this population experience five times more untreated cavities than those from higher-income homes.
After shadowing a dentist who specializes in dental care for low-income families, BYU senior Karen Membreño realized that she wants to be a part of the solution to this public health crisis. “If it wasn’t for the opportunities I had, I easily could’ve been one of my mentor’s patients. Instead, I’m a predental student shadowing him,” she says. “I plan to use my skills as a dentist to help those in need because I know what it’s like to not be able to afford dental care.”
A replenishment grant from the California Los Angeles North BYU Alumni Chapter enabled Membreño to pursue her goal of providing low-cost dentistry. “I work part-time every semester while going to school full-time, but I always fall short on being able to pay for tuition, books, rent, and groceries.” The replenishment grant, she says, “makes a world of difference.”
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