Daniel Bobbitt says he is the type of person who learns best through seeing and doing rather than reading and listening. In fact, one of the reasons he chose to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry is because he heard so much about the SOD’s clinical offerings, and how it would enable him to learn through “experiences and working with my hands.”
Now, as Bobbitt nears completion of his D4 year at the UAB SOD, he has just enjoyed what he calls an “incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Bobbit was a member of the SOD contingent that recently traveled to Japan as part of the annual student exchange program. He and his fellow classmates learned about both the dental and cultural institutions of the country while spending time in Tokyo and then traveling approximately 230 miles to the city of Gifu.
“It was amazing,” Bobbitt says. “We saw their clinics and hospitals and their learning environment, but then we also did a lot of fun cultural and sightseeing things and saw what their life looks like in Japan.
“A lot of times, dental school can feel like being in a bubble. This really opened my eyes to the way things are done differently. It’s an experience I never would have expected when I came to dental school. It was an incredible surprise, and it reinvigorated my passion for dentistry.”
Bobbitt says he had not really thought much about a career in dentistry while growing up in Niceville, Florida. His father was a pilot in the military, his brother was an aerospace engineer, and Bobbitt planned to pursue engineering as well. But as he learned more about engineering, Bobbitt says he realized he would spend much of his time with computers instead of with people.
“I wanted to find something that would allow me to be around people while also working with my hands,” Bobbitt says. “My senior year in high school it was suggested I look into dentistry. I started doing some shadowing, and that’s when I realized it was something I enjoyed doing.”
After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in biomedical sciences, Bobbitt enrolled in the UAB SOD. Upon his arrival, Bobbitt says it did not take long for him to confirm that he had made the correct career choice.
“Very early on, I could see the older students making a difference in their patients’ lives, and I realized how rewarding of a career dentistry can be,” Bobbitt says. “I want to be involved in my community wherever I am, and being a dentist is a great way to do that.”
While at UAB, Bobbitt has been heavily involved with the American Student Dental Association, including serving as the chapter’s president during his D4 year. He plans to remain at UAB following graduation to go through an orthodontics residency.
“I like the planning aspect of orthodontics,” Bobbitt says. “It’s kind of like putting together a puzzle. I’ve decided that’s what I want to pursue in practice. It’s a great way to help people.
“There are some hard days in dentistry, but it’s very rewarding to be helping people like we do. I didn’t expect to be so grateful for that. I just thought it would be a fun career. But we get to form relationships and really help people out. I’m so thankful to the School of Dentistry for giving me this type of opportunity.”