UAB SOD students support the next generation of dentists
For students interested in dentistry, it helps to hear from people who have recently gone through the process themselves. At UAB, members of the Pre-Dental Society have that opportunity through regular interaction with current students in the UAB School of Dentistry.
Throughout the year, dental students spend time with the group in a variety of ways. They speak at meetings, answer questions, share advice about applying to dental school, and help students better understand what life in the profession can look like.
Those conversations can be just as valuable as formal programming. Students gain honest perspective, practical guidance, and reassurance from people who were in their position not long ago.
In many cases, the connection runs even deeper. Some current and incoming dental students were once members of the Pre-Dental Society themselves and now return to support students coming behind them.
That kind of continuity says a great deal about the community surrounding the School of Dentistry. Students help students, experience is shared, and interest in the profession grows through real relationships.
Hannah Bloom knows that path firsthand. A former president of the UAB Pre-Dental Society, she is now a student in the UAB School of Dentistry and continues to encourage students coming behind her.
“I really credit the Pre-Dental Society with helping me get to where I am today. As an undergraduate, it gave me guidance on every part of the application process—from preparing for the DAT to interview prep and personal statement writing. It made what can feel like an overwhelming process much more manageable. I also built strong friendships and found mentors through the predental society who supported me along the way.
Now being in dental school, I can honestly say I don’t think I would be here without that experience, or at least it would have been much more difficult without it. Now, I really enjoy going back and sharing any advice I can with pre-dental students, because I know how valuable that support and mentorship can be."
– Hannah Bloom, D.M.D. Class of 2027
For students considering dentistry, it can be the start of something lasting.