For Cathereine Otano (DMD Class of 2027), moving from Miami to Birmingham meant stepping into the unknown. What she found at UAB School of Dentistry was more than she expected: a place where classmates become friends, faculty become mentors, and every day feels a little more like home. Cathereine opens up about what drew her to UAB, how Birmingham surprised her, and why she’s glad she took the leap.
Q: Why dentistry?
I chose to pursue dentistry because I always wanted to be part of the health care system and I felt like dentistry was a good way to make an impact, even in just one appointment. I really like the different procedures and the fact that there are different things I can do to fix one problem. So it's a lot of figuring out what the best solution is. I enjoy that a lot.
Q: What made you consider UAB, and what has living in Birmingham been like for you?
What I first liked about UAB was the early clinical experiences and I was able to see there was a good overall environment for students.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I moved to Birmingham, and I definitely felt some nerves about starting somewhere new. But settling in turned out to be much easier than I thought. There’s always something happening, whether it’s exploring local spots, catching a football game, or just spending time with friends. Finding my community at UAB made a big difference, and now I really enjoy living here.
Q: What stands out to you about your experience at UAB?
I think it’s the atmosphere here. At first, it was nerve-wracking. Starting at a new school with a new curriculum was definitely intimidating, but it didn’t take long to feel comfortable. I got to know my classmates quickly, and it’s easy to connect with people between classes. The faculty treat us with respect – like colleagues – and make us feel like part of the team instead of just students. I really enjoy being able to walk down the halls and say “hi” to anybody. Everyone is very welcoming, and I feel comfortable coming to campus every day.
Q: How would you describe your relationships with classmates and faculty?
It has been great to have a close group of people I can lean on, especially since we’re all going through the same thing. You hear different stories, especially now that we’re in clinic, and you learn things you’ll probably need for your patients. It’s good to know I’m not doing this alone. When the crazy life things happen, someone is always willing to listen and give advice. That’s true for friends, faculty, and classmates in other years. It’s a nice feeling to find people so similar to me, but also different, so we can help each other in different ways.
Dr. Taylor, my bay leader, is really involved – not only in making sure we're learning something new while we're in clinic, but he also just keeps up with us and the things that are going on in our lives. I remember at Family Day, he met my family and was able to joke with them about something I had said several weeks before. It just feels nice that people are like listening to you remembering things like that – the small details. Besides that, he's really interested in making sure we know how to treat our patients and what the best plan for them would be. He's always teaching. Even though it's something that we've learned before, he's making sure that we 100% have it. It's great to know that people are looking out for us like that here.
Q: Are you involved with any student organizations?
I’m involved in several student organizations. There are so many and there's always something to do.
I am part of UAB’s ASDA chapter, the American Student Dental Association, and I am a VP-elect this year. I'm also part of the Hispanic Student Dental Association, the Asian Student Dental Organization, CMMA (the Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama), and the Endodontics Interest Club. I'm their secretary this year and pretty much we just try to round up anybody who's interested in endo and make some social events or luncheons, opportunities where they can explore the specialty endodontics.
Q: Is there a moment or event at UAB that’s especially memorable for you?
There are so many events I’ve loved here. I really like Field Day, which our ASDA chapter hosts. All four DMD classes get together at Birmingham’s Railroad Park and play games like tug-of-war. It’s cool to see everyone outside of school, just having fun. My class has won every year since D1, so hopefully we can keep that going!
I also liked SOD Family Day. After two years with my class, seeing everyone’s families and sharing that moment was special. Showing my parents where I’ll be in clinic this year made it all feel real.
Q: What would you tell someone who’s thinking about coming to UAB?
Give yourself grace.
Dental school is tough, especially when you’re working on another human being. It can be stressful, but as long as I’m trying my best and learning from the best, I just have to give myself grace and make sure I’ve done my best. Dentistry has taught me to practice, learn from mistakes, and not get too upset when things go wrong because that’s how you learn.
In orientation, Sarah Connor, a staff member in Academic Affairs, asked us to write something down so we could always go back to it. I still have that note to keep me grounded.
Remember you’re doing this for the first time, so give yourself space to mess up and don’t get too mad if you do. If this is what you want to do, congrats for making it this far. Just keep going and give yourself room to learn.
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