Sophie Dasoveanu (Class of 2028) came to the University of Alabama at Birmingham from Atlanta with a clear goal: to pursue the UAB School of Dentistry. After completing her undergraduate degree in immunology at UAB, she is now building clinical confidence, developing her skills, and preparing for patient-centered practice.
Where did you go to undergrad and what was your major?
I completed my undergraduate studies here at UAB. I was an immunology major with a chemistry minor.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I came to UAB for the School of Dentistry, and I’m so happy that I’m here now.
Why did you choose to pursue dentistry?
I chose dentistry because it mixes creativity with the artistic aspect as well as science. It builds together everything from my undergraduate studies – especially the restorative aspect, you're getting to mix function with restoring someone's confidence. That, along with building patient relationships, is what excites me about the profession.
Why did you choose UAB for dental school?
UAB stood out for its strong clinical training. Students get early and consistent exposure to the clinic, along with high clinical expectations. That made me feel I’d be really prepared to practice in the real world.
Are you affiliated with any SOD student organizations?
I’m involved with the Student Ambassadors program, where we work with prospective and incoming dental students, helping them experience the school and ask questions in a low-stress environment. Sometimes we will throw little events, like we did cookie making with the undergrad UAB students where they got to come here. We sat in a large conference room and decorated all of these cookies right before Christmas. And that was a low stress environment for everyone.
I’m also an EDSAP liaison, supporting undergraduate students in the Early Dental School Acceptance Program. I love being able to interact with the undergrad students and being able to ask them questions as well as them ask me questions about things that, maybe, they aren't super confident about. It’s been really meaningful to connect with students who are in the same position I was and help guide them through the process.
What has been your favorite thing about the School of Dentistry here?
One of my favorite things about the UB School of Dentistry so far has been getting to experience everything for the first time with classmates. Whether it’s early simulation labs or hands-on experiences like “Stab Lab,” there’s a strong sense of support – it was a great learning moment. You also get to interact with the residents and faculty during this time, and you learn a lot while also having a really amicable, friendly environment to do it in.
You're going to learn a lot. You're going to build a great relationships and the time will pass by really fast. So, enjoy everything. Starting from the first day, no matter how frustrating or exciting it is through the last day. You're going to wish that you had more time at the end of it.
— Sophie Dasoveanu
Has any faculty or staff made an impact on your dental education and if so, who and why?
There are definitely people that have made a great impact on my dental education. A big one is Dr. Gummadi. Throughout our D1 year, she taught us from the bottom up how to use a drill – all the way through doing complex preparations. It's the kind of tough love that a dental student needs. And she's been great about making sure that you're exactly where you need to be in order to succeed in clinic.
What has been your favorite SOD memory/event?
My favorite event so far has been Mandiball. It’s like our dental school prom. Everyone gets super dressed up. We get to go to a great place and dance it out on the dance floor with a bunch of students that you may only see a couple times in clinic, but there it's like we’re all great friends. Everyone's having a great time. It’s a chance to step away from the day-to-day and connect with classmates in a completely different setting.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far in dental school?
I feel like one of my biggest accomplishments so far has been getting really confident with hand skills. I came in not knowing how to hold a little instrument or how to wax up teeth, and now we're doing complex things like bridges and root canals and all these things.
So being able to go from being really bad at something to succeeding in it in practicals and in other exams has really built confidence overall. And if you fail at something the first time it doesn't mean that you're a failure overall. Everything will get better with practice.
What kind of clinical experience have you already been exposed to in your D1 and D2 years?
Students are introduced to the clinic early at UAB, beginning just weeks into their first year. As a D1 and a D2 you're exposed to the clinic very early.
Through assisting upperclassmen and progressing through simulation and preclinical labs, we build familiarity with procedures, treatment planning, and patient care before entering full-time clinical practice. By the time you reach your third year, you’ve already been exposed to so much. It makes the transition into treating patients feel a lot more comfortable.
What do you look forward to in your D3 year?
I’m really excited to start working with patients every day, building communication skills, creating individualized treatment plans, and being able to start building those connections with patients over two years.
What advice would you have for any future or prospective students?
A piece of advice for anyone coming into dental school would be that your life is not going to end over these next four years.
Student Voices is a Q&A series highlighting the experiences and perspectives of UAB School of Dentistry students. Explore our Student Excellence news feed to read more Student Voices stories.
Curious to hear more Student Voices? Visit our Student Excellence news feed for more Q&As with UAB dental students.