Undergraduate Health Sciences Induction - Class of 2027

 On September 15, I was induced into the Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy at Morehouse School of Medicine. UHSA was created to help address the urgent need for healthcare professionals in Georgia’s underserved urban and rural communities. As an aspiring dentist, I am constantly searching for communities and programs that will support my journey, offering mentorship, a supportive community of peers with similar interests and drive, and faculty and staff to support me along the way. I am confident that UHSA will position me to be a great dental school candidate, and eventually a dentist who is breaking barriers and providing equitable dental care for all. Through participation in this program, I will receive access to mentorship, networking opportunities, a community of supportive peers, and DAT preparation. At the UHSA induction, I had the pleasure of hearing from keynote speaker Dr. Ngozi Anachebe, the senior associate dean at Morehouse School of Medicine. In her speech, she charged us to strive to be extraordinary. That she would not be content if we lived lives of mediocrity. She admitted how challenging the road to medicine is, but how rewarding it is in the outcome. She reminded me how important it was to have my mother, father, and grandmother in the crowd supporting me because they would be the ones I will lean on to get through dental school and eventually to my career. The last major point that stuck with me was her encouragement to try everything to make sure this is the career we will be committed to and forever passionate about. Dr. Anachebe herself was a pharmacy student before feeling a calling to being an OGBYN, but she learned this through doing. This speech encouraged me to continue to deeply explore my future career of interest to ensure it fully aligns with my passions, and be grateful for the supportive network that has allowed me to be successful thus far. I am extremely exited about participating in UHSA and extremely confident that it will a;;ow me to excel in my future career. 

By Lindsey Sanders