As a first-year dental student (D1), Destiny Ford is still learning the dentistry part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry (SOD). But she already knows plenty about the UAB part.
That is because Ford has been roaming the halls of UAB for nearly a decade, beginning in 2016 when she arrived from Hoover as an undergrad. Ford graduated from the university in 2020 with a degree in Communication Studies, then hung around to get a Master’s in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Science before starting classes in the SOD last year.
As a result, Ford has been something of a go-to source of campus knowledge in recent months for her fellow D1s who truly are new to UAB.
“I feel that I’ve been making a difference with some of the information I share with my classmates, especially regarding simply getting around campus,” Ford says. “Many of my classmates come from other undergraduate institutions, and I know that can be intimidating. So I’m happy to be able to share knowledge I’ve acquired after spending my undergraduate and graduate years at UAB.”
This commitment to helping others is one of the main reasons Ford decided to venture down the dentistry career path. She says she became interested in the profession at an early age after experiencing several positive interactions with her childhood dentist.
“He constantly instilled confidence in me and taught me the importance of good oral health care,” Ford says. “He also demonstrated through his actions what a noble health professional looks like. So since I was around 7 years old, I’ve been pursuing this profession.”
Ford currently is taking one of the biggest steps toward eventually becoming a dentist by going through the D.M.D. program. While she admits that her first year of studies has been challenging, she remains undaunted in her quest to obtain that coveted white coat.
“PCD (preclinical dentistry) has been one of my biggest struggles,” Ford says. “However, I’ve had amazing faculty members who have encouraged me and affirmed their belief in me. Their support has meant the world to me.”
“I’ve learned that it is okay to fail. Right now, we’re becoming people we’ve never been before and living such a unique experience. Everything is not going to come easily. Besides, fail just stands for First Attempt In Learning.”
Ford has several years of learning ahead of her at the SOD, and she plans to make the most of it. She is seeking to expand her connections and overall knowledge of the field by working with both the American Association of Women Dentists and the Student National Dental Association.
“Those were two organizations I was sure I wanted to be a part of as a Black woman,” Ford says. “There are a limited number of women dentists, especially ones of color, and I want to be able to support my peers and encourage the younger generations.”