Alesia Shaaban traveled more than 5,000 miles from her home in Belarus to enroll in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry as part of the International Dentist Program. After arriving, Shaaban discovered that the SOD faculty as well as her fellow classmates were willing to go the extra mile to help her be successful in her dental studies.
“I have really enjoyed my time at UAB,” says Shaaban, a member of the Class of 2026. “The faculty have been very helpful and will do things to support us that they don’t have to do. They have a lot of students, and they’re not our babysitters, but they still take the time and energy to invest in each of us. They truly want us to succeed, to feel comfortable and to learn as much as possible.
“I also really like my classmates. The other (IDP) students are amazing in terms of dentistry and what kind of people they are, and the American students are very supportive and understanding. They are willing to help us adjust in this environment, and I really appreciate that.”
In addition, Shaaban says she has been pleased with the warm reception offered by the numerous patients she has encountered as she begins clinic work. Shaaban admits she initially was slightly concerned about how some Alabama residents might react to a student dentist from a country such as Belarus, but she says the experience has been nothing but positive.
“I was a little worried about working with Alabama patients because of the cultural differences. Maybe they wouldn’t understand me and there would be tension between us,” Shaaban says. “But the patients have all been very nice and open to international students like me. I was pleased with how much support, appreciation and respect we get.”
Shaaban worked as a dentist in Belarus for several years before coming to the United States with her daughter to join her husband, who already was in the county attending a different dental school. By taking part in the IDP, Shaaban entered the School of Dentistry at a second-year, second-semester level, then went through a six-month preparatory term before being integrated with other SOD students this summer for the final two years of the regular D.M.D. curriculum.
“I’ve been able to communicate with people from all over the world and share experiences,” says Shaaban, who hopes to form a dental office with her husband in Florida after graduation. “We all came here with some kind of dental experience, so we are able to learn so many interesting things from each other. I’m having an amazing time here.”