Nashwa Aziz is a third-year dental student at the University of Detroit Mercy. Before entering UDM, she earned a B.S. degree in nutritional science from Michigan State University. She has also taken part in two study-abroad programs at the American University in Cairo and the University of London.
Nashwa says, “I have many reasons why I wanted to become a dentist, but one very personal one comes to mind. Back in elementary school, kids teased me by calling me ‘Gap.’ They were referring to the large diastemas present in my anterior teeth, to use the proper dental terminology. I can’t explain how much pain and anxiety this caused me. By the time I reached middle school, I was conscious of these gaps to the point where I had no desire to smile. Prior to college, I was blessed with the opportunity to have my smile corrected. Ever since then, I have had a constant smile. Dental treatment was a gift to me, and I want to be able to provide these gifts to others.”
“Being a recipient of the Michigan Dental Foundation has contributed to reducing my loan debt and has reduced the stress of taking additional loans to fund my dental education.”
Nashwa is also the Second Delegate of the American student Dental Association.