Anthony is a third-year dental student at the University of Michigan, with a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Michigan State University. He’s a native of Traverse City. He says he wanted to pursue a career in dentistry because it’s a perfect fit between his professional and personal goals. He explains: “I’ve always wanted to work independently,, own a business, to practice medicine and still have the time and flexibility to raise a family.” 

He says the best advice he’s been given was to “Find a career that makes you happy, and all the other things fill follow.” He adds, “The advice I would give to students pursuing a career in dentistry is to do as much as you can to be sure of your path. Volunteer with local dentists, join pre-dental societies, call up dental students and ask questions, come spend a day at the dental school. It’s a long road, but it’s well worth it if you are certain that it’s the path for you.” 

Anthony plans on owning his own practice, and hopes to spend one month a year traveling around the world providing care to underserved countries through dental mission work. In fact, he’s trying to learn Spanish specifically for this purpose. Already thinking ahead, he says he’d love to participate in organized dentistry when he graduates, most likely at the state level. Specifically, he’d like to help affect changes to dental policy that could streamline some of the insurance issues we face today.