Student Spotlight: Yousuf Al Naseri (OHS ’25)
Yousuf Al Naseri is a student in the Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences (OHS) program at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine with a goal to improve access to dentistry and educate his future patients on the importance of oral care and systemic health. Yousuf has also been an active mentor for fellow first-generation students, both in his undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and here at BU through his mentorship with the GMS Community Catalyst Center gFIRST affinity group. Yousuf has been accepted to dental school and will continue his education in the fall. Read more about Yousuf below!
I was born in Iraq, and I immigrated to the United States in 2009. My family moved around a lot during my childhood. We spent nine months in Atlanta, then we moved to California, and finally over to Maryland, where I was raised. I began learning English around the age of 7. After high school, I wanted to study neuroscience. I was fortunate to have received a full-ride scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. By my junior year, I realized that I didn’t know what I wanted to do in terms of studying neuroscience. At the time, I did not feel passionate about research and wanted a career where I could interact with people more directly. While exploring my options, I worked as a dental technician at UNC Adams School of Dentistry’s Prosthodontics Department. This experience sparked my interest in dentistry and inspired me to switch my major to biology to prepare for the academic side of dentistry. After completing my undergraduate degree, I felt I needed to further develop my academic skills and knowledge which brought me to Boston University’s OHS program. I am now in my final semester and nearing the completion of this chapter of my education.Could you please tell me about your journey to Boston?
For some reason, one day, it all just clicked. When I was a kid, my dad didn’t know English very well, so I was translating for him. I would go to the dental office with him, and I would see this dentist working with sharp tools in his mouth and it always piqued my interest. I was just so curious that I would ask the dentist about what he was doing. Half the time, he would tell me a whole bunch of dental jargon, and I would have to try to decipher it for my dad. Sometimes, I couldn’t translate it well enough, and that frustrated me. I wanted to pursue dentistry because of the gaps in understanding that people like my father experience. I wanted to increase the accessibility of the number of people that I could reach and the number of people that would understand dentistry. By allowing myself to be in dentistry, I can reach a plethora of groups and be able to explain these complex topics to everyday people who don’t know dental terms. Growing up, I didn’t have access to dental care, and it was tough in the beginning. I ended up seeing an orthodontist for five years, and I think part of it was because of nutrition. You’re very uneducated about dental care when you don’t have a dentist and if you don’t see them regularly. I want to be a bridge and help people not only improve access to dentistry but also educate them on the importance of nutrition and how it affects their systemic health. I want to show the world that dentistry is more than just about cosmetics.What drew you to making the career goal switch to dentistry?
I knew that I wanted to pursue dentistry, but I didn’t know how to do it in the beginning. When I was a dental technician, one of the residents I worked with at UNC is a former BU OHS and BU dental graduate, Dr. Marissa Gentle. She came to talk to all our pre-dental students, and when I was talking to her after, I said, “I don’t know what my next steps are here.” I had applied to dental school, and I didn’t get in. I didn’t know how to further my application and make myself a better applicant. She told me about the OHS program. She introduced me to the program and talked to [Assistant Dean of Master’s Programs Theresa Davies]. Dr. Davies and I met, and I did a lot of research on the OHS program and loved the experience I would be receiving. It ended up that I came here, and I’m very glad that I did. I think it furthered my education and my exposure to people, like in the [Community Catalyst Center]. I love that the BU OHS program is directly linked with the dental school. Being able to have exposure to the first-year dental school and see what students are learning drew me to BU.What drew you to the OHS program at BU?
I’ve always been drawn to the art of dentistry and how it blends with science. I was never too artistic until I started the dental technician job. Then, I started focusing on details, like staining and glazing, crown design, and 3D printing and milling. I have become interested in prosthodontics due to the experiences that I’ve had as a dental technician. Also, I helped raise my little brothers growing up, and I’ve always been fascinated with working with kids. One of the areas that I want to explore is pedodontics as well. I feel drawn to multiple different areas, so general dentistry is one of the areas that I love. I think I’ll decide and figure out what I want to do exactly when I’m in dental school experiencing the rotations. I’m interested in some specific areas, but I am leaving it until I experience doing the work in these fields. In addition to clinical practice, I see teaching as a part of my future. Throughout my education, I’ve benefited from mentors who took the time to guide me and educate me, and I want to do the same for future dental students. I believe that sharing the knowledge is just as important as patient care, and I hope to integrate teaching into my career in some way.What are your longer-term goals in the field of dental medicine?
As a first-generation student, I always thought it was tough to get adjusted to a learning environment like college, and especially graduate school. During my time as an undergraduate student, I found it very hard to find support. I was in a place where it seemed like it was just me who was in this situation. Then, I found UNC’s First-Generation Association, and I ended up helping as the marketing chair there. It was touching to have a community of first-generation students and be able to give back to some people who may not know that there is a first-generation association, or the people who don’t have the support from their friends or family. Most of the time, it is students doing this for the first time, and to me, it’s very rewarding to be able to not only help people but also learn for myself. Coming here to BU was overwhelming at first, because you’re in a city like Boston, where there are so many people you don’t know. I didn’t know where to look in terms of housing, or school, or friends. C3 opened my eyes to that. I wanted to be involved. Even before I joined campus, I searched to figure out if there was a first-generation group here, and it ended up being at C3. I’m very glad that I was drawn to C3, and I can help first-generation students. I also talk about it a little further down, where one of my favorite moments here was at the [Fall 2024] C3 First-Generation Lunch, where we got to talk to all the different faculty, and it made me feel supported and crushed all my self-doubt.What inspired you to volunteer as a mentor and want to be more involved in the Community Catalyst Center?
A lot of my memories here at BU have been with people. I think that’s really what makes BU, “BU.” Everybody says it, and it can’t be emphasized enough, that people here at BU are kind and really care for you, and they care for your success. Some of my favorite moments have just been studying with my peers with countless hours of explaining different topics to each other at the most stressful times of our lives. The First-Generation Lunch with C3 was one of my favorite events. It resonated with me because I love hearing other people’s stories and where they came from. It made me feel like I wasn’t the only person who was experiencing, or had experienced, self-doubt, overcoming challenges or having to navigate a new city. It always made me frustrated that I had to figure out everything for myself, but it also connected me to these first-generation mentors who have gone through this by themselves. It reinforced the importance of building a support system and inspired me to reach out and support others within the BU community.What have been some of your favorite memories during your time at BU?
With great passion comes great influence. Most of my life has been due to the influence of other mentors who have supported my ideas and my passions. As an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work with Jamie Mas, a certified dental technician at UNC. From the first day he met me, he welcomed me with open arms. You could tell the passion he had for dentistry. On my first day there, one of the residents came in, and I had no clue what he was saying. He was talking about measurements and a certain procedure that they were doing, and I did not understand a single word. Eventually, as I continued working, I started to understand the dental language and I could speak it back to people. That was one of the most important things for me working at the job, and one of the biggest lessons that I learned. Being able to communicate in a completely different professional language while maintaining confidence and professionalism is something I deeply value. Jamie not only introduced me to the art of dentistry but also instilled in me a love for precision and attention to detail. He also taught me how to diagnose a problem and effectively solve it, and if you didn’t know how to solve a problem, to ask for support and ask somebody who does. Because why are we learning if it’s not to ask the people who know about it? All the residents at UNC Dental played a big role in my mentorship. The BU alumna, Dr. Marissa Gentle, really helped me find my path here at BU. There were also two general dentists who I shadowed during my pre-dental times. They’re a father-son duo in Salisbury, Maryland named Dr. Nelson Dyer and Dr. Wilfred Dyer. They are very wholesome dentists. They truly care for their patients, and they practice ethical dentistry. They prioritized patient needs over unnecessary procedures and always sought the most cost-effective solutions to improve oral health. One of the things that resonated with me, and is one of the reasons I chose BU, was their approach to systemic dentistry. They cared about how your oral health affected your entire body. This holistic approach to patient care aligns with BU’s philosophy of treating the patient as a whole, not just their oral cavity, which reaffirmed my decision to pursue my education here.Are there specific mentors who have been important to you in helping you reach this point in your life?
One of the biggest pieces of advice that I will recommend, and that has helped me so far in the master’s program, is just to ask any question that comes to your mind to your professors and to ask them for advice even before the semester starts. What can I do to become a successful student in your class this year? Another piece of advice is to get involved in community organizations. I can’t emphasize more about C3 and the influence that it’s had on me and other people. It builds relationships and it helps you see what is going on in your community and if there’s anything that you could help out with in your community. Along with that, I believe it’s crucial to find a mentor in your field—someone you can share experiences with, ask questions, and learn from. Having a mentor provides guidance, reassurance, and a sense of direction. Instead of constantly wondering, you have someone to turn to for answers, support, and encouragement. My final piece of advice is to prioritize self-care because graduate school can be extremely demanding, both mentally and physically. Engage in wellness activities, join organizations, and make time for exercise because a healthy body is a healthy mind.What advice do you have for students coming into GMS who may follow a similar path?
It’s a bit colder now, but when the weather was nice, I spent time kayaking on the Charles River. That was when I first arrived in the city and didn’t have much to do. It was an incredible experience to be out on the water while looking up at the towering skyscrapers. I also love the Boston Public Garden and Boston Common. One of my favorite memories from when I first arrived was hearing a musician playing Fleetwood Mac on the guitar and singing—it was such a beautiful moment. I also took a Duck Boat tour to learn more about Boston and familiarize myself with the city. Soon, I’ll be going ice skating—it’ll be my second time, so hopefully, I won’t fall every time!What do you like to do for fun in Boston?