Middlesex Community College: MCC Alumna Studying Dental Medicine At Columbia University

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

5/18/2021

When Mona Patel came to the United States from India, she wanted to continue her education to pursue a career as an international dentist. Having completed a bachelor’s degree from Gujarat University in India, Patel came to Middlesex Community College to earn an associate degree in Dental Assisting. Middlesex was her “dream” community college.

“My sister went to MCC for her Computer Science major,” Patel said. “She explained so well to me that studying at MCC helped her to get a good job and be able to work efficiently. The way she praised education at MCC inspired me to join.”

In MCC’s Dental Assisting program, Patel and a small group of students collaborated on projects, hosted study sessions, and completed lab work together. Patel enjoyed the format of the program, course content that covered even the smallest of details, and the different techniques and methods learned through lab work.

Being able to practice in MCC’s Dental Assisting Clinic was also beneficial to her education. The clinic was equipped with high-quality instruments and materials, providing many relevant and valuable learning opportunities for her. The experience – as well as her clinical rotations – also helped her to increase her confidence and prepare her for work in the real-world.

“To me, dentistry is all clinical work,” she said. “The more clinically advanced you are, the more successful you are. It’s the way you can serve quality care and understand the patient.”

With guidance from her professors – including Mary Jenny, MCC Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Dental Assisting Program – Patel felt well-prepared with the training, coursework, knowledge and skills she needed to work in a dental office after graduating.

“They shared the best of their knowledge and explained concepts of U.S. dentistry and health care system,” she said. “Techniques that MCC professors taught were so detailed that even in the dental office I used to work at after graduation, other dental assistants asked me to train them.”

Patel was most inspired by Jenny because she had a similar background in international dentistry. Jenny shared her story of hard work and persevering through struggles, motivating Patel to follow a similar path. As she has continued to pursue a career as a dentist in the U.S., Patel is now studying at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

“It was only because of my education from MCC that I am able to make my goal of going to Columbia successful,” she said. “My MCC degree was the main part of my resume when I was applying for dental schools, as well as the main topic in interviews.”

During her time at Middlesex, Patel also worked as a peer tutor for science classes. While she helped other students – and took the opportunity to improve her teaching style – she learned even more science concepts, terminology and exercises that helped her gain a better understanding of education in the U.S.

After graduating from Middlesex in 2017, Patel moved to Michigan to work in a federally qualified health center. The practice was busy, but Patel felt prepared to work in a fast-paced environment by the training she received at MCC. She did all of the chairside work with one of the main dentists at the office, in addition to working as a trainer for her colleagues.

Even as she was working, Patel continued to learn. She cleared the National Board Dental Examination Part I and II in order to fulfill the requirement for the International Dentist Program. She also found time to volunteer for a nonprofit organization to help a small community in her town with health-related campaigns.

Patel is proud to have Middlesex as her foundation to a career as an international dentist in the United States. Completing her degree in Dental Assisting first has allowed her to work and learn more about the field in her new country. As she continues her journey, she is grateful to MCC for the strong curriculum and course design, teaching methods and professors, and her clinical experiences.

“Do not stop learning, just keep going,” she said. “It’s better to learn every day to improve yourself.”

The Fall 2021 semester begins on Wednesday, September 8. For more information and to register for classes, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ or call 1-800-818-3434.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.