Introducing Aierress Hanna: The 2020 DTA Foundation/Young Innovations Scholarship Recipient

Meharry Medical College’s Aierress Hanna was awarded a 2020 scholarship of $5,000 as last year’s DTA Foundation/Young Innovations Scholarship Recipient.

In 2020, the DTA Foundation awarded 10 $5,000 level scholarships to winning applicants. Aierress Hanna, a dental student at Meharry Medical College, was one of those 10 very deserving scholarship recipients. Aierress knew she wanted to be a dentist since she was little and experienced first hand the type of self confidence a trasnformed smile can bring to a kid.

Aierress plans to create a mentorship program for minority women pursuing dentsitry and mentioned in her application, “I’ve realized that creating opportunities to provide oral care to those in need and identifying and addressing barriers to dental care has become a professional goal of mine in dentistry. I will carry this passion and desire with me on every level of my professional maturation in the field.” Read below her thanks to Young Innovations for the scholarship.

This scholarship will directly impact the remainder of my dental career as I prepare for board examinations, challenge licensure exams and provide treatment to patients during COVID-19.

To be recognized this year as a scholarship recipient means the world to me. I’m so humbled by this award and I can’t wait to pay it forward. I will continue to be an oral health advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities. I will use my skills and training to impact lives in every community I’m a part of and beyond. This scholarship continues to fuel my commitment to service within my field and beyond.