From Scholarship Recipient to Public Health Leader: Dr. Savannah Rose’s Story

For Dr. Savannah Rose, DMD, MPH, dentistry has always been about more than treating teeth. It is about caring for people and communities that might otherwise struggle to access care.

A graduate of A.T. Still University, Dr. Rose received a DTA Foundation scholarship supported by Patterson Dental in 2023. Today, her career has taken her from rural Alaska to an underserved community on the Oregon coast and, most recently, to the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe in Washington State.

A Career Built Around Serving Others

Before becoming a dentist, Dr. Rose spent eight years working as a dental hygienist, including time in Alaska, where she also taught public health dentistry at the University of Alaska.

Her passion for serving others began much earlier. Her father was a dentist in a small, rural community who made sure patients received care even when they could not afford it.

“He put his community first and his generous heart taught me to have compassion for those who have barriers to accessing care.”

His example helped inspire Dr. Rose to dedicate her own career to public health.

That commitment led her to A.T. Still University, where public health is an important part of the dental program. While earning her dental degree, Dr. Rose also pursued her education in public health, graduating with both her DMD and Master of Public Health.

A Scholarship That Opened Doors

During their fourth year, A.T. Still, dental students participate in extended rotations at public health clinics across the country. While these experiences provide valuable clinical training, students can be responsible for significant housing and transportation expenses.

For Dr. Rose, her DTA Foundation scholarship helped make those opportunities more accessible.

“Thanks to the DTA Foundation Scholarship I was able to pay for most of the housing and transportation for that year. Less financial stress on me meant I was able to put my all into these externships and take advantage of opportunities I would not have had otherwise.”

With support from Patterson Dental, the scholarship helped Dr. Rose focus on experiences that prepared her for the public health career she hoped to pursue.

Putting Her Education into Practice

After dental school, Dr. Rose moved to the Oregon coast to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center in a highly underserved rural community.

She quickly found herself serving approximately 2,000 patients as the clinic’s sole dentist. She also stepped into leadership early in her career, working as both lead dentist and dental director as the organization navigated staffing challenges.

“It was not my intention to be a solo dentist that was running an entire clinic right out of school,” Dr. Rose shared, “but that is exactly what happened.”

The experience helped her grow clinically, but she says some of her most important lessons went beyond dentistry.

“The community I worked closely with helped me become a better provider, and person, because I gained confidence, improved my self-worth, worked on my compassion, my patience, and developed a better understanding of mental health and substance use disorders.”

Continuing Her Public Health Mission

Dr. Rose is now continuing that mission in Washington State. After moving in September 2026, she is beginning a new role as lead dentist for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, serving another community with significant unmet healthcare needs.

Her commitment extends beyond her clinical work. Dr. Rose also serves on the Board of Directors of Healthy Smiles Forever, a nonprofit that helps bring dental care to people living in long-term care facilities in Southcentral Alaska.

Why Scholarship Support Matters

Dr. Rose believes scholarships can have an especially important impact on students interested in public health dentistry. With the significant cost of dental education, graduates carrying large amounts of student debt may find it difficult to choose lower-paying positions in underserved communities.

“We will never have enough public health dentists if this is the type of debt they are facing. New grads are unable to justify a smaller paycheck in public health because of the huge loan payment each month. Less providers in public health means less access to care for underserved communities.”

Support from dental industry donors like Patterson Dental can help reduce that financial burden and give future dental professionals greater freedom to pursue opportunities where their skills are urgently needed.

For Dr. Rose, that support has become part of a career dedicated to expanding access to care.

“Working in community health has reinforced my passion for helping underserved populations. It is incredibly difficult work somedays, but it is always worth it when you see that smile at the end.”

Dr. Rose plans to continue advocating for communities in need and encourages other dental professionals to find their own ways to give back.