A Dental Student’s Motivation: Mohammed Said Al-Jazaeri

In 2025, Mohammed Said Al-Jazaeri won a $5k scholarship from the DTA Foundation. Then a D3 at The University of Michigan School of Dentistry, he stood out among his peers for his dedication to serving his community and deep understanding of life’s challenges. After experiencing war growing up in Syria and coming to the US alone at 18, he first began his career as a dental assistant then went on to study dental hygiene before ultimately going to dental school. Now dentistry has become his passion and his primary avenue for giving back.

Mohammed will graduate from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Spring 2027. We can’t wait to see where his motivation and passion take him next.

Learn more about what motivates students like Mohammed – read this except from his original application:

At eighteen, I lay on the ground, disoriented, my ears ringing from an explosion near my home in Damascus, Syria. That day, I realized how fragile life is—and how circumstances beyond our control can shape our future. Forced to leave my home, I moved to the United States alone, determined to build a life where I could serve others, especially those who, like me, had experienced hardship and lacked access to essential resources.

Dentistry was not the career I initially envisioned, but it was the one that found me. Seeking financial stability, I enrolled in a dental assisting program, where I became fascinated by the hands-on nature of patient care. My curiosity grew, leading me to pursue a degree in dental hygiene, where I gained greater clinical responsibility. But I wanted to do more. I saw the limitations in my ability to fully restore a patient’s health, and I knew my true calling was to become a dentist—one who not only treats but also leads and advocates for change.

One defining moment was an outreach event in Benton Harbor, Michigan, where I treated “Mary,” a U.S. Army veteran who had gone years without dental care. She had lost faith in the healthcare system after struggling to access services, and when I provided her treatment, her gratitude was overwhelming. Encounters like this solidified my mission to bridge healthcare disparities, particularly for marginalized communities.

Having experienced both financial hardship and a lack of access to medical care myself, I understand the barriers patients face when seeking treatment. This perspective drives my commitment to closing these gaps. Through the Victors for Veterans program, I help provide free dental care to underserved veterans. As part of the Taft Free Clinic Executive Board, I organize events that serve uninsured patients. My involvement in Muslim and Hispanic student organizations allows me to connect with and advocate for diverse patient populations.

Beyond direct patient care, I believe education is a powerful tool for change. Before dental school, I served as a dental hygiene clinical faculty, training future dental professionals to combine technical skill with compassion. Now, as a dental student, I mentor pre-dental students, ensuring the next generation of providers is committed to healthcare accessibility, ethical leadership, and community service.

My future aspirations are clear. I am drawn to oral surgery and periodontics, two fields that allow me to combine my surgical skills with my passion for patient care. However, my long-term vision extends beyond clinical practice. I want to work in academia, training future dentists and advocating for policy changes that improve access to care.

My father, who recently passed away, instilled in me the belief that true success lies in giving back. As I advance in my career, I am determined to carry his legacy forward—as a dentist, an educator, and an advocate. This scholarship would allow me to continue pushing forward, not just as a student, but as a future leader in dentistry.

Dentistry is more than my career—it is my purpose. And my purpose is to serve.