From Dental Scholarship Recipient to U.S. Navy Dentist: Catching Up with Dr. Taylor Velasquez
As we reflect on the generosity of those who recently raised their paddles in support of the DTA Foundation, we’re reminded of the lasting impact that contributions to dental scholarships can have on the next generation of dental professionals.
In 2018, Dr. Taylor Velasquez received a DTA Foundation Dental Scholarship while attending A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH) in the Phoenix area. He graduated in 2019 with dual degrees, a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH). Today, Dr. Velasquez serves as a dentist in the United States Navy and is completing a prosthodontics residency. We recently caught up with him to learn more about his journey, his commitment to serving underserved communities, and the impact of receiving a DTA Foundation scholarship.
Catching Up with Dr. Taylor Velasquez
Jackie: “So, what were the biggest oral health challenges you saw when working and volunteering in Phoenix? How did you/your school help meet these needs, especially for the underserved in your community?”
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “One of the biggest oral health challenges that I came across during my time in Arizona was the lack of access to oral health care for individuals with special needs. When I would volunteer at Special Olympics events, we would perform oral health screenings on athletes, and the number of individuals who didn’t receive dental care on a regular basis was disheartening. Some of the major reasons included a lack of dental insurance, dentists no longer accepting their insurance, or simply not knowing where to go. ASDOH did a great job of providing an opportunity to treat these individuals within a dental school environment at the Advanced Care Clinic. Students and faculty are trained to treat patients with special needs, and the clinic provided hundreds of people with a dental home that they may not have had if ASDOH wasn’t there.”
Jackie: “And then after graduating from dental school, what types of dental offices did you work in, and how did you end up as a dentist in the Navy?”
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “If you had asked me this question ten years ago, I would have told you that I’d been at the same office treating patients in Arizona. But life is funny, and I’ve had the opportunity to work in a mobile clinic treating kids in small towns and reservations across South Dakota, at a federally qualified health center in Austin, Texas, as an associate at a private office in Chandler, Arizona, and teaching in the clinic at my alma mater, ASDOH.”
“A few years back, I had this internal calling to do more with my life and career. I have an extremely supportive wife, and she supported my decision to answer the call and commission as a dental officer in the United States Navy. Treating our active-duty service members, their families, and retirees has been some of the proudest work of my life.”
Jackie: So, how did you decide to focus on prosthodontics? Can you tell me more about your residency?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “I had some great mentors in dental school, starting with my clinical directors, Dr. Hanann Tomeh and Dr. Matthew Kahn, who shaped me into the dentist I am today. They gave me opportunities to grow as a young healthcare professional and become a competent provider. With my interest in handling more difficult cases, full-mouth rehabilitation, and esthetics, prosthodontics was a specialty that I grew to enjoy after I graduated from dental school.”
“I’m completing my prosthodontics residency with the Naval Postgraduate Dental School, located in Bethesda, Maryland. The program is three years long, and I will graduate in the summer of 2029, 10 years after I graduated from dental school!”
Jackie: How has your volunteering and giving back through dentistry evolved since dental school? How do you currently give back?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “I stay true to my roots and continue to volunteer for Special Olympics. I’m a clinical director with the Special Smiles program, where I volunteer at local, state, national, and international games. I hope to continue this part of my life here in the DMV area.”
Jackie: Where do you want to see yourself (in your career) in the next few years?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “With my track record, I will probably be somewhere across the world, practicing my craft and striving to become the best prosthodontist I can be. I’m proud to serve my country, and wherever my country needs me, I’ll be there.”
Jackie: What advice do you have for dental students in school today?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “Work. Put in the extra hours to practice your skills and get better each day. You will succeed, and you will fail, but tomorrow is a fresh start, and proper preparation will set you up to handle it.”
Jackie: Can you share more about what the scholarship meant to you and why our donors should keep supporting scholarships?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “Receiving that scholarship was an extremely proud moment in my dental school career. I remember seeing pictures of students before me being selected, and that gave me the drive to achieve my goal of being selected from my university. Dental school isn’t cheap, and receiving financial support from the scholarship was very impactful.”
Jackie: Thank you so much for catching up with the DTA Foundation, Taylor! Is there anything else you would like to share?
Dr. Taylor Velasquez: “I’d like to thank my mentors at ASDOH, who helped shape me into the healthcare professional I am today. I’d also like to thank my family and my wife, Brooke, whose love and support have made all of this possible.”