Dental Student Profile

Hunt School of Dental Medicine Student Profile: Juochi Tsai

“I absolutely love being a part of the inaugural class. Being in the inaugural class means I will forever be a part of Hunt School of Dental Medicine history.”

Tell us a little about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?

I grew up in Asia, and like all my cousins, I went to public schools in Taiwan. When my dad started working in Shanghai, China, his company allowed my sister and me to attend an American school, a school for people who are not Chinese but living in China. After five years of living in Shanghai, my parents decided to return to Taiwan. Since my Mandarin level didn’t allow me to go back into a public school, my parents sent me to a private school, and eventually, I enrolled in an American college. I went to the University of Texas at Austin for both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutritional sciences.

Who or what moment inspired you to go into dentistry?

Growing up, I never had financial issues associated with visits to dentists or doctors. Taiwan has one of the best medical insurance systems, and it’s super affordable for all citizens. After moving to the U.S. for college, I realized that I was the “weird one” for all the opportunities I had to visit dentists or doctors at such affordable prices. I can’t wait to provide service to this community because I think we can make a difference as a class. I’m looking forward to seeing my patients’ reactions almost immediately after providing the treatment they deserve. As a dentist, it will be my responsibility to remove any pain from my patients’ mouths and prevent pain from happening.     

Why is the Hunt School of Dental Medicine the best place for you?

As part of the inaugural class, I will be part of the first of everything. In both my immediate family and extended family, I’m the first to study in a non-Taiwanese college, the first to pursue a doctoral degree and the first to pursue a career in the health care industry. As the first person to accomplish so many things, I believe I can take that experience and accomplish even more at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.  

What is one piece of advice you’d give to those aspiring to go into dentistry? 

If you truly have a passion for dentistry, don’t ever give up. Application is just a process. Although GPA, extracurriculars and experience are important, sometimes luck is needed too. If you truly have a passion for dentistry, continue to go for it. Don’t be afraid to be rejected. Your passion for dentistry will be seen one day.

Do you have any family you would like to mention?

My parents and my sister. I wouldn’t be here without their support. They were the ones who encouraged me to apply to dental schools and assisted me throughout the whole process. I remember the day I received my acceptance letter. I walked out of my room, saying, “Mom and dad, I’m not sure if I’m reading this email correctly, but I think I got into the Hunt School of Dental Medicine.” My mom screamed and woke my sister up. I had my sister read the email to confirm that I got in. I could tell how proud they were, and I would like to continue making them proud.

What challenges have made you who you are?

I grew up in a normal household. However, a challenge that I used to face all the time was moving. Due to my dad’s job, I had to move a lot when I was a kid.  It was always hard to start a new life in a new place, especially when my friends and family were plane rides away from me. I remember crying at the airport whenever I had to leave Taiwan. However, because of moving multiple times, I became a person who can quickly adapt to a new environment. Also, I now have friends from all over the world.

What is something about you people might not know?

I knew I was missing a tooth from childhood, but I found out it is tooth number 23 in dental school.

What do you like most about El Paso, or do you find unique about the region? 

I love the people here. El Paso has a really strong sense of community, so I feel like people are really united. Also, since El Paso is on the border, I can really feel the Mexican culture here. El Paso is the best place to live if you enjoy both American and Mexican cultures. It gets the best of both worlds.

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