Dental Student Profile
Hunt School of Dental Medicine Student Profile: Sydnye Fields
“As a student, participating in our first community event is a moment that will forever be in my memory. We immersed ourselves with people in the El Paso community and shared the importance of oral health. We were also able to give out toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste and pamphlets answering common questions about oral health care.”
Tell us a little about your background. Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
I’m half Texan and half North Carolinian. I lived in North Carolina until I was 10, then moved with my family to Houston. After high school, I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I played volleyball for three years. Then I moved to Texas A&M University to finish my degree, playing volleyball there for my last year.
Who or what moment inspired you to go into dentistry?
Early on, I knew I wanted to be a dentist. I had a wonderful dentist growing up, and while I hated going to the doctor because I always had to get shots, I loved going to the dentist. However, I feel like many times with other people that isn’t the case. People seem to know about the doctor and prioritize their visits, but they don’t know as much about the importance of dentistry and how oral health is strongly tied to your overall health. As a dentist, I would like to be a role model to increase visibility in my community, especially for the minority population.
Why is the Hunt School of Dental Medicine the best place for you?
Catering to a Spanish-speaking population and integrating Spanish into the curriculum is what really drew me in. When I lived in Argentina for six weeks working in a medical immersion program, I saw firsthand the impact of being bilingual in a medical setting. When you remove a language barrier, you provide comfort and relief, and I am a strong believer that a language barrier shouldn’t prevent access to care.
How does it feel to be part of the inaugural class at the Hunt School of Dental Medicine?
Being part of the inaugural class has been a fantastic opportunity. We are getting to set the foundation of our school for all the dental students to come after us and that has been so special. The school offers a unique opportunity for us to create the cultures and values for future cohorts and truly make our experience what we want it to be.
Have you received any life-changing support you would like to mention?
I was always a full-scholarship athlete, so I never had to pay for anything when I played volleyball in college. When I decided to attend dental school, I knew that wouldn’t be the case anymore, so there was a lot of stress associated with the financial aspect of my education. I will never forget the day Cyd Goldfarb called and offered me the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship. It has been such an impactful gift and alleviated a lot of the financial burden I would have otherwise had without it.
What is something about you people might not know?
I’m a huge LeBron James fan. He’s one of my biggest inspirations because of his LeBron James Family Foundation and his I Promise school that he opened in Ohio. He makes everyone around him better and that is a characteristic I strive to emulate.
What do you like most about El Paso or do you find unique about the region?
I love the mountains from sunrise to sunset. Waking up every morning and seeing the mountains is so beautiful.