Ms. Emily Powell, Doctor of Dental Surgery Student
Meet Emily, a student in the dental Class of 2028 who is a nature lover and artist; a former basketball player; and an aspiring dental professional who chose the field after some challenging years as a young dental patient with complex needs. When she is not in the classroom or clinics, Emily creates original works of art, enjoys exploring nature and cityscapes – and she is a leader in organizations that prepare students for careers as dental professionals. She is a past vice president of Ohio State’s Pre-Dental Club, and she is now the Social Media Committee Chair for Ohio State’s chapter of the American Student Dental Association, as well as District 7’s Cabinet.
Ms. Emily Powell
- Question Piqua, Ohio is just outside Dayton. What was it like growing up there?
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Answer
Compared to Dayton where I spent my first seven years, Piqua is small, calm, and quiet. When I was in the second grade my parents moved there to ensure that I was in a safe environment where I’d get a good education and build a connection with nature and animals. Being an only child, I spent a lot of time outside developing my creativity down by the creek, looking for rocks or decorating a fort at the back of our property.
- Question Your early experiences as a very young dental patient made a lasting impression on you. What’s one “life lesson” you gained from that?
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Answer
I was born without my adult lateral incisors, so I spent a lot of my childhood and teenage years as a dental patient, working on ways to fix my smile. One life lesson from those experiences was realizing that the thing that causes you to struggle the most in life doesn’t have to define your character or decrease your value as a person. If anything, it gives you the power to be the author of your own narrative. And those struggles can give you a more holistic perspective on your life and your understanding of what it is that makes you unique. I also believe our struggles might inspire someone else with a shared experience and be the light they need in their life.
- Question How did you get interested in basketball?
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Answer
Sports began to interest me in the sixth grade when I developed close friendships with other kids in middle school who were already in sports. I began playing volleyball in sixth grade and basketball followed in seventh grade. I loved being part of a team and having an organized activity, as well as a group of people who expected me to be present, focused, and supportive. After high school I went to Edison State Community College in Piqua for two years and I played volleyball and basketball. That meant four hours of practice each day, and being in the best shape mentally and physically. Our basketball team won the 2019 National Junior College Athletic Association league championship, and I went on to earn the Spirit Award for both the volleyball and basketball teams that same year.
- Question What drew you to art? And what does it mean to you?
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Answer
I was interested in art at a young age. I remember one day of art class when I was in the second grade. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Cox, explained that art is whatever you want it to be. From that point on I looked forward to every project. But even more than that, I looked forward to the day I could create something that didn't follow a prompt or receive a grade. I wanted to create something artistic for the sake of creating and share the satisfaction I felt after making something with my own hands. To me, art means freedom of speech and expression. Art has always given me my voice, even when it was time to choose a career in dentistry – which is artistic in many ways.
- Question You enrolled at Ohio State as a junior. What was that experience like?
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Answer
I transferred from Edison State to The Ohio State University in 2021 after the Covid-19 epidemic calmed down and in-person classes resumed. My father had just retired from the U.S. Air Force, and I was awarded the Ohio War Orphan and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship. That award allowed me to explore my interests in film, photography, oil painting, and ceramics, as well as fulfilling my required course work for dental school. I think the most important part of the transition was having the freedom to find my independence and individuality outside the small town I was raised in. Ohio State opened my eyes to different cultures, perspectives, and avenues of self-expression that I wouldn’t have been aware of otherwise.
- Question What brings you joy?
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Answer
The greatest source of joy in my life is from taking long walks exploring nature or the city, finding lost objects and taking pictures of anything interesting I see along the way. I also enjoy journaling and sharing my life in dental school on my Instagram account @empowsmiles.
- Question What's a small gesture someone did for you that made a big impact on your life?
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Answer
During my journey to replace my missing lateral incisors, our neighbor Mark Bentley, DDS, invited our family to become patients at his practice. Dr. Bentley restored my confidence and trust in the ability of a practitioner to see a treatment plan through. He helped create my smile with two cantilever bridges at no cost to my family. His generosity is something that others see in my smile every single day, whether they know it or not. And I can never thank him enough for the way he changed the trajectory of my life.