After a four-year journey through the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, it is time for this year’s group of graduates to take the next important step in their fledgling dental careers.

For many students, that means starting work in a dental practice. Others will choose to remain behind the scenes and pursue academic research opportunities. Meanwhile, some students are bidding farewell to their time at the UAB SOD by heading to … UAB.

Yes, several of this year’s fourth year dental students, known as D4s, have enjoyed the experience at UAB so much they are not leaving just yet. Instead, they are remaining on campus to begin a SOD postdoctoral residency.

Parker Griffin“I’m looking forward to joining a really strong program here at UAB,” says Parker Griffin, who is slated for a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery. “Few programs offer the volume and scope of training that UAB does, and it’s really exciting to be a part of that.”

“What really drew me in was the variety of procedures that fall under the scope of OMFS. Having such a large scope allows oral surgeons to occupy a unique space in healthcare that ranges from routine to highly complex cases.”

Julia SimGriffin is far from alone in his decision to continue gaining dental knowledge and experience without leaving UAB. Julia Sim, for example, is preparing for a residency in pediatric dentistry.

“I’ve always loved working with children, and pediatric dentistry allows me to combine that passion with my love for dentistry,” Sim says. “Kids bring such joy and energy to the office, and I find it incredibly rewarding to help shape their early dental experiences into positive ones that will last a lifetime. I’m excited to be part of a team of like-minded professionals who are eager to learn about pediatric dentistry, and so grateful to join UAB Peds in a few months.”

Ella Brannen Walker with Dean Geurs at her White Coat CeremonyElla Brannen Walker has similar excitement about her decision to remain at UAB for a residency in periodontology.

“I chose perio because I wanted long-term patient relationships, I enjoy the surgical aspect of treatment, and I love how periodontal treatment can improve systemic health as well as oral health,” Walker says. “I chose UAB because of the excellent clinical training, the faculty and the residents. I can’t wait to become a part of the UAB Perio family.”

Chase FeaginWalker will be joined in the periodontology residency by Chase Feagin, who worked previously as a surgical assistant and says he was drawn to periodontics by the “meticulous surgeries” that take place within the field.

“Such procedures have a drastic impact on the oral health and function of patients,” Feagin says. “I am looking forward to learning how to manage complex cases of periodontitis as well as the many different surgical procedures. Having the opportunity to be trained by the great periodontal faculty at UAB will allow me to not only become a great clinician, but to also offer advanced treatments to those in my community.”

And then there is Brandon Englert, who spent four years as an undergrad at UAB majoring in Material Science Engineering followed by his four-year stint in the School of Dentistry. Now he is extending his stay at UAB even longer with a residency in prosthodontics.

Brandon Englert “I chose a prosthodontic residency for the opportunity to learn more advanced methods and treat complex cases,” Englert says. “For me, the prosthodontic specialty really emphasizes the importance of having a well-rounded treatment plan, while being flexible enough to think on the fly and make changes as needed.”

“Something I am really looking forward to is learning how to implement both classical techniques and modern digital techniques into my patient care. Seeing how fast digital dentistry is changing will make a huge impact on how we can treat patients in the future. But having formal training in classical prosthodontics will always give you a backup in case a modern technique isn’t working out as planned.”

Englert says he feels well prepared for the residency because of the combination of classroom knowledge and hands-on clinical experience he received during his time in the UAB School of Dentistry. He says the SOD faculty – including Nate Lawson, D.M.D., M.A., Ph.D., and Edward Bradford, D.D.S., M.P.H. – helped him tremendously along the way.

“I’ve been very blessed to have good faculty throughout my dental education, but Dr. Lawson and Dr. Bradford will always stand out to me,” Englert says. “Dr. Lawson was my mentor well before dental school, and helped bridge the gap between my engineering background and my current dental education. Much of what I have learned is because of his guidance and teachings.”

“For my clinical years, Dr. Bradford has been the ultimate leader. He encourages me to think outside the box and always has my back in case things go south. I will always be thankful for Dr. Bradford, and I consider myself lucky to have had his guidance in clinic.”

Alexander Daughtery with Dean Geurs at his White Coat CeremonyAnother student who is continuing his training at UAB is Birmingham native Alexander Daugherty, who will be entering the Hospital Dentistry General Practice Residency (GPR) program.

“I chose the Hospital Dentistry program because it is a great opportunity to gain experience with complex cases and be able to confidently treat medically compromised patients,” Daugherty says. “I feel fortunate to have been able to work with such great faculty at UAB during my training.”

Like Englert, Daugherty credits the mentorship and support of UAB’s faculty as a key part of his decision to stay. Their guidance, he says, has helped shape his clinical confidence and professional growth.

For these students and many others, the path to a dental career has been enhanced by their time at UAB. Englert encourages those students who are following behind them to take advantage of what the UAB SOD has to offer in helping them along their individual sojourn.

“Never compare your dental school journey to others. Everyone is going to learn at different speeds and in different ways,” Englert says. “It is a challenging endeavor any way you look at it, whether in the classroom, preclinical labs or in the clinic. Try to make the most of it and treat everything as a learning opportunity.”

Feagin agrees. “I would tell future dental students that dental school is a journey full of surprises,” he says. “There will be good days and there will be tough days. However, the journey and the hard work will all be worth it at the end.”

Even when the end of dental school does not necessarily mean the end of their time at UAB.