Fourth-year students in the UConn School of Dental Medicine are celebrating their residency placements for the next year.

Known as “the Match,” the Class of 2025 shared where they will be continuing their training after they graduate from UConn.

“Our soon-to-be graduates are going to be entering some of the most competitive and desirable residency programs in the nation – and this is a reflection of all of their hard work and dedication,” said School of Dental Medicine dean Dr. Steven Lepowsky. “While we are incredibly proud of our students and all their achievements to date, we are equally excited about what they will accomplish during this next phase of their professional career. We are very confident that they will be exceptional ambassadors for UConn Nation.”

“We are thrilled to share the residency match results for the Class of 2025, each year we share the numbers and statistics on how successful our students are, and this year is no different,” said associate dean for students Dr. Sarita Arteaga.

Out of the 51 students, 21 are staying in Connecticut. Sixty two percent placed in general dentistry residency programs, while the remaining placed in specialties including endodontics, oral maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatrics, and prosthodontics. Three students will head to private practice.

The students will be traveling to Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington, and Alabama for their residency programs.

“We are happy to see our students continue their journey towards becoming exceptional doctors in dental medicine. Their hard work and dedication inspire us all, and we look forward to seeing the incredible impact in the community and the field of dentistry,” Arteaga continued.

Samira Abdelrehim of Burlington, Connecticut, will be one of the students staying at UConn to do her residency in pediatric dentistry.

“I’m extremely excited, UConn has the most amazing community I’ve ever seen,” Abdelrahim said. “I’m really grateful to be able to stay here.”

Olivia Dort of Plainville, Massachusetts, will also be staying at UConn to pursue endodontics and looks forward to working alongside familiar faces.

“The faculty and residents have always been really great mentors to me throughout my predental experience,” Dort said.

After residency, Dort hopes to serve rural communities.

Juan Mitchell, of Clarkston, Georgia, will be staying in Connecticut, pursuing a general practice residency at St. Francis in Hartford. Juan participated in the Urban Service Track—an interdisciplinary  program that trains health care professionals to serve the health care needs of Connecticut’s urban underserved communities.

“I’m glad to be able to continue to serve the people of Connecticut,” said Mitchell. “Through the Urban Service Track, I know there’s a bunch of need in urban areas, so I am looking forward to continuing to do that during my time at St. Francis.”

Dedrian Barrett of Miami, Florida, will be heading to the University of Alabama for a residency in periodontology.

“I’m looking forward to creating a network like I have here, I’ve met a lot of amazing people at UConn and I’m hoping to get that family atmosphere in Alabama as well,” said Barrett.

“It’s been amazing going to UConn for dental school and it’s put me in a position where I will excel in residency,” Barrett continued.