“When I started my freshmen year at Truman, I couldn’t decide which major would be best for me although I have known I wanted be a dentist since age 11. Soon after I arrived on campus, I met with HES faculty and knew it was the right place for me. Little did I know my time in the HES department would help me develop a passion for health education and public health. I truly believe majoring in health science is going to make me a better dentist. The courses I took, along with t
he community service components made me more compassionate and aware of the importance of health education, and really drove home the need for comprehensive health education programs in communities.
After I graduated, I started working at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City, Mo. as an analyst. Currently, I am attending A.T. Still University – Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health (MOSDOH), as a member of the Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry class of 2021. I am thrilled to be living my dream every day! A.T. Still offers a joint DMD and MPH degree which I plan on taking advantage of fully.
I cherish the time I had at Truman, it challenged me and aided in developing my work ethic. I don’t think any Truman students or alumni would tell you it’s easy but that’s one of the many reasons why Truman ends up on list after list as a top university in the Midwest. My advice for current students is don’t give up on your dreams. It sounds cliché but seriously. I applied to dental school 3 times before I got in, but it made me a stronger person, and I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world! The saying that everything happens for a reason is very accurate.”
—Caitlin Eikermann (’15), Health Science, Minor in Biology