Thursday Talks: Antoinette Afriyie '27
Meet our first-year student Antoinette Afriyie of the Class of 2027 on this Thursday Talks.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at RSDM.
I’m a first-year dental student here at RSDM. I was born in the Bronx, New York, and grew up about 45 minutes outside the city. I graduated from Stony Brook University in 2021 and started the master's program in biomedical sciences here in that same fall. I am the youngest of three daughters and the only one in my family pursuing dentistry in a family full of pharmacists. I am currently on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the D1 Representative for AAPD, and a member of the Student National Dental Association (SNDA)!
How long have you been here, and why did you decide to come to RSDM?
I have been here since Fall 2021. I started the master's program that semester and am so happy I was able to have that experience. Through that program, I met so many dental students and faculty who influenced my decision to come to RSDM. I had the opportunity to conduct research with Dr. Vincent Tsiagbe [associate professor of oral biology] in his immunology lab as well as take classes with multiple dental school faculty. During my time here I also participated in Gateway to Dentistry, through which I was able to see how the faculty interacted with the students as well as observe how the preclinical training would be conducted. When choosing dental schools, I wanted to go to a school that would provide me with advanced clinical training and that was close enough to home that I could visit when my schedule allowed. Throughout my time here, I observed how familial RSDM was and wanted to join the family!
What do you like the most about RSDM?
My favorite part about RSDM is the people. The transition into dental school is not easy but having so many supportive, encouraging people around me has helped me so much! My favorite memory thus far has been the [student] gala. It was so nice to see everyone dressed up and to be able to celebrate our accomplishments thus far!
What do you enjoy doing outside the school?
My favorite pastime is cooking. I started cooking with my grandmother at a very young age and it has stuck with me since then. I love to try different meals in restaurants and then attempt to cook them at home. I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends!
