Paving New Paths: How Keya Bajaria Is Helping Shape CNUCDM’s AGD Student Community

AGD Impact has a new Student Perspectives columnist starting in 2026: third-year dental student Keya Bajaria of California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine (CNUCDM).

A 2022 graduate of the University of California, Irvine, with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a minor in business management, Bajaria is copresident of her school’s AGD student chapter. In this role, she’s helping to build community and promote lifelong learning among future general dentists while she develops her own promising dental career.

AGD Impact: Why did you decide to become a dentist? What was your pathway between undergrad studies and beginning dental school?

Bajaria: There are many reasons I decided to pursue dentistry, one of them being that I enjoy the creative hands-on aspect of the profession and the social interactions with patients every day. Growing up, I spent a lot of time in an orthodontics office, and I got a glimpse of what life would be like as a dentist. After graduating university, I decided to take a gap year to give myself some time off before going through the rigorous curriculum of dental school. During my gap year, I worked as a dental assistant and as a barista at Starbucks while applying to dental schools and strengthening my applications. Even with my two jobs and working on dental school applications, I still made sure to have fun! I did a lot of traveling, from New York City to Peru to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Taking a gap year was just the reset I needed before I committed to dental school in July 2023.

Why did you choose California Northstate University?

Applying to dental schools can be overwhelming since there are so many to choose from. When I was applying, I had certain criteria, including class-size-to-faculty ratio, location and curriculum. CNUCDM, being one of the newer dental schools in California, crossed off all the things that I was looking for in a dental school. I like how intimate the class size is and how readily available faculty members are because it gives me the individualized attention I need as a student to prosper. The community that CNUCDM has fostered has been everything I was looking for in a dental school and more. Because the school is so new, we have the creative freedom to start clubs and organizations that we are interested in. I am involved in the student chapter of AGD as our copresident, and I am also a member of the American Student Dental Association and the Delta Delta Sigma fraternity. For me, attending a dental school in my home state was important. Being in the heart of California and the state’s capital, Sacramento, is beautiful, and, with so many different cuisines and serene nature around, there’s a lot to do outside the classroom or clinic.

When did you first join AGD, and what do you like about your AGD student chapter? How has involvement in your student chapter benefited your dental education?

The AGD Student Chapter at CNUCDM was founded in the spring of 2024, and I was one of the inaugural board members. The first year I was involved in AGD consisted of establishing a solid foundation for the school’s chapter and recruiting classmates. Joining the AGD chapter my first year of dental school and attending different AGD continuing education courses and student conferences has greatly impacted how I view general dentistry. A few months ago, I took on the copresident role. Taking on a bigger responsibility has raised my expectations for the organization. I want to focus on recruiting more students and showcasing the value of becoming a member, which will increase the CNUCDM chapter’s presence at the state level.

What are some of your plans or hopes for your career after dental school?

After graduating from dental school in 2027, I plan on working in a private practice in Northern or Southern California. After working full time in a private practice for a couple of years, I plan on working at a dental school as a part-time faculty member. I truly enjoy teaching, so I know I would enjoy being a faculty member. I see the impact faculty members have made on my dental education, and I can only hope to do the same for future generations of dentistry.

What have been some of your favorite moments, lessons or treatment cases so far in school?

Each day in dental school has been a learning curve. Whether it’s the good, the bad or the ugly, I appreciate how much I have been learning here. There has never been a dull moment at school. As cheesy as this sounds, dental school has introduced me to some of my closest and best friends. Having a good support system while going through the most rigorous time of my life has been something I could have only dreamed of when I chose this school. I have been so grateful to have amazing family and friends by my side in this process. Being a third-year student, I am able to see and treat patients on my own. When I’m able to successfully treat a patient, it’s rewarding to see that my hard work in dental school has been paying off. It’s incredibly heartwarming to be able to provide for my patients.