Ava Selya ’07 Dentist, Mary’s Center, Washington, D.C.
On a typical day at work, Ava Selya ’07 can be found treating dental issues and showing patients how to care for their oral health. She is a dentist at Mary’s Center, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that provides health care, education, and social services. The site in which she works is located on Georgia Avenue in the city’s Petworth neighborhood. As a biology major at Temple University, Ava knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care, but was unsure about which field to choose. It wasn’t until she shadowed dentists and dental students that she decided to apply to dental school. “I respected how these men and women were able to use a unique mix of art and science to improve the patient’s quality of life, and I began to think that dentistry would be a good fit for me, too,” Ava says. She continued her studies at Temple’s Kornberg School of Dentistry, earning a doctorate of dental medicine in 2015. The first time Ava heard about Mary’s Center was in dental school. A representative from the center (who is now Ava’s boss) traveled to Temple to give a presentation on working in the public health sector, and suggested she visit the D.C. clinic. She took him up on his offer. When she arrived, Ava was immediately struck by how caring and compassionate the staff was, and how grateful the patients were for the care they received. What started as a site visit led to an interview, and a few months later, Ava received a contract. The biggest challenge in her line of work is being able to meet the needs of every patient, as most have never received dental care in their lives. The most rewarding aspect of her job can be summed up in two words: thank you. “Dentistry can be unpleasant at times, but when the patient goes out of their way at the end of the appointment to let me know how appreciative they are for the care received, I am reminded of why I chose to go into the field,” Ava says. Ava chose public health as a career because she enjoys helping others, and each day, she is able to provide diagnostic, preventative, and restorative care to a population that may not be able to receive it otherwise. “It has always been a belief of mine that every person be treated with kindness and respect,” Ava says.
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Fall 2016
hen the patient goes out of their way “ W at the end of the appointment to let me know how appreciative they are for the care received, I am reminded of why I chose to go into the field.”