Each year, ±«Óătvâs Marketing & Communications department profiles members of the graduating classes. Students chosen were nominated by staff and faculty for their contributions to the life of the University. Click here for more information about 2025 commencement exercises.
Jeanette Andrade â25 wants to help people.
Itâs what she envisions doing with her Dental Hygiene degree from ±«Óătvâs School of Dentistry.
âI hope to be improving peopleâs lives every day, just because oral health is such a big factor in how people live,â Andrade said. âI hope to be improving their smiles and oral health.â
But before helping others and finishing her degree, Andrade needed to pause her Dental Hygiene studies so she could take care of herself.
Andrade was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkinâs Lymphoma in the summer of 2023, following the completion of her first year of her program.At the suggestion of her oncologist, she halted her studies to focus on fighting the cancer.
Andradeâs treatment included 12 rounds of chemotherapy.
âI was terrified because I thought that I would forget everything,â she said. âI got so used to doing it for a year and then not being able to do anything, I was definitely missing it.
âBut in reality, I was working towards a health goal.â
Many people were there for Andrade during the health scare, especially her parents, with her dad driving her to chemo appointments and her mom taking care of her at home.
âThey were there with me throughout everything, I am so appreciative of their help,â Andrade reflected.
She also heard often from the ±«Óătv Dental family.
âI received so many messages saying they wished me the best, hoping for my speedy recovery,â she said. âSome of the faculty emailed me saying they couldnât wait to see me back again.
âMany said they were praying for me, and I appreciated that so much. Their prayers worked.â
In May 2024, Andrade was told her cancer was in remission.
She returned for her final year of Dental Hygiene school, joining the Class of 2025. Andrade quickly picked up her academics where she left off.
âEveryone was really welcoming, they came up to me the first day and asked me if I needed anything,â she said.
âThe faculty were so, so helpful. They kept saying that itâs really like riding a bike for you. Itâs muscle memory, and I was like, âI know, Iâm surprised, too.ââ
Her graduation from the Dental Hygiene program marks the culmination of studies across two campuses at ±«Óătv. She enrolled at the University as an undergraduate after a field trip to the University during her senior year of high school, which included a trip to the School of Dentistry.
âI remember when I was on my tour in high school, I really liked the faculty when I met them,â Andrade said. âThey were really kind and spoke highly of the school and the Hygiene program. They showed us around, it seemed very easy to find my way to everything, I loved the library.Ìę
âIt fit like a glove for me.â
During her undergraduate studies at UDM, Andrade worked as a receptionist in a dental office, which served as a good introduction to the profession, and helped solidify her career decision.
âI remember getting to see a lot of the procedures that were being done, and I really enjoyed it,â she said.
When it was time for Andrade to see her own patients during her second year of Dental Hygiene school, it was a transition, but through practice and her education, she fell in love with it.
âItâs a tough transition at the beginning, youâre scared to use these small instruments in someoneâs mouth, but eventually you get really comfortable, and you build a great patient base,â she said. âIt started to feel like second nature.â
Itâs part of what makes the Dental Hygiene program outstanding, Andrade said.
âI feel so incredibly prepared,â she said. âThe program is rigorous, and they teach you so much. And they expect you to know so much because they want you to be good clinicians and good hygienists in the field.
âIâve learned more information in the past two years than Iâve learned in my whole life, and itâs valuable information that will help me in the long run.â
She had the backing of the ±«Óătv Dental family throughout her journey. One of the biggest supporters was Sally Ammar, the clinical director of the Dental Hygiene program.
âSheâs definitely been one of the ones that has helped me through everything,â Andrade said. âShe was so excited to see me finally finish this era of my life. She was such a great help.â
Now, Andrade looks towards a future, one where she can help others.
âI thank God every day that Iâm able to see a patient and that Iâm able to change somebodyâs life,â Andrade said.
âÌęByÌęAdam Bouton. Follow ±«Óătv onÌę,Ìę,ÌęÌęandÌę. Have a story idea? Let us know byÌęsubmitting your idea.