Four School of Dentistry students participating in 2024-25 Leads fellowship

Four students will represent the School of Dentistry in UTHealth Houston | Leads for the 2024-25 academic year.

Dental students Nicole Akukoro, John Mansour, and Yuleima Zamora, as well as dental hygiene student Julie Nguyen, will participate in the one-year student fellowship program designed to develop future leaders in health care. All are in their second year, respectively, at the School of Dentistry.

The 2024-25 cohort consists of students from each UTHealth Houston school.

Leads aims to increase leadership confidence, teach self-awareness, and how to effectively influence systems. Participants will be able to network with health care leaders in the Texas Medical Center and across the state while developing leadership skills.

The fellowship will take place from September 2024 through April 2025.

Nicole Akukoro

A native of Richmond, Texas, Akukoro is a 2022 graduate of Texas Tech University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.

What brought you to dentistry?

“I was made aware of dentistry by a suggestion made by my classmate in high school and a dental class I took the following year. I would consider myself an artistic person, and I was drawn to the artistic components of dentistry, as well as the opportunity to work with my hands daily.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I’m hoping to gain greater confidence in being a leader by strengthening the skills that I already have and learning new skills that I previously was not aware of.”

John Mansour

A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Mansour is a 2022 graduate of the University of Houston, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biochemical and biophysical sciences.

What brought you to dentistry?

“Growing up, I loved to work with my hands, whether it was helping my dad repair a pipe, rewiring a fan, or even pipetting in the chemistry lab where I conducted research; the satisfaction of completing a job well with my own hands was unmatched. As I began to explore possible professional routes, I found myself drawn to emulate the dentists whom I admired growing up, which led me to some shadowing opportunities. The more hours I spent in various dental offices, the more I found parallels between my love for working with my hands and the field of dentistry. Over time, my passion in dentistry solidified.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I hope to gain a deeper capacity for introspection from this program — the ability to step back in maturity to reflect, improve, and make decisions that will best benefit those whom I lead. From my patients to my community to members of organizations, I hope to learn how to instill confidence in them, foster a trusting and collaborative environment, and inspire passion.”

Yuleima Zamora

Zamora is a 2023 graduate of the University of Houston, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. The Houston native also worked for some time as a dental assistant.

What brought you to dentistry?

“Growing up, oral health was not prioritized in my community, and I saw the consequences firsthand. This is why I want to educate patients about the importance of oral health and its connection to overall well-being. As a child, I received treatment at a government-funded dental clinic, which had a significant impact on my life. Inspired by the care I received, I chose to pursue dentistry to help others and give back what was given to me.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“My goal in this program is to enhance my leadership and communication skills, as effective communication is crucial in healthcare. I also aim to network with leaders across the UTHealth schools and learn from their experiences.”

Julie Nguyen

A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Nguyen comes to UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry after working as a registered dental assistant in an orthodontic office.

What brought you to dentistry?

“I’ve always been drawn to medicine and helping people, and I particularly love the impact that a healthy smile can have on someone’s confidence. Dentistry gives me the perfect blend of patient care, precision, and the ability to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. It also ties into my love of teaching and spreading knowledge to others, allowing me to educate patients and advocate for oral health.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I’m hoping to gain greater confidence in being a leader by strengthening the skills that I already have and learning new skills that I previously was not aware of.”