Four students represent School of Dentistry in UTHealthLeads fellowship in 2023-24

Four students will represent UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry in UTHealthLeads for the 2023-24 academic year.

Dental students Brooke Ellis, Alejandra Guerra, and Noah Manubay, and dental hygiene student Lucas Ly will participate in the one-year student fellowship program designed to develop future leaders in health care.

The 2023-24 cohort consists of 24 students, four from each of the six UTHealth Houston schools. The program aims to increase leadership confidence, teach self-awareness, and how to effectively influence systems. Participants will have the opportunity to network with health care leaders in the Texas Medical Center and across the state while developing leadership skills.

UTHealthLeads will take place September 2023 through April 2024.

Brooke Ellis

A second-year dental student, Ellis is a graduate of Texas A&M, where she received a bachelor’s in molecular and cell biology and a master’s in biomedical sciences. The native of Georgetown, Texas, also worked for four years as a dental assistant.

What brought you to dentistry?

“My passion for dentistry began when I was younger. In elementary school, I lost my front tooth, and as I received treatment throughout the years, I became intrigued and would ask questions about the process and next steps. As I got older, I discovered my strengths and passions aligned with many aspects of dentistry, including hands-on creation and patient care.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“Through this program, my aspiration is to develop the ability to foster an environment of open communication and teamwork to provide excellent care while building strong patient relationships in a dental practice.”

Alejandra Guerra

Guerra, a fellow second-year dental student, is a Houston native and graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a bachelor of science in public health.

What brought you to dentistry?

“I chose dentistry to be an advocate for communities and educate them about the importance of oral health. I love that dentistry is a profession that requires working with my hands where I may be able to build connections with patients on a long-term basis. Having this pivotal role will aid me in bridging health care disparities to promote equity among all communities.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“In this program, I aspire to further develop my leadership skills, especially gaining the confidence to speak in large-group settings. I want to take this opportunity to strengthen my leadership abilities to apply it to my daily life and in my professional life as a future dentist. I look forward to collaborating with other students from UTHealth Houston and understanding our various perspectives.”

Noah Manubay

Manubay, a third-year dental student, earned a bachelor of science in biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The native of Weslaco, Texas, was president of the UTRGV Pre-Dental Society and a member of the Dental Early Acceptance Program.

What brought you to dentistry?

“My interest in dentistry started when I underwent orthodontic treatment when I was in high school. The enthusiasm and passion my orthodontist had for dentistry encouraged me to look more into the field. After shadowing various specialties within dentistry, I realized I could not see myself doing anything else. Ultimately, the patient-dentist relationship, as well as the opportunity to help improve someone’s self-confidence through their smile pushes me to pursue the profession.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I hope to gain more insight into becoming a better leader and communicator. I’m interested in improving my communication and public speaking skills.”

Lucas Ly

Ly is a second-year dental hygiene student, who received a bachelor of science in public health at The University of Texas at Austin. The Austin native worked for one year as a dental assistant.

What brought you to dentistry?

“Throughout my life, I’ve always had interest in health care and a genuine passion for assisting others. I stumbled upon dental hygiene as a career when I landed a dental assistant job at a private dental office. What captivated me most were the meaningful connections between dental hygienists and their patients, as it allows me not only to enhance their oral health but also contribute to their overall well-being. I chose dental hygiene because it is an overlooked area in health care that can prevent disease and help restore quality of life for many.”

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I hope to gain more confidence and knowledge as a leader through effective leadership strategies. Moreover, I eagerly anticipate gaining valuable experiences and building a robust network by engaging with numerous leaders across the Texas Medical Center.”

Gemalene Makabali Sunga

In addition, Gemalene “Gema” Makabali Sunga, a graduate research assistant in the Young Laboratory at the School of Dentistry, is participating in UTHealthLeads as a fellow from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

The Los Angeles native received a bachelor of science in molecular, cell, and developmental biology with a minor in music history from the University of California, Los Angeles. A PhD candidate in immunology, she worked in transplant immunology research for a number of years prior to graduate school.

What are you hoping to gain from this program?

“I hope UTHealthLeads will help me learn and grow the skills I need to complement my scientific training and to allow me to be a more confident communicator and leader, so I can most effectively work in service of others.”