Meet Harnoor Mahal
Greetings from Seattle! My name is Harnoor Mahal and I am a fourth-year dental student at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. When I started my undergraduate degree at UW, I had no idea I would end up becoming a dentist. Growing up without regular visits to the dentist, my exposure to the world of dentistry was minimal. However, I knew three things – I loved science, service, and connecting with others. Seva, or Selfless Service, is a strong component of my Sikh faith and I knew Seva would be at the forefront of my future career.
My journey to Dentistry
Growing up, I often accompanied my grandparents to their medical appointments, and would translate from English to Punjabi (and vice versa) for their providers. The service-oriented nature of healthcare was familiar to me, and I envisioned myself pursuing a career in medicine as a physician.
That changed during my junior year, when I traveled to Cusco, Peru on a medical mission trip. We traveled to remote villages high in the mountains, driving through windy and narrow dirt roads to provide essential services for isolated hillside communities. I was excited to dive headfirst into the vast world of Global Health and learn about the impact of rural medicine within healthcare. To my surprise, I was placed in the dental clinic to assist for the day.
The makeshift dental clinic was large and airy with two portable dental chairs and units placed on opposite ends. Walking in, I felt a bit nervous since I hadn’t assisted in that type of environment before, but my nerves melted away when I saw the room filled with laughter and children playing. I had spent the first two years of college working at an underserved preschool in Beacon Hill, and I was instantly reminded of my kiddos back home. Our first patient was an energetic four-year-old boy with a badly decayed tooth. He hopped into the chair with a smile and held his hand out to me for a high five, chatting my ear off in Spanish. That abruptly switched as he went from screaming with joy that he was visiting “La Doctora” to a stream of tears as we started the extraction. I quickly grabbed his hand, reassuring him, and he gradually calmed down as he squeezed my hand. I watched the dentist with awe as she swiftly removed the troublesome little tooth in under a minute. At the end, the little boy jumped out of the chair, his smile instantly came back, and he gave us both a big hug before running off to play with his friends. Assisting in the dental clinic gave me a wider view of healthcare and showed me the impact of oral health on underserved communities.
When I returned home, I participated in SMDEP (Summer Medical and Dental Education Program) at UW, where I got to spend a day in the UW School of Dentistry Simulation Lab and learn about life as a dental student – including drilling my first dental prep with a handpiece and waxing up the anatomy of a tooth. SMDEP strengthened my interest in dentistry, and I spent the next few years volunteering, shadowing, and working at various dental clinics in Seattle. I loved the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives, providing essential care and restoring smiles to those in need. Dentistry aligned perfectly with my values, allowing me to incorporate Seva (service), science, and meaningful connections through the patient-provider relationship.
Service in Dental School
Entering dental school in 2020, I knew I wanted my student experience to center around leadership and service. Joining the UW Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) as a board member during my first year, I dove headfirst into dental outreach activities. Together, we organized quarterly mobile dental clinics, extending vital services to underserved communities, including migrant farm workers and immigrants, offering free extractions, restorative care, and cleanings. Our setup mirrored the mobile clinics I had witnessed in Peru, complete with portable dental chairs and an ASEPTICO mobile dental unit, bringing me full circle to the moments that inspired me to pursue a career in dentistry.
Jambo! Research in Kenya with the UW DeRouen Center
This past September, I traveled to Kisumu, Kenya to conduct pediatric global oral health research with the Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health. This experience was a dream I’ve had since I was an undergraduate. During my senior year of undergraduate studies, I enrolled in an introductory dental course, where Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario gave a guest lecture on her Global Oral Health research in Kenya, Thailand, and Peru. I left Dr. Seminario’s lecture feeling inspired and determined. This experience came full circle, when I had the opportunity to enroll in her Global Oral Health Course during my D2 year, and travel to Kenya with the DeRouen Center as a D4. I appreciated learning about the intricacies of the social determinants of health and being able to apply those directly to my research project on nutrition. I presented my findings at the UW School of Dentistry Research Day in January 2024.
I centered my research on Nutrition and its impact on Global Oral Health. While in Kenya, I interviewed providers of children between ages 2-5 years. I sought to assess provider familiarity with the Kenyan National Guidelines for Health Diets and Physical Activity, their success in transmitting this knowledge to caregivers. Alongside these discussions, I discovered intriguing insights into local culinary customs, such as the consumption of Ugali, a traditional corn flour bread, and the tradition of enjoying Kenyan Tea with meals. Immersed in Kenya’s vibrant culture, I not only sampled local delicacies with my team, but also engaged deeply with the community, gaining a profound appreciation for the diverse traditions woven into Kenyan life.
Under the guidance of our generous host Dr. Immaculate Opondo and her team, our exploration of Kisumu seamlessly blended research with cultural immersion. We visited healthcare facilities to conduct research, allowing us to gain valuable insights and absorb local traditions. Beyond our academic pursuits, our cultural excursions led by our knowledgeable driver and guide, Oskar, led us to iconic landmarks like the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, the Equator Line, and a serene boating experience on Lake Victoria. I was delightfully surprised to learn of the large Indian diaspora present in Kisumu and I visited the local Sikh gurdwara, where I was welcomed warmly by local members of the community who shared their rich history in Kenya, from their migration from India during the British colonial era to their presence in modern-day Kenya.
Going Forward
My journey to becoming a dentist has been a whirlwind, brimming with opportunities for growth and discovery. As I prepare for my graduation on June 1st, marking the beginning of my dental career, I am excited to leverage my education and background in dentistry to serve underserved communities across the world. Beyond providing essential dental care, I envision integrating global health initiatives into my future pursuits. Whether through participating in international dental missions, collaborating with organizations dedicated to improving health in developing regions, or advocating for policy changes to address global disparities in dental care access, I am committed to making a meaningful impact on a global scale. My aspiration is not only to deliver quality dental services but also to champion oral health equity, striving to bridge the gap in access to care. I am grateful for the opportunity provided by the UW DeRouen Center to engage and deepen my understanding of Global Oral Health, and I am committed to advancing its mission of improving community health as a dentist.