Hello, my name is Mink Lee, and I’m currently serving as an intern at the DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health at University of Washington. I work part-time as a registered dental hygienist and am also a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health from California State University – Northridge (CSUN).
Why I chose public health
While in dental hygiene school, my rotations included dental screenings and presentations at public schools and convalescent homes for the underserved population. My desire grew to help make dental services available to everyone, especially those with limited resources. I started volunteering at a community children’s dental clinic and participated in public health fairs providing dental screenings and preventative oral health instructions to at-risk populations. I realized many who live below the poverty line don’t have access to dental care and were not aware of products that could help treat conditions like dry mouth or nearby dental services available to them. My focus in my master’s program is on community health education. I wish to empower those who live in underserved communities to know what resources are available and have a better quality of life.
Joining the DeRouen Center
After volunteering at public health settings for the past ten years, I was excited to intern at the DeRouen Center. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with great people at the Center and with oral health educators and researchers in Kenya. I look forward to learning more about the Center’s dental health and research initiatives locally in Seattle and abroad.