CEDAR CITY, UTAH – There’s something to be said for knowing a job is waiting for you after graduation. “I’ll be defending the nation with a drill bit in hand,” boasted Second Lieutenant Andrew King, one of the Army’s newest Dental Corps Officers.
When he was commissioned this month, Andrew King knew this was his calling; blending a family legacy with his love for dentistry. Both of his grandfathers are war veterans, serving in WWII and Vietnam. “My dad and my older brother are both in the Utah National Guard,” Andrew added. “I honestly consider it a sacred duty to serve my country.”
His Army experience will be slightly different than the rest of his families’, according to sergeant first class Tahirih Maiava, station commander for the Las Vegas Medical recruiting station. “Under the Health Professionals Scholarship Program, 2nd lt. King will be attending dental school full time tuition-free and will be applying for the Army's Advanced Education in General Dentistry program in his 4th year of school.” This selective residency will enhance King’s capabilities and skills by providing comprehensive multidisciplinary oral health care at a level of skill and complexity beyond that accomplished in pre-doctoral training.
King relishes the notion that he’ll be able to “pay it forward to the Soldiers who are working day in and day out working for the security of the country.” He’s said that he will be “extremely excited to able to I’ll be doing standard dental work for Soldier’s and their families.” Before this process gets fully underway and dawns his Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniform for the first time, “I’ll be getting a DMD,” said King. “I’m also hoping to concurrently study and get a Master’s in Oral Biology,” in addition to his Doctor of Dental Medicine. This will allow him to pursue administrative and teaching positions in Academia.
“It’s always been a dentist for me ever since I was a kid,” said King. This is an instance when a childhood passion become reality – a dreamed fulfilled to become a dentist and to serve in the Army.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2019 10:40 |
| Story ID: | 325273 |
| Location: | SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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