Next Gen of the Month is a monthly Q&A with a dental student or new dentist where we ask them about their experiences and accomplishments thus far in their dentistry journey. This month we are featuring Michelle Hoang, a dental student at the University of Toronto who makes inspirational videos online documenting her journey through dental school.
Why did you decide to pursue dentistry?
I grew up painting with acrylics, sculpting with polymer clay, and constantly working on activities that required significant attention to detail. When I learned how similarly hands-on and artistic dentistry was, I began exploring the field more. I soon became drawn to the meaningful connections that can be made between the dentist and their patients. I not only wanted to provide tangible services to those in my community, but I was also excited to understand each patient fully to provide compassionate and personalized care.
What inspired you to start sharing your dental student journey online? Have you always had an interest in content creation?
I have always had a passion for video editing! (When I was younger, I had a YouTube channel where I posted tutorials of my clay and painting projects). I was also inspired by many other dental students on YouTube who documented their journeys and the process of applying to dental school. I wanted to do the same and capture my dental school journey through shorter clips on Instagram reels. This also allowed me to connect with many other dental students online who I have been lucky to meet in person as well! I grew to love the community.
What has been the best part of making and sharing your dental student vlogs? Have you had to deal with any negative experiences from sharing your life online?
The community 100%. I have been able to connect with dental students from around the world and hear about their unique stories, share advice about post-graduation, and learn about their respective dental schools. As much as I love sharing my experiences and learning about the experiences of others, the greatest challenge has been finding the right balance between showcasing the highlights and being transparent about the hardships of dental school.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love anything active! Whether it’s going to the gym, going for a run, participating in intramural sports or travelling for snowboarding or hiking, staying active has always been a big part of my life. These activities have helped me manage stress in dental school and find balance. It has always been my form of self-care and has helped me stay motivated during demanding periods in dental school.
Favourite dental people/accounts to follow?
- LauraSmiles on Youtube: One of the first youtubers I watched while applying to dental school! She is so inspiring for pre-dental students and is one of the OG dental school vloggers.
- Dr. John Yoo: I love his balance of fitness, dentistry, and lifestyle content!
- Haley Schultz: She does it all! From her podcast (dentaldownloadpodcast) to her Instagram and YouTube videos.
- Kay Chung on TikTok: Never fails to make me laugh.
You can find Michelle at @dentistrywithmi on Instagram!