
Having personally struggled with several eating disorders, I made these infographics in 2021 to highlight the bidirectional oral health implications of eating disorders and highlight ways for dental professionals to help. These infographics were featured on Harvard ASDA's official Instagram Page.
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- Contact Me | Bree Zhang
Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist, Storyteller, Learner. Contact me through email, Linkedin, or social media such as Instagram, Facebook, DeviantArt, and follow my Youtube channel! Contact Me - Bree Zhang Find me through any of the social media accounts listed below, or shoot me an email directly! E- bree101zhang@gmail.com Youtube : Bree Zhang Instagram : bubba_bree and breez_art Facebook: Bree Zhang Deviant Art: bubba-bree Thanks! Message sent. Send
- Resume | Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist
A list of my relevant work, research, and extracurricular experiences in healthcare, education, teaching, leadership, event-planning, art, and music. Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Leadership and Outreach Research Experience Dental & Healthcare Experience Teaching and Education Music Accolades Art Accolades Resume This information can also be found on my Linkedin . Education Brown University Pyschology Sc.B. GPA 3.97 Providence RI (Graduated with Honors) Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) In Progress Masters of Public Health In Progress Dental Admissions Test (DAT): 27 Leadership Experience American Student Dental Association, Chair of National Council on Advocacy Chicago, IL (2024-2025) Supervised and directed activities of the National Advocacy Council on legislative and regulatory issues that impact the dental profession, focusing on the theme “Barriers to Care.” Organized Advocacy Month. Launched grassroots initiatives to promote action-oriented advocacy, including organizing a voter registration contest that had over 1,400+ participants. Facilitated idea exchanges with Legislative Liaisons and created resource drives and guides to improve advocacy events on the local and district level. Columbia Dental Class of 2026, President New York, NY (2022-2024) Supporting the Columbia Dental Class of 2026 by 1) meeting regularly with school administration and the Dean of Academic and Student Affairs to communicate class concerns 2) sending weekly emails to the Class of 2026 with resources, updates, events, announcements 3) organizing with members of class council representatives to ensure academic concerns, financial questions, social programming, and other class projects are going smoothly. ASDA District 2 Legislative Liaison New York, NY (2023-present) Organizing advocacy district events, coordinating with state dental associations, county associations, compiling resources for chapters to promote advocacy campaigns, planning New York State Advocacy Day and ADA Joint Lobby Day, District 1-3 Legislative Coordinator on the Council on Advocacy, informing cabinet and district members on NY, NJ & federal legislative updates & informs cabinet and district members. American Public Health Association, Oral Health Section Liaison New York, NY (2022-present) Named the Student Assembly Section Liaison of the Year. Spearheading social media strategy and creating oral health and public health infographics for American Public Health Oral Health Section. Establishing communicating channels between American Student Dental Association with American Public Health Association. Engaging pre-dental students in public health and APHA activities. International Collaboration and Exchange Program, Team Leader New York, NY (2022-present) Engaged with students in 20+ universities across 4 continents. Facilitated small peer group conversations differences in healthcare systems, health ethics and law challenges, advancements in biotechnology, reflections on the topic of anatomy body donation, and experiences during the global pandemic. Brown University Class of 2022, Co-President Providence RI (2018-2022) Planned class-wide events, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility to promote class spirit and unity, sustaining traditions while creating new ones that represent the ever-changing student demographic. Also served as resource channel for academic, social, and extracurricular support for students during the virtual semester. Planned Senior Week and will be responsible for planning Brown Class of 2022 five year reunion. Brown University Pre-dental Society, President Providence RI (2018-2022) Spearheaded the “Oral Health for the Elderly” initiative to provide oral hygiene training sessions to caretakers at nursing homes, working with the Oral Health Program at RI Department of Health. Organized community service RI Mission of Mercy, inter-school conferences, and panels inviting dental students and dentists to inspire pre-dentals. Research Experience Oral Health for Ob/Gyn Residents and Medical Students, Grant Recipient, NY (2024-2026) Was awarded the 2024 Columbia University Provost Grant for Innovative Course Design, working with the Vice Chair of Education and Residency Program Director in the Department of Ob/Gyn to develop an educational module “Oral Health and Pregnancy” to be delivered to Ob/Gyn residents and medical students during their MCY clerkship for the 2025 calendar year and to incorporate dental care into routine prenatal care through a streamlined prenatal dental referral for patients in the ambulatory care network clinics where students and residents serve as providers. Lipton Narrative Medicine Fellow Columbia University, NY (2023-present) Awarded $7000 to develop pilot research project assessing the introduction of basic pillars of narrative medicine into Columbia University first-year dental curriculum, including the experience of close reading, reflective writing and sharing with peers. Conducted literature review, wrote IRB proposal, designed survey, collected data. Harvard School of Dental Medicine Global Health Starter Kit Author Boston MA (2021-2022) Working with Dr. Seymour, Global Health Discipline Director at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, to spearhead the development of two new modules "COVID-19: Global Lessons for a Global Profession" and “Global Health for Pre-dental Students,” within Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Global Health Starter Kit, a competency-based global health ‘starter’ curriculum designed for dental educators and students. View the previous five modules here . Bottle-Feeding Case Study Research, Second Main-Writer Annandale NJ (2017-2018) Studied anterior crossbite correction through bottle-feeding under Dr. Zhu and Dr. Rosivack at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. Contacted hospitals, collected data, obtained reference photos, generated diagrams, wrote and revised drafts of published case report “Early Correction of Anterior Crossbite Through Bottle Feeding.” Sobel Causality and Mind Lab, Research Assistant Providence RI (2020-2022) Investigating children’s reasoning and social cognition by designing and drawing digital storyboards for experiments, coding, transcribing, and interpreting data, creating graphics and diagrams for research papers with photoshop and powerpoint. Conducted independent study and designed an experiment from scratch to study praise's effects on children's motivation, which became part of Senior Thesis. Harvard School of Dental Medicine ASDA, Dental Advocacy Fellow Boston MA (2020-present) Researching links between oral and mental health such as eating disorders and depression, creating educational materials on ways for HSDM students to get involved in community-based dental clinics, spearheading project on children’s oral health education to increase accessibility for families with language barriers and poor internet access. Leadership and Outreach Research Experience Dental & Healthcare Experience Clinical Experience Dental Associates of RI, Dental Assistant & Practice Coordinator Johnston RI (2021-2022) Provided quality chair-side assisting while spearheading new practice innovations: Integrated music therapy to reduce dental fear and anxiety. Transitioned practice to paperless operations to increase efficiency. Redesigned website, created graphics, optimized SEO. Implemented social media strategy, featuring therapy dogs, teambuilding and staff interactions, community-based involvement and partnerships, and patient engagement. Mercer Oral Surgery, Surgical Assistant Hamilton NJ (Summer 2020) Chair-side assisted in oral and maxillofacial surgeries such as general anesthesia, bone grafts, implants, wisdom teeth extractions, biopsies, alveoloplasty by suctioning, irrigating, preparing sutures, retracting, and more. Sterilized and disinfected instruments and operating rooms, maintaining a clean environment during COVID-19. Hunterdon Family Dental Care, Dental Assistant and Receptionist Lebanon NJ (2015-present) Provided quality care to patients through chair-side assisting, sterilizing and disinfecting operatories, preparing procedures like crowns, bridges, veneers, root canals, implants, Invisalign. Assisted in operating new CEREC 3D scanning and milling technology. Rebuilt new website , optimized SEO and rankings, redesigned office logo and PR, managed advertising and hiring campaigns. Rhode Island Free Clinic, Dental Assistant Volunteer Providence RI (2019-2020) Volunteered in newly established dental clinic to provide service to uninsured low-income adults through chair-side assisting, sterilizing and disinfecting dental operatories, charting medical records and treatment plan options. National and State Appointments NYSDA Substance Abuse and Well-being Committee, ASDA Representative Appointed as student representative to New York State Dental Association, providing student perspective on substance use and well-being (education, patient care, finding support services, etc.). Wrote article related to substance abuse or addiction on an ASDA and/or NYSDA publication. Collaborated with NYSDA staff to develop social media posts to educate NYSDA membership on related issues. ADA National Fluoridation Advisory Committee, ASDA Representative (2024-2026) Appointed as student representative on the American Dental Association National Fluoridation Advisory Committee (NFAC) for the 2024-26 term to assist in providing evidence-based fluoridation assistance to the Membership and public at-large. The committee serves as the go-to resource to respond to misinformed anti-fluoridation efforts and to assist community water fluoridation startups in communities across the US. ACU AAP Community Health Center Pediatric Working Group, Representative (2024-present) Served with American Academy of Pediatrics and Association for Clinicians of Underserved working group on relevant initiatives including: 1) early childhood primary care promotion and prevention, surveillance and screening, brief interventions, referrals, and care coordination. 2) implementation and initiatives tailored to CHCs that may create sustainability opportunities for a high-quality and holistic early childhood continuum of care. 3) Identification of yet-to-be-determined collaborative opportunities to promote a high-quality and holistic care 4) early childhood continuum of care and its alignment with AAP recommendations. 5) Consultation on established strategies previously used to improve developmental screening and referral and team-based, integrated care in community health center settings. 6) Consultation on practice transformation coaching strategies engaging health centers to improve early childhood development access to care, clinical team value-based care practices and long-term health American Student Dental Association District 2 Outstanding Advocate Recipient (2022) ADA Give Vets a Smile, ASDA Representative (2024-2026) Appointed as student representative on one-year term on the ADA Give Veterans A Smile (GVAS) National Advisory Committee. The committee is an advisory committee to the ADA’s Department of Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, and is responsible for providing strategic advice to the Department with respect to matters of concern in the provision of care for veterans. Teaching and Education Education and Teaching Experience Lipton Interprofessional Research and Education, Grant Developer and Student Advisor New York, NY (2024) Spearheaded the development of the Lipton Interprofessional Research and Education Fellowship, a grant awarding collaboration between Columbia University College of Dental Medicine students with professional schools at Columbia such as Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Public Health, Biomedical Engineering, and Computer Science, to create and implement projects that enhance students' educational experiences. Columbia Dental Medicine Oral Histology, Academic Liaison New York NY (2024-present) Led lab sessions for Oral Histology course for 2nd year dental students at Columbia Dental Medicine. Reviewed key histological landmarks in the craniofacial region, drawing comparisons between developmental and embryonical structures to anatomical landmarks. Reviewed lecture content and connected it to lab content. Columbia Dental Prosthodontics Course, Teaching Assistant New York NY (2024-present) Guided second-year dental students in hands-on laboratory sessions covering complete dentures, removable partial dentures, and implant prosthodontics. Provided one-on-one instruction, technique demonstrations, and feedback to support skill development in pre-clinical fixed and removable prosthodontics. Collaborated with faculty to reinforce didactic concepts and enhance student learning Columbia Dental Medicine Cariology, Teaching Assistant (2025-2026) Assisted in the instruction of first-year dental students by grading quizzes, assignments, and essays. Supported course faculty in reviewing lecture content and preparing the final exam. Topics covered included oral microbiology, histopathology, immunology, nutrition and diet, salivary physiology, EPIC and CAMBRA caries risk assessment, dental erosion, and dentifrice science. Helped reinforce foundational knowledge critical to caries prevention and management. Columbia IYRC Medicine and Research Program, Teaching Fellow New York NY (2023-present) Taught high school students from around the world foundational medical topics focusing on public health relevance (STI, substance use, diabetes, mental health). Held weekly office hours, facilitated discussions, acted as standardized patients for students, and created lectures on Eating Disorders, Art in Medicine, and Oral Systemic Link for students. PrincetoNow Education Services Inc., Senior Essay Specialist Princeton NJ (2018-present) Guided students in developing, editing, and polishing application essays. Interviewed students about talents and interests, helped formulate extracurricular activities and career goals. Provided mock interviews. Children’s Medical Foundation, Fellowship Associate Summer Intern Hong Kong, China (2019) Implemented and executed CMF 2019 Social Impact Fellowship through curriculum and logistical development. Generated and managed communications and social media strategy through platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Salesforce. Designed promotional material, signage, and invitations for branding and marketing. Huaxia Bridgewater Chinese School, Guzheng Class Co-Founder and Teacher Bridgewater NJ (2014-2018) Co-founded the first guzheng (21-stringed Chinese harp) class at Huaxia Chinese school for children age 6-13. Led students to perform in Bridgewater Rehabilitation Center, Somerville Heritage Festival, Patriots Baseball Stadium. Invited Talks and Conference Presentations “Creating Your Own Ice Cream Flavor” – TEDx Speaker at Brown University (Providence, RI, 2022) – Access full talk here “Columbia Mobile Dental Clinic: Reducing Barriers to Care” - American Dental Association Smile Conference (Orlando, Florida - 2023) “COVID-19: Global Lessons for a Global Profession” - American Public Health Association Annual Conference (Atlanta, Georgia – 2023) “Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position? - Columbia Birnberg Day Research Conference “Painting Metaphors in Medicine” - International Young Researcher’s Conference (Tokyo, Japan - 2023) – Access presentation here “Oral Health Education – Global Voices for Global Action” Youth Voices: The Future of Global Oral Health Conference (NYU College of Dentistry - 2024) “American Dental Association – Be the Voice of the Tooth Party Advocacy Panel” American Student Dental Association National Leadership Conference (Chicago, IL – 2024) “American Dental Association – Conversations with the New Dentist Committee” American Dental Association Lobby Day (Washington, DC – 2025) “Give Veterans a Smile” American Dental Association Lobby Day (Washington, DC – 2025) “Pathways to Advocacy” University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Philadelphia, PA – 2025) “Oral Health and Pregnancy” National Oral Health Conference (Orlando, FL – 2025) “A Needs Assessment for Narrative Medicine in Dentistry” Columbia Birnberg Conference (New York, NY – 2025) Scholarships and Grant Support National Health Service Corps Scholarship Recipient – awarded 2 years of full tuition and monthly living stipend payments for dental school in exchange for practicing in a health professional shortage area after graduation (2022) 2024 Columbia University Provost Grant for Innovative Course Design: Awarded $2000 to develop “Oral Health and Pregnancy” an educational module for medical students in the Ob/Gyn clerkship Lipton Narrative Medicine in Dentistry Fellowship : Awarded $7000 to pilot a needs-assessment survey and research project for incorporating how Narrative Medicine can be implemented in the dental curriculum President’s Office - Columbia University Mental Health Initiative (MHI) received ~$5000 to paint an Interactive Mental Health Mural Capturing Interprofessional Perspectives. This award recognizes a commitment to fostering an inclusive understanding of mental health and promoting meaningful dialogue within the Columbia community. Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Title VII Predoctoral DDS-MPH Training Fellow for the Care of Special Needs and Vulnerable Persons and Populations (DDS-MPH Fellow/Scholar): Awarded 1 year of full tuition ($60,000) and additional stipend ($12,000) to pursue accelerated MPH with and monthly living stipend through CDM's program sponsored by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration’s Predoctoral Training in General, Pediatric, and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene Program award (Grant # D85HP45708). American Institute of Public Health Action Equity Trailblazer Student Research Award – awarded $1000 for “her significant contribution to groundbreaking research on the impact of bottle feeding positioning on the development and correction of anterior crossbite, addressing oral health disparities and promoting equity.” (2024) American Public Health Association Student Assembly Liaison of the Year Scholarship – awarded scholarship to travel and attend APHA Annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia (2023) Community Health Center Pediatric Workgroup Stipend Award – awarded $1100 to take part in American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved's (ACU) working group (2023) American Student Dental Association District 2 Outstanding Advocate Recipient (2022) American Student Dental Association District 1-3 Legislative Liaison of the Year Recipient (2024) Brown University Undergraduate Research and Teaching Award Recipient – received $2500 stipend to conduct developmental psychology research for senior thesis (2021) Publications and Published Writing “COVID-19: Global Lessons for a Global Profession” Zhang B., Zokaie T. Module 7: COVID-19- Global Lessons for a Global Profession In: Toward Competency-Based Best Practices for Global Health in Dental Education: A Global Health Starter Kit 2nd Edition. Senior editor Seymour B., Assistant editors Clem B, Ramesh N, Suri D., Advisory editor Barrow J. A project of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Global Oral Health Interest Group and Harvard School of Dental Medicine; 2022. Available at: https://hsdm.harvard.edu/global-health-starter-kit “Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position?” Zhu H, Zhang B, Rosivack RG. Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position?. J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2019;37(4):405-408. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_91_18 Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31710017/ “Eating Disorders and Oral Health” Zhang B, (2024) "N Y State Dent J November 2024," The New York State Dental Journal: Vol. 90 No. 5., Article 3. Available at: https://issuu.com/brownst303/docs/nysdj_augsept24_final Published Writing Contour Magazine “Don’t Forget to Advocate for You” (2023) Columbia Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education “Our Body is an Earth” (2022) Music Accolades Music Accolades Performance Locations Carnegie Hall (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) The First Baptist Church in America (2022) Metropolitan Museum of Art (2015, 2016) McCarter Theater (2015) Drew University (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) New Jersey Performing Arts Center (2019) Westminster Choir College (2016, 2017) Rutgers Nicholas Center (2014, 2018) Awards and Honors Gold Prize, Sinovision Television Teen's Talent Competition (2017) Self-composition "Journey" and "Dancing in Snowflakes" performed by MFCYO Orchestra at Drew University (2017-2018) 4th Place, Central China TV Talent Competition (2017) Grand Prize, National League of Performing Arts Young Musician's Showcase Competition (2015) 1st Place, Princeton International Chinese Music Competition Award (2014) 1st Place, New Jersey Music Teacher's Association Young Musician's Competition (2014-2016) Art Accolades Art Accolades Intima Journal of Narrative Medicine “Buckets of Oxygen, Buckets of Love” (2023) Brown Journal of Medical Humanities “A Thank You to Our Donors” (2023) Brown University Bookstore Artist “Brunoscapes” (2022) Columbia Pathology and Cell Biology Newsletter “Histology of Central Park” (2023) New York Times interview “Honoring the Body Donors Who Are a Medical Student’s ‘First Patient” (2023) National ACP Internal Medicine Meeting – artwork presented in talk by Dr. Esquitin from Columbia University Harvard Medical School - artwork presented in anatomy lectures by Dr. Sabine Hildebrant Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs "Time Capsule" Exhibit (2021) Brown University Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs "Time Capsule" Exhibit (2021) Winner, International Fund for Animal Welfare Competition U.S. Winner: selected for publication in the yearly calendar (2016) See Art Portfolio Skills Certificates Mental Health First Aid Basic Life Support and CPR Fluent in Mandarin (writing, reading, speaking) Digital art (Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint) Infographics (Canva) Music composition and mixing (Studio One 3, Musescore) Filmmaking and Video Editing (Adobe Premiere) Excel and Powerpoint. For more info about me, check out: Art Portfolio Time Lapse Art Music Compositions My Guzheng Story My Dental Journey My Asian Identity
- Art Commissions | Bree Zhang
I offer art services which can include portraits, music cover art, landscapes, animals, figures, t-shirt designs, posters, backgrounds, photocopies, book covers. I am also able to record myself drawing and compile the video into a time-lapse for you to see my art process. Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Medical Illustrations by Bree Zhang See My Full Art Portfolio 1/2 Aesthetic Correction of Submandibular Gland Ptosis with Partial Submandibular Gland Resection via a Submental Approach 1/1 Handgrip Strength Testing in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 1/1 Stellate Ganglion Block for Treating Cerebral Vasospasm and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage 1/1 Periodontal Surgical Techniques for Canine Coverage with Fibroguide More About Me My Notes! You are free to download any of my notes, tree diagrams, and summary flow charts for medical and dental school! Dental Art & Music How I combine music therapy and art to heal and educate patients! Why Dentistry How I found dentistry through psychology, music, art, public health, education, and more! My Art Portfolio Sold by Brown University Bookstore and featured on Columbia's Global Consortium of Climate Health My Publications Harvard Global Health Starter Kit co-author, New York State Dental Association author Music Compositions Performed 5 times in Carnegie Hall, 2 times in the Metropolitan Museum, 2 times in McCarter Theatre
- My Music Story | Bree Zhang
Learn about my guzheng story, from when I first started learning the guzheng, to my immersion into music composition, to my progression of performances, to my expansion to other types of music media and styles. Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Music Bio - Bree Zhang My Guzheng Story How it all began... When I was 5 years old, I heard beautiful plucking sounds coming from a next door classroom. Discovering that the music was produced by the guzheng 古筝, I begged my mother to let me learn how to play. Unfortunately, I was too young at the time to be accepted by the teacher, Yang Yi 杨艺, so I eagerly waited for three years and finally got the chance to learn at 8 years old. L ittle did I know that 古筝 would become one of the most formative parts of my life. With any instrument, no one starts out a master. Sometimes I practiced a lot. Other times, I got frustrated and didn't practice, leading my mom to sign me up for performances, which often forced me to practice since I didn't want to embarrass myself onstage. My teacher was wonderful. High expectations yet so caring and kind. Slowly, I improved. As clumsy plucking strung together, my performances locations gradually improved from cramped local churches to concert halls. As I learned about each song's history, culture, symbols, and emotions, I learned how to express myself. My 古筝 became a safe space where I had control and agency over each note, where I could de-stress and release emotions. Local Church 2011 Young Musician's Showcase Grand Prize Showcase Carnegie Hall 2015 Music From China Youth Orchestra In 7th grade, I joined Music From China Youth Orchestra (MCFYO). My time at the orchestra was marked by a series of firsts. It was my first time playing under a conductor, Wang Guowei 王国维. My first time being exposed to so many Chinese instruments, such as the Erhu 二胡, Yangqin 扬琴, Liuqin 刘琴, Zhongruan 中阮, Dizi 笛子, and Hulusi 葫芦丝, all with their own quirks and sound qualities. ( 二胡 is like a two stringed fiddle, 扬琴 is a hammered dulcimer, 葫芦丝 is like a recorder made from a gourd). Best of all, it was my first time meeting a community who were all passionate about Chinese music and their culture. MFCYO Carnegie Hall 2014 Teaching the Guzheng 古筝 In 2014 of my freshman year in high school, I co-founded a 古筝 class at Huaxia Bridgewater Chinese School with Joyce Lu. Being a first-time teacher, I went through rough waters, but the first times always do--that's what's special about them. Teaching is like taking what you know and translating it into 20 different languages . It's difficult when your students get frustrated or don't practice ( haha now I understand my teacher's pain ), but it's so rewarding see that spark in my students' eyes when they master a skill . Eventually, I got to bring my students to perform in places like the Somerville Heritage Festival and Bridgewater Rehabilitation Center. Even though I do not teach anymore (my mother has taken over the class), I still stay in contact with my students. Each year, we have an annual New Years Potluck event where all my old students (and their parents) gather at my house to eat, celebrate, and catch up. We also hold a performance in which everyone plays a 古筝 song they have been learning so we can see each other's improvement over the years. I always tend to premiere my new compositions on this day :) Bridgewater Rehabilitation Center 2015 6th Annual Potluck Gathering 2020 How I Started Composing In 2016 of my sophomore year in high-school, I took AP Music Theory. This class, combined with my experience in Music from China Youth Orchestra, jump-started my interest in music composition. Exposed to different time signatures, chord progressions, scales, music styles, and instrument capabilities of both eastern and western music, I decided to try composing my own song for MFCYO. My first song was called "Journey " and the whole composing process was a long journey. I learned to understand the limitations of each instrument, balance and maximize the each performers' dynamic capabilities, and convert western score to Chinese numerical notation. I am thankful for my conductor (Wang Guowei) who wholeheartedly support me. "Journey," which debuted in Drew University June 3rd, 2017. The next year, I composed another orchestral song "Dancing in Snowflakes " which debuted in Drew University during my final concert on June 2nd, 2018. Both songs mix western elements with traditional Chinese elements, combining not only two different styles but also two cultures. The summer of 2017, I was also inspired to compose a 古筝 piece, "Returning Home " dedicated to my grandma. I used this song to compete in Central China Television’s National Talent Competition in Beijing and won 4th place, and I also used my piece to win Gold Prize in the Sinovision Television (Cable Channel 73) Competition: the first time since the competition started in 2010 that a non-western instrument was able to obtain Gold in the Teen’s 14-18 age group. In 2018, I decided to try combining vocals with 古筝 (which functions almost like a guitar), culminating in a project called “In Ten Years ” about college rejection (ironic, yes, I know, but it was composed before I discovered I got into Brown ). I also began to cover modern pop songs such as “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever ” with guzheng. Drew University 2017 Sinovision Television Teen Talent Competition 2017 "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" Cover 2018 College, Spotify, and More! At Brown, I composed 2 new 古筝 songs, "Metamorphosis " (2020) and "Growing Up " (2021), both of which reflect on my growth as an individual over the years. I also have been looking to integrate more western classical elements and contemporary jazz and blues elements into my music, which led me to take "Theory of Tonal Music" and "Jazz and Pop Harmony" at Brown. During the Spring semester 2020, I started an independent study with Professor Wang Lu to work on my compositions, playing around with jazz chords, altering the tonality of the instrument, exploring new 古筝 sounds such as scratching or hitting or swiping. Later that year, I wrote another song combining vocals with guzheng, "Daydreams " which reflects on my struggle with my identity and culture. This song, in conjunction with my art piece "The Sides of Me You Don't See ," were formative in my journey navigating what it means to be Asian American and Chinese American. Read my full story at My Asian Identity . Metamorphosis 2020, Spotify Daydreams 2020, Spotify Trying out Improv! During my final semester at Brown, using what I learned from Jazz and Pop Harmony and Professor Wang's independent study, I joined MEME ensemble, where I learned to let go of my anxiety of perfecting music and enjoy the process of creating music. Improv is like sketching a rough draft of an idea with a permanent marker and unapologetically owning every single mark and every empty space because these are all parts of the music-making process. Improv gave me comfort in forming ideas but never rehashing or going back because no creation is a mistake, and no mistakes are intentional or unintentional because every note is stuck in a raw, messy, unfiltered, yet beautiful in-between. Most importantly, it erases the distance between the audience and me because the audience is also part of the music-making and storytelling process—and together we have fun. At the 2022 Senior Talent Show, I was able to explore this collaborative improvisation for the last time at Brown. Together with the audience, we played 2 games: Game 1: Opposites Attract, inspired by “MEME ensemble” The audience suggested 2 random emotions (“sad” and “wondrous relief”) that I would express on the guzheng. Then two audience members volunteered to say “sad” and “wondrous relief” back and forth, controlling the time I played these emotions. Game 2: Improv Storytelling Members of the audience shouted out 3 random words, and my task was to spin together a story on the spot using these 3 words: Blueno, Poono, and guzheng. Flyer I Made for MEME Ensemble Final Concert: Ordinary Improvisation Learning to Fly More Guzheng Memories Music Accolades Performance Locations Carnegie Hall (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Metropolitan Museum of Art (2015, 2016) McCarter Theater (2015) Drew University (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) Rutgers Nicholas Center (2014, 2018) Westminster Choir College (2016, 2017) Awards and Honors Brown Commencement Baccalaureate Soloist Performer (2022) Gold Prize, Sinovision Television Teen's Talent Competition (2017) Self-composition "Journey" and "Dancing in Snowflakes" performed by MFCYO Orchestra at Drew University (2017-2018) 4th Place, Central China TV Talent Competition (2017) Grand Prize, National League of Performing Arts Young Musician's Showcase Competition (2015) 1st Place, Princeton International Chinese Music Competition Award (2014) 1st Place, New Jersey Music Teacher's Association Young Musician's Competition (2014-2016) What is Guzheng? Guzheng is an ancient Chinese instrument with more than 2,500 years of history. It has twenty-one strings and movable bridges that enable the musician to change scales. The melody is played on the right side of the bridge; the left side is normally reserved for vibratos, slides, and other ornamentations to the music. Playing requires finger picks that are wrapped with tape around the tips of the fingers. Some techniques include tremolo, arpeggios, glissandos, vibratos, and harmonics. The music is read in simplified numerical notation. For more info about me, check out: About Me Time Lapse Art Art Portfolio Music Compositions Music Arrangements Other Performances Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more music updates! Follow me on Spotify! Spotify
- Publications and Research | Bree Zhang
View my publications and current research, including topics on bottle-feeding, eating disorders, global health, oral health education for medical students, and more. Research Publications Research in Progress Art and Writing Publications Bree's Publications and Research Academic Publications Eating Disorders and Oral Health Published in the New York State Dental Journal Eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses, second only to opioid overdoses. Dental providers are one of the first healthcare providers who maybe able to detect signs of eating disorders, yet often fail to do so due to insufficient confidence of suspicious, failure to initiate conversation, and lack of office protocol. This article discusses risk factors, oral manifestations on eating disorders, and tips for communication. "Does the position of a bottle during infant feeding influence the jaw's postural position?" Published in the Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry Early correction of anterior crossbite in the primary dentition can encourage proper growth and development of the maxilla and mandible, reducing the need for future orthodontic therapy. Correction is typically initiated after the age of 3 when a fixed or removable appliance can be fabricated and worn. This case study describes an instance of exceptionally early intervention without the use of an appliance. A bottle-fed 10-month-old boy presented with anterior crossbite, and a contributing factor may have been the position of the bottle's nipple during feeding. Correction of the anterior crossbite was achieved in 5 months by changing the bottle position to a counterbalancing angle. Although this technique warrants further investigation, it has the potential to reduce the need for and length of future procedures. Harvard School of Dental Medicine Global Health Starter Kit Co-author Published in Module 7 Harvard School of Dental Medicine's Global Health Starter Kit, a competency-based global health ‘starter’ curriculum designed for dental educators and students. The Global Health Starter Kit is a free accessible curriculum that has registered users across 30 countries and was published as an mOralHealth case study in the recently released WHO Mobile Technologies for Oral Health Implementation Guide. COVID-19: Global Lesson for a Global Profession " (Module 7) was developed under the mentorship of Dr. Brittany Seymour, the Global Health Discipline Director at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Research and Grants in Progress Oral Health and Pregnancy Research in Progress Awarded the Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning Grant for developing an educational module teaching medical students about oral health in their Ob/Gyn clerkship. "Oral Health and Pregnancy" aims to improve oral health knowledge among medical students and Ob/Gyn residents. It also encourages the inclusion of dental care as a regular part of prenatal care, as oral diseases during pregnancy can lead to pain, tooth loss, and other complications that impact a woman’s quality of life and strongly predict her child’s future risk of cavities and related health challenges. To support this goal, the team created an asynchronous online module using Articulate Rise, paired with pre- and post-surveys to measure learning outcomes. The module is designed to improve trainees’ knowledge of oral health in pregnancy and strengthen their understanding of oral care as an essential component of health across the lifespan. The project also introduces a streamlined dental referral process for pregnant patients in the Ambulatory Care Network clinics, where students and residents provide care. Mental Health Interprofessional Mural Awarded ~$5000 grant by the President’s Office for the Columbia University Mental Health Initiative. My proposal, “Interactive Mental Health Mural Capturing Interprofessional Perspectives” is meant to capture different interpretations of mental health by healthcare professions across CUIMC Campus. The first phase of this project is to first conduct interviews with students and faculty from medicine, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, pastoral care, physical therapy, public health, genetic counseling, and social work. The end goal of this mural is to feature artwork and embedded QR codes linking to these interviews, creating an interactive, evolving definition of mental health across the professions. The mural will be divided into 10 interwoven sections, incorporating themes and motifs from interviews. The mural will feature healthcare professionals working together to “paint” an interactive cumulative ever-changing definition of mental health. This mural will be painted in the spirit of IPE, collaborative spirit, and using creative mixed methods (painting + technology) and storytelling to talk about mental health and the experience of students across our profession. Art and Writing Publications Art and Writing Publications Intima Journal of Narrative Medicine Columbia Pathology and Cell Biology Winter Publication Brown Journal of Medical Humanities ASDA September Contour Magazine Columbia School of Public Health Student Perspectives More About Me! Why Dentistry About me as an NHSC Scholar, TedX Speaker, Advocacy Award Recipient My Art Portfolio Sold by Brown University Bookstore and featured on Columbia's public health website My Infographics Advocacy infographics featured on Columbia and Harvard ASDA pages. Music Compositions Performed 5 times in Carnegie Hall, 2 times in the Metropolitan Museum, 2 times in McCarter Theatre Dental Art & Music How I combine music therapy and art to heal and educate patients! My Asian Identity Reflections on what it means to be Asian American and my struggles with my identity About Me Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more updates! Follow me on Spotify! Spotify
- Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist
Welcome to my world of creative endeavors, from guzheng performances to surrealistic dreamscape oil paintings, to dental projects, to music composition and rearrangements, to digital art time-lapse tutorials, Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist BREE ZHANG ABOUT ME BREE ZHANG Aspiring Artist, Musician, and Dentist ABOUT ME Spotify Watch my TedX Talk My Artwork To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. COMMISSIONS SEE MORE TIME LAPSE ART Sneak Peek Into My Portfolio Dreams These dreamscapes and imaginary lands are rendered spontaneously without any prior planning, sketching, or reference photos. Like lucid dreaming, I let go of.... read more Snapshots in Time The world as I see it is composed of snapshots of meaningful places, objects, and people that have emotional significance to me. I capture these... read more Social Commentary I investigate and confront inter-sectionalities of race, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, from advocating for Asian solidarity to analyzing sexual violence... read more My Dental Journey Answering: "Why Dentistry?" Merging Music & Art with Dentistry Researching and Publishing Advocating and Educating My Music Bree Zhang - "Daydreams" [Music Video] 古筝 Bree Zhang Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing Bree Zhang - "Daydreams" [Music Video] 古筝 05:58 Play Video Now Playing Bree Zhang - Senior Talent Show! 06:18 Play Video Now Playing Bree Zhang - "Growing Up" (Guzheng 古筝) 06:12 Play Video Now Playing Bree Zhang - Returning Home (Sinovision Teen Talent Competition Guzheng Performance) 06:00 Play Video Compositions See all my different compositions, ranging from guzheng solos to vocal and orchestral pieces. more Arrangements See my arranged guzheng pieces that include songs like "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" and other Chinese folk songs. more Traditional Songs See a wide range of traditional Chinese songs I have performed on the guzheng, both for solos and ensembles. more Check out my Guzheng Story Contact Me Thanks! Message sent. Send
- Guzheng Performance | Bree Zhang
Watch my performances of traditional Chinese pieces such as Spring Comes to the Snowy Mountain (雪山春晓), Song of the Dong Ting Lake (洞庭新歌), Peacock Flies from East to West (孔雀东南飞). Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Solo Duet and Ensemble Other Instruments Traditional Chinese Pieces Performed by Bree Zhang Guzheng Solo Spring Comes to the Snowy Mountain - Unknown Artist 00:00 / 00:00 Spring Comes to the Snowy Mountain 雪山春晓 Composer: 格桑达吉,范上娥 Recorded on October 15th, 2017 The Peacock Flying Southeast 孔雀东南飞 Composer: 郑德渊 Re-arranger : 邱大成 Drew University Concert Hall June 3rd, 2017 Music From China Youth Orchestra Rainbow Concert Spring Comes to Lhasa 春到拉萨 Composer: 史兆元 Drew University Concert Hall May 31st, 2015 Music From China Youth Orchestra Rainbow Concert Gui Zhou Yao 贵州谣 Composer: 姚宁馨 The College of New Jersey Concert Hall November 8th, 2014 NJMTA Young Musician's Competition Winner's Recital Xiang Shan She Gu 香山射鼓 Composer: 曲云 Hong Kong, China August 13th, 2013 The 3rd International Zheng Contest 11-14 Age Group Guzheng Duet and Ensemble Duet and Ensemble The Dance of the Amei Tribe 阿美族舞曲 Composer: 台湾民谣 Rearranger: 顾冠仁 The Hindu Temple Society of Northern America in Flushing, NY February 25th, 2018 Chinese New Year Festival 春节晚会 Additional Performer: Emily Yang Hanging Red Lanterns 挂红灯 Composer: 周成龙 McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ February 8th, 2014 Chinese New Year Festival 春节晚会 Additional Performer(s): Grace Chen, Jennifer Zhang, Joyce Lu, Emily Yang, Angela Weng, Sabrina Ngan, Jiongnan Liu, Jacqueline Hua, Bonnie Hu. The Song of Spring 春节序曲 Composer: 李焕之 McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ February 8th, 2014 Chinese New Year Festival 春节晚会 Additional Performer(s): Grace Chen, Jennifer Zhang, Joyce Lu, Emily Yang, Angela Weng, Sabrina Ngan, Jiongnan Liu, Jacqueline Hua, Bonnie Hu. Guzheng with Other Instruments Other Instruments Fisherman's Song at Dusk 渔舟唱晚 Composer: 曹正,朱郁之 Huaxia Bridgewater Chinese School January 31, 2016 Chinese New Year Festival 春节晚会 Violin: Joyce Lu For more info about me, check out: About Me Time Lapse Art Art Portfolio My Guzheng Story Music Compositions Music Arrangements Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more music updates! Follow me on Spotify! Spotify
- Miss Chinese Pageant | Bree Zhang
Bree Zhang competed in the 2018 Miss Chinese Pageant and achieved Miss 2018 2nd Runner-up, Miss Best Talent 2018, and Laihing Jewelry Show Winner. Miss Chinese Pageant Overview In summer 2018, I was selected as one of the 13 Finalists for Miss Chinese Pageant among hundreds of applicants. The pageant involved three months of training, a tour in San Fransisco, a talent show in Sand Castle, NY, a jewelry show in Flushing, NY, and the final show at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. My accomplishments in the Pageant include: Winner of the Laihing Jewelry Show 2018: I won the best jewelry presentation award, which included: 14 karat gold necklace and the chance to wear and present the most expensive jewelry in the store, a Forever Mark diamond set more than 1 million dollars. Miss Best Talent 2018: During the talent show, I made it into the Top Five Talent with guzheng and won the Group Talent Award with live acrylic painting. During the final show, I performed on the guzheng, a 21-stringed Chinese Harp, playing a self composition I wrote for my grandmother while featuring my digital art paintings on the large screen background. Miss Second Runner-up 2018: I placed 3rd place overall at the Final Show in Mohegan Sun, which included several segments: evening gown, swimsuit and Q&A, Qipao walk, and the final five Q&A. Pictures San Fransisco Tour Day 1: Napa Valley and Newton Vineyard Day 2: Palace of Fine Arts Day 3 and 4: City Hall and Golden Gate Bridge Talent Show Laihing Jewelry Show Final Show at Mohegan Sun Fashion Show Evening Gown Talent (Guzheng Performance) Qipao and Final Awards For more about Miss Chinese Pageant, you may follow them on social media! Website Facebook Instagram For more info about me, check out: About Me Time Lapse Art Artwork My Guzheng Story Music Compositions Other Performances Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more updates!
- My Notes and Diagrams | Bree Zhang
Download (for free!) my notes, tree diagrams, and summary drawings from medical and dental school! Bree's Notes Click on each picture to access the PDF or presentation for download! (Resolution will be clearer once downloaded) Endodontics Orthodontics Oral Pathology In this study guide, click on each circle to see a summary "one pager" of the disease, symptoms, oral manifestations, treatment. You can zoom in and out as you see fit! Viewing on computer allows to you move between sections most easily Oral Histology Cardiology Summary of all the EKGs with annotations below to quiz yourself Gastroenterology + Anatomy Summary of GI & Liver diseases GI Anatomy Summary Neurology Neuro Part 1 Full Study Guide lectures 1-31 Neuro Part 2 Full Study Guide lectures 32-56 Seizures and Epilepsy Neuroinflammation, Infection, and Demyelination Neuropediatrics Neoplasms Pharmacology ADME Summary Receptors Pharmacokinetics + Equations Drugs GI Epithelium + Diuresis NSAIDS Immunology Innate Immunity and Antigen Diversity Summary B Cell, T Cell, MHC Summary CD4, CD8, NK and Tolerance Microbiology and Infectious Disease Parasite Summary Virus Summary Antibiotics Summary Protein Synthesis Inhibitors Respiratory vs Heart vs Urinary Infections Staph and Strep Infections Anaerobes and Enteric Infections Anatomy (more to be uploaded) Heart Anatomy GI Anatomy Eye Summary Brachial Plexus Cranial Nerves Pharynx Summary More About Me! Why Dentistry How I found dentistry through psychology, music, art, public health, education, and more! My Art Portfolio Sold by Brown University Bookstore and featured on Columbia's Global Consortium of Climate Health Asian Identity Reflections on what it means to be Asian American and my struggles with my identity My Publications Harvard Global Health Starter Kit co-author, 2nd author of bottle feeding case study Music Compositions Performed 5 times in Carnegie Hall, 2 times in the Metropolitan Museum, 2 times in McCarter Theatre College Reflections My five key takeaways + lessons from Brown University: the goods, bads, and funs! Dental Art & Music How I combine music therapy and art to heal and educate patients! Infographics Infographics that explain medical/dental concepts, tackle advocacy, and educate patients! Pageantry Miss Chinese Pageant 2018 2nd Runner up, Miss Talent 2018, Laihing Jewelry Winner About Me Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more updates! Follow me on Spotify! Spotify
- Time-lapse Art | Bree Zhang
Witness my art-making process through time-lapse videos, including "Doggies at the Dental Office," "India Point Park," "Imagined City," and more! Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Time Lapse Tutorials Art Videos by Bree Zhang Time Lapse Digital Drawings Dogs at the Dental Office Featuring Lulu and Olive, the comfort dogs at the former dental office I used to work at, the Dental Associates of Rhode Island, who make our office a welcoming home and help alleviate patient fear and anxiety! <3 Olive and Tallulah were rescued from Little Rhody Rescue, a nonprofit dog rescue organization striving to find safe homes for neglected and underprivileged dogs. Olive and Tallulah have been with the DARI family since 2018, comforting patients in the office during dental appointments. They Say Humans Taste Like Beef This artwork is a social commentary that imagines an alternate parallel universe where human and animal relations are flipped, where humans are raised like cattle and their body parts eaten for dinner under romantic starlight. The timelapse can be accessed at the very end of the video after the cow conversation finishes. India Point Park Whenever I walk down to India Point Park in Providence, RI, I am mesmerized by the quiet beauty held within the stillness of water, especially during the winter when snowy white seems to blend into the sky. It brings me back to an old dream that inspired my first oil painting in 2016, where I was sitting along the edge of a dock, staring out at an expanse of a frozen lake and a red forest laden in white snow. 5 years later in 2021, I am reflecting on that dream: both the feeling of loneliness that comes from being in your own thoughts and the feeling of calm contentment as I watch the birds that I am not alone right now. The red within me is all around me--if I only take the time to look. I'll Still be Painting I was inspired to make this piece after re-watching Howl’s Moving Castle. This artwork is an oath to myself to always be an artist, whether I’m 19 years old or 91 years old. After all, there’s something beautiful and powerful about art for all ages, not only functioning physiologically to improve neurologic mechanisms such as sensory-motor integration, abstraction, and eye-hand coordination, but also guiding identity formation, allowing us to express our inner thoughts, emotions, feelings and values, from facing fears and insecurities, to capturing moments of love and happiness, to exploring ourselves and the world around us. Even when I grow old and lose my physical capabilities, I hope to retain a youthful mind and a spirit of an artist, just as Sophie did in Howl’s Moving Castle :) Imagined City In this artwork, I crafted this city and its inhabitants without references, drawing random buildings and structures as I saw fit. I let the flow of my imagination guide my pen in a direction I had no idea where I'd end up, in the same way as the girl who lets her imagination take her away to a faraway place she yearns for. This piece is actually made in conjunction with a book I am currently working on, “The Nameless Novel’s Secret.” Thus, the artwork features elements and symbols of this novel, which will make sense as the plot unfolds and unravels. Digital Art Program: Clip Studio Paint. Video Recording Software: Cyberlink Powerdirector. Dancing in Snowflakes Inspired by Evgenia Medvedeva, I made this digital artwork, which is paired to the music I composed for my MFCYO orchestra. This video features a speedpaint time lapse of my entire process from a blank canvas to the finished product. For a more in-depth description and full score of the music, see here . Digital Art Program: Clip Studio Paint. Video Recording Software: Cyberlink Powerdirector. Vincent Zhou Drawing This artwork is dedicated to Vincent Zhou, whom I feel a close connection to as an ABC and someone born in the year 2000, the year of the dragon. Overall, I'm inspired by his athleticism and intellect, and I wanted to convey it here in the power, strength, and resilience of the dragon, which represents his zodiac and mine. Digital Art Program: Clip Studio Paint. Video Recording Software: Cyberlink Powerdirector. Tutorials The Power of Words A time lapse of my art process paired with a voiceover. For the full description of this artwork, see here . Digital Art Program: Clip Studio Paint. Video Recording Software: Cyberlink Powerdirector. Music Background: "Always With Me" by Joe Hisaishi. https://youtu.be/LWzvzDCLFN4 Tutorials For more info about me, check out: About Me Art Portfoio Music Compositions My Guzheng Story Music Arrangements Other Performances Follow my art instagram account at breez_art_ and deviant art account at bubba-bree for more updates!
- Music Arrangements | Bree Zhang
Featuring guzheng cover songs such as "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" (Taylor Swift & Zayn Malik) and arrangements of existing pieces like 瑶族舞曲. Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Arrangements by Bree Zhang Pop Songs I Don't Wanna Live Forever Original Artist(s): Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik Rearranged into guzheng version Recorded on May 20th, 2018 This guzheng cover is my way of merging eastern and western music together by intersecting two worlds and techniques in a single piece. Traditional Pieces My Home Country 我的祖国 Original Composer: 刘炽 Rearranged by to fit a violin background music track. Huaxia Bridgewater Chinese School February 11th, 2018 Chinese New Year Festival 春节晚会 Dancer: Adrianna Liu The Dance of the Yao Tribe 瑶族舞曲 Original Composer: 刘铁山,茅 Rearranged into guzheng duet The Ellora Banquet Hall, Edison, NJ May 6th, 2018 ICEPN Television Mother's Day Concert Additional Performer: my mother, Hua Zhu For more info about me, check out: About Me Time Lapse Art Art Portfolio My Guzheng Story Music Compositions Other Performances Subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more music updates! Follow me on Spotify! Spotify
- Why Dentistry | Bree Zhang
Most people just see teeth 🦷, but I see a glowing ecosystem of all my passions: art, music, science, psychology, public health, global health, and education. Bree Zhang - Aspiring Artist, Musician, Dentist Why Dentistry? I decided to make an artwork to answer the question Watch my TedXTalk for a more personal version of the story To me, dentistry is like painting an artwork or composing a guzheng 古筝 song: both require sensitivity of touch, creative visualization, and the ability to sculpt not just the intricate details but also the larger symphony of what our mouth’s blank canvas can become: the smile. 😁 Dental art is also a science. It requires a thorough understanding of how dentistry’s “paints” react, solidify, and set according to different temperatures, moisture levels, time frames and mixtures, whether it is the chemical reaction of alginate (drawn as d-mannuronic acid and l-guluronic acid ), or the blue-light stimulated 3d polymerization of composite resin in restorative fillings. That's when my organic and inorganic chemistry knowledge 🧪 merges with my love for biology🧬 , from the aromatic ring in lidocaine improving lipid solubility, to fluoride-assisted remineralization of enamel (depicted as Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 +2F− → Ca10(PO4)6(F)2 + 2OH− ). One of my favorite “biologies” is microbiology. 🦠 The oral cavity is an entryway, living environment, and source of replication for millions of microbes (I’ve drawn a few: SARS COV-2, HIV, E. Coli, Pneumococcus, Diphtheria, Tetanus, etc ), some of which have sparked major epidemics and pandemics. This oral-systemic link is where my interest in science “flows” into the heart and lungs of my passion for public health. 🏥 I’ve seen how the mouth is often the first place to detect disease, cancers, and immune system dysfunction; how poor oral health is linked with heart disease, diabetes, COVID-19, Alzheimer's, and other synergistic diseases rooted in socioeconomic circumstances. 😷 Given that dental decay is the most common disease in the world, and that cumulative national costs 💵 for dental treatment in many countries are higher than those for cancers and heart disease, I hope to be advocating for policies that not only increase upstream prevention and integration (depicted by superior vena cava flowing up to globe ) but also prioritize resource conservation and our fragile relationship with Planet Earth. 🌎 Public health cannot be improved without improving oral health, but the “heart” 💗 (aortic artery flowing upwards in "Why Dentistry" artwork) of our health is also connected to our brain, which is where my love for psychology comes into the picture. 🧠 Our mental health influences oral health through biological channels (systemic inflammation and hormonal imbalance) and psychosocial channels (motivation, social habits, dental fear and anxiety). Meanwhile, our oral health reciprocally affects our mental health by impacting our ability to eat, talk, work, sleep, and smile: a key to confidence, identity, and social mobility. As a dentist, I hope to use tools of psychology to restructure phobias and integrate art and music therapy into dental settings--returning full circle to my favorite multi-colored “hues'' and “melodies.” 🎨🎵 The dental field is growing at such a fast rate. With a passion for teaching 📚, I hope shape the dental curriculum so that cultural competency is not just a strength but a fundamental core principle. So that mental-health informed dental care is always built from acknowledging social determinants of health. So that we can work collaboratively with all disciplines to tackle the global burden of oral disease. So when people ask me “why do you want to be a dentist?” I say that “not just a dentist but an oral health physician 🩺, an oral health advocate 💪, and an oral health educator 📖." And who knows--maybe I’ll be adding more pieces to my “why dentistry” painting in four years. About Me as an NHSC Scholar On September 8th, I received my official award letter from the National Health Corps Scholarship!! The National Health Corps Scholarship provides financial support for full-time enrollment in an eligible primary care health professions degree training program between 2 yrs and up to 4 school years, covering tuition, reasonable educational costs, and monthly stipends for living expenses. After graduation, scholars devote time practicing in a HPSA (health professional shortage area) for the years they receive the scholarship. I am very blessed for this unique opportunity. Dental disease is a neglected epidemic: more than 1/3 of low-income adults avoid smiling and face employment difficulties due to the state of their teeth. Dental pain has been reported to affect up to 30% of adults, which also impacts their ability to sleep, eat, work, and take care of their children. Right now, about 49 million Americans live in communities that have been designated dental professional shortage areas. It’s so important to address and fix the geographical shortages of dental providers, BUT we must also think about the roots of the problem: a segregated healthcare system, a treatment over prevention culture, policies that perpetuate other social disparities in education, food access, & more. Beyond just practicing in a HPSA, I hope to continue pushing for increased dental access and prevention/education on the upstream policy level. NHSC Scholarship NHSC Scholarship NHSC Scholarship NHSC Scholarship 1/6 Click to see full perspective. Infographics explaining more about NHSC Scholarhip Learn how I've tackled global oral health Learn about my work in prevention and education Learn how I've merged art and music with dentistry . Learn how I conceptualize patient-centered care For more info about me, check out: My Publications Harvard Global Health Starter Kit co-author, 2nd author of bottle feeding case study My Art Portfolio Sold by Brown University Bookstore and featured on Columbia's Global Consortium of Climate Health Infographics Infographics that explain medical/dental concepts, tackle advocacy, and educate patients! Dental Art & Music How I combine music therapy and art to heal and educate patients! My Notes! You are free to download any of my notes, tree diagrams, and summary flow charts for medical and dental school! College Reflections My five key takeaways + lessons from Brown University: the goods, bads, and funs! Asian Identity Reflections on what it means to be Asian American and my struggles with my identity Music Compositions Performed 5 times in Carnegie Hall, 2 times in the Metropolitan Museum, 2 times in McCarter Theatre About Me! A little intro about me, my hobbies, my interests, and what inspires me! Contact Me Contact Me Send Success! Message received.
