Alumni Spotlight: Bridging Public Health and Dentistry with Dr. Sam Mirsaeidi-Farahani, MPH ’17
Alumnus Sam Mirsaeidi-Farahani, DMD, MPH ’17, appreciates how his public health education inspired his career in dentistry that combines health education with hands-on clinical care.
From studying biological sciences in Southern California to earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Arizona, Dr. Sam Mirsaeidi-Farahani’s academic journey has always been driven by a passion for community wellness. After completing his BS at UC Irvine, then his MPH in Health Policy and Management at the University of Arizona in 2017, followed by post-baccalaureate studies at Cal State East Bay, he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health at A.T. Still University.
Today, Dr. Mirsaeidi-Farahani practices as a general dentist at Lumira Healthcare, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in California. He combines his extensive public health background with hands-on clinical dental care to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care to underserved communities.
We caught up with Dr. Mirsaeidi-Farahani to discuss how public health continues to shape his dental practice and how future clinicians can follow a similar path. You can see the Questions and Answers below!
The Spark: From an MPH in Tucson to a Career in Dental Medicine
Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in dentistry, and how did your MPH influence that decision?
A: During my second year of the MPH program, I completed my internship at a local community health center in Tucson. One of my responsibilities there was providing oral health education to pregnant women during their visits to the midwife clinic.
Seeing how just 10 minutes of education could improve patients' understanding of their oral health made a lasting impression on me.
That experience sparked my interest in dentistry and inspired me to pursue a career where I could combine health education with hands-on clinical care. It also strengthened my commitment to serving underserved communities, which ultimately led me to work as a dentist at a Federally Qualified Health Center in California.
Prevention First: A Public Health Approach to the Dental Chair
Q: How has your public health education shaped the way you approach patient care and oral health today?
A: My public health background has shaped the way I approach my everyday practice. Public health education has instilled the importance of prevention, so I place a strong emphasis on patient education in my practice.
I spend just as much time teaching patients how to prevent oral health problems as I do treating them.
Helping patients understand how daily habits affect their oral health empowers them to maintain healthier smiles long after they leave the office.
Connecting the Dots: Dentistry & Community Policy
Q: People may not realize the connection between dentistry and public health. How do you see the two fields working together?
A: Dentistry and public health are closely connected. One of the most important intersections is early oral health education, especially for children, because establishing healthy habits early can prevent many dental problems later in life.
Public health also plays a critical role in improving access to dental care through insurance coverage, community health programs, and policy. The decisions made in public health influence what services are funded and available, particularly in community health centers that provide care for underserved populations.
Q: Can you share a project, initiative, or accomplishment that highlights the impact of combining public health and dentistry?
A: School-based dental sealant programs are a great example of public health and dentistry working together. These programs provide sealants to children, typically between the ages of 6 and 11, to protect newly erupted permanent molars from developing cavities. By bringing preventive dental care directly into schools, these programs improve access for families, reduce time away from school, and help prevent dental disease before it starts.
Shaping the Future: Advice for Prospective Public Health Students
Q: What is one thing prospective students may not realize about the role public health can play in a dental career?
A:
Public health allows dentists to make an impact not only one patient at a time but also on a much larger scale.
Many prospective students don't realize how naturally public health and dentistry complement each other. Beyond caring for individual patients, public health provides opportunities to develop programs, improve access to care, and influence policies that can benefit entire communities.
Q: What advice would you give current public health students who are interested in pursuing dentistry or another clinical profession?
A: My biggest piece of advice is to shadow as many providers as you can and ask lots of questions. Spend time with general dentists as well as specialists, including pediatric dentists, endodontists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, and periodontists. Seeing the variety within the profession will give you a better understanding of the different career paths available and help you determine what excites you most.