Lasting Impressions | Fall 2015

28 © NSU LASTING IMPRESSIONS Alumni Impressions Michelle Palmer-Español’s career might have gone in several directions. She loved to dance—teaching jazz, tap, and hip hop at her mother’s studio in Deland, Florida. With an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Florida, she seemed headed for a degree in engineering. However, a common occurrence for many middle-school-age chil- dren—her braces—lead her on a different path altogether. “I was a shy, nerdy girl,” recalled Palmer-Español, M.S., D.M.D. “It wasn’t just my teeth, it was also my glasses.” Her parents sent her to Richard Dunn, D.D.S., an orthodontist in Longwood, Florida, near Palmer-Español’s hometown. This turned out to be a life-changing period. Dunn corrected her malaligned teeth and crossbite, giving her a smile that now lights up the room. He also gave her life its trajectory. Palmer-Español’s decision to become a dentist came between her soph- omore and junior years of undergraduate school at the University of Flor- ida. Although she had begun studying mathematics, she asked Dunn, her orthodontist and childhood hero, if she could shadow him in his practice. That was in 2004. As a result, she chose NSU’s CDM. “I have a lot of young patients who act like they’re interested, but not too many that follow through,” said Dunn. “It’s a pleasure to see that she’s done it.” A 2010 graduate of NSU’s College of Dental Medicine, Palmer-Español completed her residency in 2012, specializing in orthodontics and dentofa- cial orthopedics. She also holds a master’s degree for her research regard- ing orthodontic treatment outcomes according to the standards of the American Board of Orthodontics. She has researched bonding materials and enamel preparation protocols, among other topics, as well. Being a Patient Made Student Become a Better Practitioner BY LONA O’CONNOR