Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 41 Nearly 40 years ago, 15.9 percent of first-year dental students were women compared to 47.7 percent in 2014, according to the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute. Although the gender composition of U.S. dentists has significantly changed in the last 20 years, dental equipment is still designed for male bodies, and journal ads are aimed primarily at male dentists, according to the American Association of Women Dentists. Luke stands out in the profession not only as a woman, but also as one of color. “The number of women in dent- istry is growing, but the number of people of color is still stagnant,” she said. American Dental Education Association statistics show that 86 percent of dentists are Caucasian, with the remainder being African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American. Some patients take note of that, said Luke, who believes one way for the profession to reach underserved areas is to attract more diverse dental students. As a child, Luke disliked going to the dentist. Luke’s turning point came after she saw the restorative work her family’s dentist did with braces on her siblings. Her brother had gone seven years without a front tooth. After dental work, Luke saw his self-esteem soar, and she embraced dentistry as a career choice. She also observed how people in her native Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood in New York didn’t have access to dental care or money for it. The idea of practicing dentistry in the public health sector made a deep impres- sion on her, said Luke, who attended Barry University in Miami, Florida, for her undergraduate work. Luke is a “delightful, determined leader whose warm and friendly attributes draw people to follow her,” said Sharon Crane Siegel, D.D.S., M.S., M.B.A., professor and chair of the CDM’s Department of Prosthodontics. Siegel serves as faculty adviser for the Women’s Dental Society. “She is true to her values in everything she does, making time for a deep, spiritual life and a devotion to her family in addition to dedication to her social activism and leadership with the American Association of Women Dentists and the CDM’s Women’s Dental Society.” Marshall’s interest in dentistry started in high school. She liked the sciences and doing artistic work with her hands, such as beading. She also enjoyed going to her dentist’s office because the environment was pleasing, and he seemed passionate in explaining procedures. While completing undergraduate studies in her native Wisconsin, Marshall participated in a weeklong Costa Rica mission, helping with extractions, cleanings, and temporary fillings. At the CDM, Marshall has been part of a dental mission trip to Nicaragua. Siegel noted that Marshall’s preclinical work demon- strated stellar clinical skills. Marshall served as team leader of Siegel’s Clinical Practice of Dentistry Fundamentals course. “I was most impressed with her poise and professionalism in making this treatment plan presentation before all of her peers and faculty mem- bers,” said Siegel, adding Marshall encompasses “excellent interper- sonal skills in relating to faculty members, patients, and her fellow classmates.” Siegel also praised Marshall as a “true leader” through her work with the Women’s Dental Society and credited her for organizing philanthropic fund-raising events. Marshall “is a very intelligent, articulate, and ethical person,” Siegel said. “She brings so much to the table as a human being and is very well rounded. She graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin—Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree and a double major in