Born and raised in Havana, Cuba, Layra Valdes, DMD24, first became interested in dentistry when her orthodontist showed how her dental experience could be fun and educational rather than scary and painful. The one-on-one experience changed her life and inspired her to do the same for her future patients.
“When my mom and I immigrated, I was not sure my dream of becoming a dentist would be a reality. I had to learn a new language, and I was not sure I was going to make it into undergrad, let alone dental school,” said Valdes. “There were always people who helped me, people who saw potential in me that I didn't see myself.”
As an undergraduate, Valdes was a biochemistry major and biology minor at Western Connecticut State University. She has always been passionate about research and advocating for oral health equity.
“As a dentist I would like to be the change that I want to see in the world and to give as many people as I can a healthy smile.”
Her interest in addressing oral health disparities led Valdes to Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). Throughout her time at the School, Valdes has continued to advocate for underserved communities through her work with the HSDM Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) — an organization committed to improving oral and overall health outcomes for Hispanic and other underserved communities. She spearheaded efforts to translate dental and medical infographics to make them more accessible for Spanish-speaking patients and provided dental courses for providers to facilitate communication with Spanish-speaking patients.
“As president of the HSDA, I helped advocate for an increase in underrepresented minorities in the dental profession,” said Valdes. “We also partnered with community organizations like Cambridge Health Association (CHA) and African Community Health Initiatives (ACHI) to provide dental screenings and help connect patients with providers.”
Valdes also founded Harvard’s Cuban-American Student Association while at HSDM. The association is committed to building a community among Harvard’s Cuban-American graduate students through organized University-wide events such as film screenings and panel discussions.
While earning her DMD, she also volunteered with HSDM’s Action for Children and Teens in Oral Health Need (ACTION) clinic treating young patients in Cambridge. During the School’s annual Give Kids a Smile event she offered face painting to pediatric patients to calm their nerves and make the dental clinic a more enjoyable place to visit.
After graduation this May, Valdes looks forward to serving in the Air Force. She plans to continue her education after military service to pursue a residency in orthodontics. She also hopes to teach dentistry one day. “Teaching is one of my passions. I worked for the public school system for eight years and I think it’s the best way to give back and stay current in the practice of dentistry,” she said.
Valdes credits the supportiveness of her faculty and classmates for getting her to where she is today. While at HSDM, she gained an appreciation for the tight-knit community.
“When I was looking for a dental school, I knew I would only make it if I found a community that fosters collaboration and is invested in student success,” said Valdes. “That's what I saw at HSDM, where everyone I encountered made me a better dentist.”
