Giving Back to School
While a student in the School of Dentistry, Selina Fuentes, D.D.S. Class of 2018, enjoyed performing community service as a way to represent the dental school. She provided dental treatment and oral health information at community centers and events across San Antonio.
As a delegate for the Student Legacy Circle while earning her dental degree, Fuentes worked in collaboration with the UT Health Alumni Relations Office to inspire university pride and strengthen the bond that current students have with the university, their classmates and faculty. While in dental school, she was hired as a gross anatomy and fixed prosthodontics tutor for underclassmen in hopes of improving their learning experience and success.
After graduating in 2018, Fuentes enrolled in the one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Residency Program at the School of Dentistry. She completed the residency in June 2019 and then began working as an associate dentist for C. Roger Macias Jr., D.D.S. Class of 1983, in his private practice at the Texas Center for Athletes in San Antonio. In addition to providing comprehensive aesthetic and restorative dentistry, Dr. Macias and Dr. Fuentes serve as the official dentists of the San Antonio Spurs, San Antonio Rampage, San Antonio Missions Baseball Club, as well as numerous universities and high schools in the area.
Dr. Fuentes now donates her time to speak with individuals and groups of students who are interested in pursuing their pre-doctoral education and/or the AEGD residency at UT Health San Antonio.
“The dental school was very supportive,” she said. “I benefitted from various networking opportunities and was able to receive scholarships because of it. In fact, I was privileged to work under Dr. Macias after meeting him through a mentorship program while in dental school. We got to know each other over the last five years, and he offered me a position as associate dentist when I finished my residency.”
When she meets with students, Dr. Fuentes recommends they find a mentor, get involved in student and professional organizations, and learn to network.
Although she has only been employed two months, she looks forward to the day when she can give back financially to the university and the School of Dentistry. “I hope to eventually teach at the dental school. Once my schedule allows it, I would like to start volunteering in the student clinic. I would like to help other students develop and succeed. I was fortunate to have faculty, staff, donors, and students around to support me.”
