Inspiring participation in science and health care

Dallas, Texas鈥擳he mentored student is “one of the youngest ever” to present a paper at a national dental research meeting. His mentor conducted “the bulk of my research” at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the ADA Foundation Paffenbarger Research Center.

Meet Sebastian Velez, a high school senior who “wanted to see how real researchers and scientists work” and found his way to describing a search for balance of strength and aesthetics in bridges and crowns at the 37th annual meeting of the American Association for Dental Research. “Instead of doing nothing during the summer, I wanted to do something worthwhile. I asked my chemistry teacher if he knew of any summer programs. He recommended me to the New York University College of Dentistry where I met my mentor.”

Meet Yu Zhang, Ph.D., New York University College of Dentistry, who “reached out to NYC high schools and brought Sebastian Velez into our lab” with a long-term goal of inspiring and encouraging minority student awareness and participation in science and health care industry under research supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. “The student is presenting some of our research at the AADR meeting.” Dr. Zhang’s NIDCR-funded research: Graded Structures for Damage Resistant All-Ceramic Restorations.

Those are their short stories. The stage is Sebastian’s.

“As an elementary school student I probably annoyed my teachers to no end, always asking questions, never really satisfied until I knew more and more. My inquisitive nature is probably the reason I am involved with the New York University College of Dentistry research program. As a high school chemistry student, I was offered an opportunity to enter the program and I jumped at it. My experience at NYU was incredible. My mentors were down-to-earth people, amiable and welcoming.”

The rest of his story? At noon on March 15, 2008, Sebastian Velez entered his user name and password, clicked on a square gray box and read words “that changed my life forever.” The computer messaged: “On behalf of the Admissions Committee, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the MIT Class of 2012.”

Note: AADR annual meeting abstract #649, “Dependence of Translucency on Thickness for Various Ceramic Frameworks,” by S. Velez, of Archbishop Molloy High School, Jamaica, NY, USA, presented April 4, 2008, in Trinity I-Exhibit Hall of the Hilton Anatole Hotel, during the 37th annual meeting of the American Association for Dental Research.