Whitfield makes an impact while working towards dental school

Written by Lindsey Fleishman

Wrenn Whitfield is a senior in the Honors College, looking to be a dentist in the near future and, in doing so, make a positive impact on rural communities. Wrenn is a biochemistry major with a minor in business administration and a certificate in entrepreneurship. While she is academically motivated, she has taken her passions outside the classroom. 

Currently, Wrenn is the Hyde County clinic coordinator for the ECU School of Dental Medicine. She heard about this opportunity through faculty at the school that were attempting to open a clinic in one of the few counties in North Carolina without a practicing dentist. At the time, the role of clinic coordinator had not been filled, so she was invited to apply because they believed that her values aligned with the project’s aims. As the current coordinator, she is given the experience that will help her later in her career as a dentist. In her role, she assists with scheduling patients, managing supplies, registering and communicating with patients, marketing the clinic, and being the liaison between the School of Dental Medicine and the Hyde County community. She said, “All the responsibilities that I am acquiring as a result of my position as clinic coordinator are helping me strengthen my leadership skills and better visualize being a private practice owner.” 

In addition to her work in Hyde County, she is also a member of Smile Squad, an honor society whose main function is to raise money to make smile kits for underserved populations as well as learning about what it means to be a dentist and how to apply to dental school. As a member of the executive board last year, she worked with community partners to allow students to serve the community and provide valuable shadowing opportunities. 

As a graduating senior, she has multiple pieces of advice for any student looking to apply to dental school or go into the field of dental medicine. Her biggest recommendation is to know why you are going into the field. She said, “When you find the answer to this question, it is easy to find opportunities that will help you stand out in the dental school application process because they will be the experiences in which you want to take part.”