Bruce Scheidemandel Garcia

Discipline and date of your BA or BS degree: Dental School, 2021

What influenced your decision to pursue a Master of Public Health at UConn?: My decision to pursue an MPH at UConn was shaped by my clinical and academic background in dentistry and public health, along with a growing commitment to population-level health initiatives.

Background: My academic background is rooted in leadership, community outreach, and health activism. During dental school, I founded and led two academic societies—one of which operated as an NGO—that ultimately provided care to over 2,000 people each year, primarily women and children in underserved communities with limited trust in government. Clinically, I am trained in oral surgery and in the management of systemically compromised patients. I was also awarded a pediatric dentistry fellowship focused on maternal and infant oral health, with an emphasis on perinatal care for medically complex or high-risk pregnancies.

Life Outside Work and School: I enjoy hiking in the park near my home, open fire cooking, barbecuing and baking gluten free treats!

Your immediate (next 1-5 years) career goals: I’m looking forward to expanding my skills and building strong professional networks during the MPH program. Soon after, my goal is to pursue a PhD in Public Health or Population Oral Health Sciences, ideally through a dual Residency/PhD pathway that combines advanced training with research.