Helping others has always been his calling. And after studying abroad in the Dominican Republic, Pavel knew a career in dental hygiene was for him. He’s driven to succeed. Is a leader among his peers. And seizes every opportunity to grow, personally and professionally. Meet Tomorrow Maker–Pavel Dariychuk.
I like the state-of-the-art clinic at Penn College best. Everything, including the technology, is new and updated. As a dental hygienist, the focus is prevention and education. The Penn College clinic plays an integral role in allowing each student to implement prevention and education, while constantly learning and taking on new responsibilities. Additionally, the structure, technology, and resources the clinic provides equips you with the confidence to provide the most optimal patient care.
I always had a desire and passion to help others, especially when it came to their health. However, it wasn’t until May of 2019 during my study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic that I realized just how much I loved the field I was in. During this trip Penn College dental hygiene students provided free dental services to the impoverished communities of Sosua, Dominican Republic.
Growth and opportunity were the reasons I chose to continue my education and pursue my bachelor’s degree. My passion for the dental hygiene fields stems much further than just working in a clinical setting. Other opportunities such as administration, public health, or even becoming an educator in the field are opportunities I always considered outside of working in a clinical setting. You never know where you will be 1, 5, or even 10 years from now. With that being said, I believe it’s important to seize every opportunity I am given. Therefore, pursuing my bachelor’s will only introduce more opportunities and expand my scope as a dental hygienist.
Dental hygiene is a challenging career path. As a dental hygienist it’s your job to connect the bridge between oral health and the direct correlation it has to systemic health. That’s what makes dental hygiene challenging, but that much more rewarding. The dental hygiene curriculum is rigorous. However, Penn College instructors and professors are extremely meticulous and passionate, and will prepare you for the real world. If you are looking for a dental hygiene program that has instructors and professors that will go the second mile to make sure you are successful and will go out of their way to be available, then the Penn College dental hygiene program is for you.
Penn College has provided endless opportunities to challenge me and has helped me grow as an individual. From my resident assistant position, to my club involvement, I learned how to balance my school life out with my other obligations. Although there were many obstacles with the leadership positions I obtained, I realized that the obstacles were just there to make the journey that much more rewarding.
Leadership opportunities, club and community involvement, and other extracurricular activities played a significant role in making my time at Penn College special.
Earning the opportunity to become a Resident Assistant taught me so much about the diverse group of students here at Penn College and equally taught me a lot about myself as an individual. Additionally, having the privilege of being SADHA president allowed me to stay involved and give back to the community.
In my hardest semester of dental hygiene, I also had the chance to train and run the Philadelphia Marathon. Throughout the semester, I was challenged to balance out my leadership opportunities, club involvement, and marathon training. However, with grit and persistence, in addition to the support Penn College offers through the instructors, professors, and endless resources, all of this was made possible to balance out while enjoying my time at Penn College.
"The dental hygiene curriculum is rigorous. However, Penn College instructors and professors are extremely meticulous and passionate, and will prepare you for the real world."
Pavel's study abroad experience was life changing. Along with a group of classmates, he traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide free dental services to impoverished communities
"It was in Sosua where I realized that the dental team and I weren’t there just to provide dental services to the community, we were there to help open doors to bigger and brighter futures. We were there to give these kids hope and show them that we believe in them," Pavel said.
"The kids, communities, and families we encountered during our trip were easy to relate to; they were just like us, separated by some distance and put in different life situations. The country, community, and kids of Sosua will always be a part of my mission in giving back and making a difference, one smile at a time."
Strong leadership abilities? Check. Solid teamwork skills? Check. A commitment to the healthcare profession? Check. He's a well-rounded student and soon-to-be professional. Pavel was recently recognized for his all-round excellence with the UPMC Susquehanna Program Award for Health Information.
Pavel was among a select group of high achievers welcomed into the the Pennsylvania Xi Chapter of Alpha Chi, open to all four-year majors and limited to the top 10 percent of juniors and seniors across the country.
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