Tooth Talk: Q&A with Manish Anand DMD AS 26
In our Q&A series, “Tooth Talk,” we are sitting down with GSDM students and residents to learn more about their paths to Boston University, their time at GSDM, and how they have made Boston their home.
For the next edition, we spoke with Manish Anand DMD AS 26. He discussed how his dental journey from India, his hands-on GSDM minor oral surgery internship, and his favorite Boston neighborhood.
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Questions and responses have been edited for clarity, context information, and length.
When did you first know you wanted to be a dentist?
I wish I could say that there was this one big moment, but, honestly it wasn’t like that for me. It was more of a slow build, a gradual shift. I was actually aiming for medical school for a long time. But then, I started looking more seriously into dental school. At first, when I entered dental school, I thought it was just another path into healthcare, maybe a slight detour. But the more I explored, the more dentistry started to pull me in. I was amazed that how much depth there is in dentistry; It‘s just not about fixing teeth. It’s an incredible intricate field where science and art are constantly working together. What I liked most about dentistry is realizing how emotional dental care actually is. A smile holds so much power culturally, socially, and personally. I found it incredibly meaningful to be a part of this professional journey.
You did your initial dental school education in India. What led you to go from India to Boston?
My journey to Boston started with someone who had a big impact on me during my undergraduate dental program at Manipal University, Dr. Manish Bhagania.* His teaching style, his clinical sharpness, and the way he approached decision making all stuck with me. When I found out that he was now a professor at GSDM, it immediately made me look at Boston University. It felt like things were coming full circle. I knew I wanted to continue learning in the same environment that first lit the spark in me. And then there’s Boston itself. It’s not just a city; it is a globally recognized hub for learning, research, and innovation. It’s home to some of the top universities and hospitals. That kind of atmosphere is incredibly motivating. You just feel like you are part of something bigger.
At the time of this interview, you are wrapping up the first year of your DMD Advanced Standing program. What has your time at GSDM been like so far?
In one word, it is intense, but in the best possible way. The program is definitely rigorous. It’s a very busy course and it demands a lot of commitment, mentally, physically, and emotionally. But you are constantly learning, moving, and being pushed to do better. Frankly, I love that. It keeps me sharp. What really makes this experience special is the people. I have met classmates from all over the world. Sometimes when I walk into a class, it’s like traveling to a different country every day. I love that. The cultural mix is incredible. You don’t just learn dentistry here. You learn how to communicate and how to expect different ways of thinking.
Are you looking forward to entering the Patient Treatment Center?
I was part of the school’s Minor Oral Surgery Internship program from July 2022 to June 2023. That was a very clinical experience and it was totally different from didactic. Honestly, it was something that I have been craving for a long time so shifting from didactic to clinical will be a smooth transition for me. I expect it’s going to be intense, but this pace, the precision, and the constant demand to think quickly is what I wanted. The internship program focused only on patient care and it was a 100 percent clinical. That program helped me a lot in a sense that it instilled a sense of calm and clarity inside me. Every day, I was dealing with like 10 patients and all the patients were very different. Also, it improved my communication skills with patients. It was tough when I joined, but as the days passed, it became a smooth transition for me. I started to know how the U.S. healthcare works. I feel confident going into the clinic and handling the cases.
What has been your favorite experience so far at GSDM?
On my starting day as a Minor Oral Surgery intern, I first met this lady who was in extreme tooth pain and she was looking for a doctor. She was my first patient. I was out of clinical practice for at least for two years at the time and I was shaking before performing any procedure on her. But I saw her face and need to get her out of this pain. I was able to do my procedure, and at the end of the procedure, she just held my hand and she started crying. I don’t know why that happened to me, but with her, I started crying too. She gave me a gift, and I still keep that gift with me. Whenever I have a bad day, I just have a glance at this gift and I feel that somewhere, I made a change in someone’s life. This experience will be one of the best for my life.
You shared that you applied for and received a role with the pharmacology student advisory committee. Can you tell me about that?
My role was to take feedback from the class and present it to the course director. This was a leadership role for me because I got so much feedback from my class. When I presented those ideas to my course director, she made changes. I feel that when new dental students come, they have slightly more clarity about this course because of this feedback.
Are there any dental-related opportunities you are hoping to get involved in throughout the rest of your program at GSDM?
I would like to involve myself in dental volunteer opportunities. Dental care is so expensive here. I have seen so many people without dental care, and I just wanted to give back and just try to make a slight difference in their present.
If you could give any advice to a pre-dental student or an international dentist hoping to practice in the U.S., what advice would you give them?
Be ready to work hard. GSDM is demanding. It’s very challenging and it’ll definitely push you out of your comfort zone, but if you lean into that, it also incredibly fulfilling. The school gives you everything you need to grow into a successful professional clinician. You should never stop updating yourself because dentistry evolves, technique changes, and technology moves fast. The best clinicians are the ones who keep learning even after graduating.
Getting familiar with Boston is one of the many perks of being part of the GSDM community. To end our conversation on a fun note, where is your favorite thing to do in Boston?
I live near South Boston and there’s something about this neighborhood that just hits differently. You don’t even need a plan, you can just start walking and the vibe pulls you in. The food scene in South Boston is incredible. There are so many restaurants hidden in these narrow streets. Whether I’m with friends or just out by myself, South Boston always offers something new.
* Editor’s Note: Bhagania was a full-time faculty member at Manipal University for nine years and received the Excellence in Teaching Award for the year 2015 during his employment there. He is currently a clinical associate professor of oral & maxillofacial surgery and director of predoctoral oral & maxillofacial surgery at GSDM.