Tooth Talk: Q&A with Mary Catherine Carroll DMD 27
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 Mary Catherine Carroll DMD 27. She discussed all the opportunities Boston University has given her, including her involvement with the ADEA Student Leaders for Social Change program and SQuAD (Society for Queers & Allies in Dentistry).
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Questions and responses have been edited for clarity, context information, and length.
When did you first know you wanted to become a dentist?
I first knew I wanted to be a dentist when I was maybe 10 years old. I had always been fascinated by dentistry, but my career path truly solidified when I saw a dentist transform my grandfather’s life. He’s an Italian-American retired baker who once owned his own bakery and biscotti company in Providence, Rhode Island. To him, cooking and eating, especially very hard cookies, is a way of life. When I was in middle school, I watched a dentist complete a full-mouth rehab for my grandfather. Seeing how that dental work allowed him to comfortably enjoy the foods he loved again and return to an important part of his life left me pretty awestruck. So, the 10-year-old version of me decided that I was going to be a dentist and help other people reconnect with the things that bring them joy. And somehow, that career aspiration kind of stuck!
What led you to Boston for your DMD program?
I was born and raised in Massachusetts! I grew up in the more mountainous part of the state. I’m a New Englander through and through, and I wanted to stay close to my family and community, if possible. I was ready for a little more than the small-town life of Western Mass, but I didn’t want to move so far away from the people who matter most to me. Boston was perfect.
What made GSDM the right fit for you?
I’ve made amazing friends at GSDM and had some incredible experiences at the dental school. I’ve been so lucky to be able to explore parts of dentistry, academia, and professional life that I’m genuinely passionate about. Also, there are so many random, cool opportunities here! For example, in the summer of 2024, BU sent out an email saying graduate students could enroll in a FitRec PE course for free. So, on a whim, I signed up for Beginner Bouldering 101 and ended up meeting an amazing group of PhD students who had absolutely nothing to do with dentistry. A year and a half after the course ended, I still climb with them every week. It’s stuff like that just goes to show what a strong university community exists here.
Who is the one person from GSDM who has made a positive impact on your dental educational experience?
My research mentor, Dr. Matthew Mara, assistant professor of general dentistry. He is truly and officially the best because ADEA recently named him the 2026 Advisor of the Year! He has definitely made a positive impact on my dental educational experience through mentorship, research, and teaching. He taught D2 Behavioral Science, and the course material resonated with me so much that it inspired me to become part of the ADEA Student Leaders for Social Change program. Through his mentorship, I’ve had opportunities to conduct research, present at conferences, mentor other students, and explore academic dentistry. One of the things I appreciate most about him as a mentor is that he consistently encourages students to pursue opportunities that initially feel out of reach. Many of the experiences that have been most meaningful to me here at BU can be traced back to Dr. Mara encouraging me to take on a new challenge. He helped me realize that teaching, research, mentorship, and clinical dentistry don’t have to be separate interests—they can all be part of the same career.
You were the president of SQuAD (Society for Queers & Allies in Dentistry) during the 2025-2026 academic year. What made you want to get involved with this organization?
I got involved because I think visibility matters! LGBTQ+ providers exist in dentistry. LGBTQ+ patients exist in dentistry. I felt it was important that these groups be seen and understood within a professional healthcare environment. Professional schools can be complicated spaces to navigate, and there can be questions about identity, personal expression, professionalism, and what it means to bring your full self into a healthcare setting. LGBTQ+ students are already part of this profession, and I wanted to help make sure our perspectives were represented. Beyond the student aspect, I think we all have a responsibility as future providers to understand and advocate for diverse patient populations.
Why is it valuable to foster a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals in the dental profession starting at the educational level?
Dental school is where we learn how to be dentists and about what kind of providers we are going to be. And to do that, a conducive learning environment is key. Safe spaces give students room to focus on their learning without having to focus on whether we belong. When queer students can simply focus on becoming excellent providers, this ultimately benefits not just students, but also the patients we will one day serve. We are all going to spend our careers treating patients from every imaginable background, and it is important that our education reflects that reality!
If you could give advice to someone who’s interested in pursuing dentistry, what would you tell them?
Figure out your reason why! Not just the reason for applying to dental school (something you will be asked a million times in interviews), but the real reason. The thing that keeps you going. Who are you doing this for? Who do you want to help? That’s what is going to fuel you. And once you’ve figured out what your fuel is, use it to say yes to as many opportunities as you can without losing your sanity.