I am Karem Manresa-Cumarin, MD, MPH. During my Master of Public Health program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), I had the opportunity to complete my practicum experience with the Solidarity Dental Foundation. My interests in Global Health and Oral Health Disparities made Solidarity an ideal fit for me. Throughout my practicum, I contributed to evaluating an international public health intervention by conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, creating data visualizations, and overseeing the writing and editing of a final published article on Oral Health Related Quality of Life in rural Ecuador. The article was also accepted for an Oral Presentation at the 2024 American Public Health Association conference.

My time with Solidarity allowed me to work alongside an interdisciplinary team, where I received invaluable guidance and support. They provided a safe and positive work environment, giving me creative freedom, making me feel like a valued team member, and respecting my contributions to their projects. I highly recommend working with the Solidarity Dental Foundation to anyone interested in mixed-methods analysis, global health, and health disparities.