Diagnosed and driven: A dental student’s journey to inspire change and improve health

For most of her childhood, UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry student Carolina Yguerabide grappled with severe health issues. Raised in a single-parent household, her family faced challenges accessing the care she needed, so she endured for years without knowing the source of her health problems.

At 16, Carolina took matters into her own hands, conducting her own research and identifying celiac disease as the cause of her symptoms—a finding later confirmed by a rheumatologist. As she dug deeper into her research, she realized that many of the dental issues she was facing were also associated with this autoimmune condition.

“This opened my eyes to the connection between oral and systemic health and inspired me to pursue a career in dentistry,” says Carolina, who is slated to graduate in 2026.

Her personal experiences drive her desire to help others and ensure they have better health services and patient education than she did.

“I have seen many family members become severely ill after struggling with barriers to basic health care in our hometown,” says Carolina, a native of Laredo, Texas. “I am passionate about improving access to help eliminate these disparities.”

Carolina balances her rigorous dental school schedule with community service projects aimed at supporting underserved youth and mentoring first-generation students. Raised in a community with limited resources, she is aware of the example she sets by pursuing an advanced education.

“I hope to inspire others to be daring in following their passions,” she says.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from The University of Texas at Austin, Carolina chose the School of Dentistry because of its close-knit community and focus on innovation.

“From faculty who are incredibly supportive and motivational to friends who have made Houston feel like a second home, the people here help make my dream possible,” says Carolina, who is considering a career in pediatric or special needs dentistry, fields where she believes she can make the greatest impact.

She also appreciates the school’s location in the Texas Medical Center—the world’s largest medical complex—and its emphasis on digital technology, such as 3D printing.

Faced with the demanding workload of dental school, Carolina had to leave the multiple jobs she previously relied on to cover her living and educational expenses. The Ramirez-Rathmell South Texas General Dentistry Scholarship has been a beacon of hope for her.

“I was really worried about being able to manage my studies and finances simultaneously, and the generosity of a donor alleviates a great deal of that,” Carolina says. The scholarship she receives helps her pay rent, enabling her to focus more fully on her education.

“My hope is that one day when I am a practicing dentist, I will be able to give back and offer my support to a student on their educational journey, just as others have supported me during this chapter of my life,” Carolina says.