"My whole body felt itchy, bumps were popping up on my back, my face swelled up like a hot air balloon… What could it be? On Jan. 21, 2017, and again on Feb. 4, 2017, I had anaphylactic allergic reactions and was driven to the ER by my fiancé.

“I’m from the east coast and never ever in my dreams thought I’d come out here. My whole immediate family is in New England. We could talk to each other out the window if we want to. My mom said, ‘don’t ever look at the Pacific.

“Before beginning my path toward dentistry I lived in New York City. My friend and her coworker were visiting from Arizona and we met up for drinks. Happy hour turned into ‘regular hour,’ which then turned into a week of showing off the city.

“This past summer, my classmate, Tammy McCall, and I had the exciting opportunity to complete our health policy internship in Norway from June through August.

“I love to escape the masses, put on a backpack and explore the mountains, or pick up and move to a new place where I don’t know a soul. It’s thrilling to feel so vulnerable.

“I find that it’s hard to be sure about many things, and I try to stay open so I can move forward as things change. At the same time, there are so many things to be sure of. I’m sure that a positive attitude goes a long way.

“I love running around with kids because I feel free to be the goofy person that I am. And as a goofy person, science is easier to learn in an interactive and silly way.