Carolyn Duong: Making an IMPACT

Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 5, 2014, at the 8^th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nominees’ successes.

Carolyn Duong’s dream is to be a dentist.

And she credits internships with helping her discover that dream.

Carolyn completed two internships with Steven Hollar, DDS and David VanWormer, DDS while studying at Grace College in Winona Lake, IN. While at both offices, she was able to practice proper bedside manner, engage in conversation with the patients and learn more about various oral conditions and treatments.

“I saw how each dentist truly cared for his patients and was able to use his education, knowledge and training to help his patients be free of pain and oral disease,” Carolyn recalls. “I wanted the same for my own career.”

Drs. Hollar and VanWormer both commended her professionalism, leadership and eagerness to learn more about the dentistry field. Dr. VanWormer said many of his patients told him how they appreciated Carolyn’s presence in the office.

“Carolyn demonstrated leadership each time she smiled and introduced herself to my patients,” wrote Dr. Hollar. “It’s difficult to describe how someone makes a positive impact in such a short period of time, but we were very impressed with her poise and ability to impact others.”

Outside of dentistry, Carolyn also completed internships with the Kosciusko County Jail Ministry and Zale Drugs. While at Zale Drugs, she learned how to properly insert certain compounds into capsules and more about the compounding side of the pharmaceutical business. With the Jail Ministry, she had weekly opportunities to minister to current and former inmates, which included Bible study gatherings and Sunday morning church services.

“I learned more about selfless service and caring for those who are often overlooked,” she says. “I saw many lives being changed.”

Carolyn graduated from Grace College last December and is currently finishing dental prerequisites. In the fall, she will attend the University of Iowa College of Dentistry to keep working on that dream.