Graduate Spotlight



LIDHA hosted our “Graduate Spotlight” to show appreciation for our members newly entering the profession. If you’d like to nominate a LIDHA member to be featured in our Spotlight, please message us through Facebook or Instagram @lidha_rdh.



June 1, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Kelsey Rosa! Kelsey found her love for dentistry at a young age, starting her journey as a dental assistant in her senior year of high school. She has now been working at the same dental practice for the past four years and plans on continuing her career there as a dental hygienist. She decided to obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene in order to expand her dental knowledge, and to make an even greater impact on her patients. Her main goal is to provide high quality of care, and to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all. Making people feel good about their health, and their smile, is what she strives for the most. In the future, she plans on getting involved in public health dentistry, as well as community outreach programs in order to help those in need. Congratulations Kelsey! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 2, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Madeleine Smith! We asked Madeleine to share a little bit about herself: “Hello everyone! What an honor to be in the spotlight for LIDHA! I graduated from Farmingdale State College in May in the Bachelor entry-level dental hygiene program. I was one of seven in the program and loved the tight-knit group I was a part of. I would like to sincerely thank all of the professors I worked with that encouraged me to grow and gain confidence. I am forever grateful for the wonderful education I received at Farmingdale, but I am eager to dive into clinical practice once I am home (California)! I have developed a passion for helping people and therefore hope to one day work in public health as a hygienist to spread oral hygiene awareness and the importance of the oral-systemic link to underserved communities. I am looking forward to growing as a hygienist and spreading smiles to patients!” Congratulations Madeleine! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 3, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Brandon Sandoval! We asked Brandon to share a little bit about himself: “Hello all and thank you for this honorable nomination. My name is Brandon Sandoval and I graduated in May 2021 from the Dental Hygiene program at Farmingdale State College where I had the great honor of being class president. My journey in the dental world started early on as I grew up around family members who practiced in different branches of the field. I knew that I wanted to continue my family’s tradition while having the opportunity of helping other people. I decided to pursue a career in dental laboratory since I found it very rewarding being able to give people their smiles back through dental prosthesis. After graduating from the Restorative Dentistry program at the New York City College of Technology I started working as a dental technician in different places. I was presented with a unique opportunity in a multi-specialty dental group where I would be able to do laboratory work and be trained as a dental assistant. After working with different dental specialists for a couple of years I fell in love with the clinical setting and realized that instead of replacing missing oral structures, I could help patients persevere these while developing relationships with them. I am excited and looking forward to this next chapter of my life as a dental hygienist.” Congratulations Brandon! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 4, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Alex Lesser! We asked Alex Lesser to share a little bit about herself: “Hi everyone and thank you LIDHA for honoring the class of 2021! My name is Alex, and I am a 2021 graduate from Farmingdale’s first BS entry-level dental hygiene program. The past 4 years have been very challenging and unpredictable but completing them is the most rewarding and gratifying feeling. In my time at Farmingdale, I was able to serve as President of SADHA for 2 years. My involvement is one of my favorite highlights from my educational experience. My classmate and I developed a research poster, “Alzheimer’s Disease and Periodontal Disease: Awareness as a Reminder,” which I was very fond of presenting at various research conferences, one being NYDHA’s Empire Conference where we won first place. Following graduation from this program, I intend to return to school in hopes of receiving my master’s degree. Maybe one day I’ll even return to Farmingdale to become a dental hygiene educator! I am so proud of everyone who has made it and look forward to seeing where the future takes us all. Congratulations to the class of 2021!” Congratulations Alex! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 5, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Torri Klein! We asked @Torri Klein to share a little bit about herself: “I graduated with an AAS Degree in Dental Hygiene from Farmingdale State College in May 2021. I am looking forward to entering the dental profession as a dental hygienist and being able to grow all while providing optimal treatment and education to my patients. I love working with children. I previously achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from SUNY Cortland in 2018.” Congratulations Torri! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 6, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Alyssa Breeze! We asked Alyssa Breeze to share a little bit about herself: “Hello! My name is Alyssa, and I am one of the seven students from the inaugural entry level bachelor program. The past four years at Farmingdale were challenging, but in the end, truly rewarding. I am grateful for everyone who has guided and supported me along the way. My favorite part of hygiene is creating a fun environment while providing high quality treatment. With my BSDH, I am eager to explore the opportunities within and beyond the clinical setting!” Congratulations Alyssa! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 7, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Amanda Bertolini! We asked Amanda Bertolini to share a little bit about herself: “Hi! My name is Amanda Bertolini and I’m very honored to be nominated for this, especially being so new to the field! A little bit about me: I graduated from St. John’s University in May of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and then I started dental hygiene school in August of 2019. While at St. John’s I was the President of my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon the Beta Omega Chapter. Being president for a year taught me leadership skills, social skills, and helped me grow into a confident woman. I always knew that I wanted a job where I wouldn’t be stuck behind a desk but also a career that would be flexible. I spoke to many hygienists before I applied to the program and every single one had only good things to say about the field. What appealed the most to me when choosing dental hygiene was that it is a woman dominated field and that I would be surrounded by successful, intelligent, and career-oriented women. Learning from such accomplished women has really empowered me to push myself! I’ve been a dental assistant for two years and my favorite thing about it is getting to interact with patients one on one. I am someone who loves to work so I’m beyond grateful to have found a career that I’m excited about every day. The class of 2021 and I had to navigate unprecedented waters, but we did it together and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things that we do in life!” Congratulations Amanda! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 8, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Tatiana Leto! We asked Tatiana Leto to share a little bit about herself: “I am a recent graduate of Farmingdale State College’s Dental Hygiene program. My whole life I have been fascinated by teeth. As a little girl, I would brush my teeth for 10 minutes sometimes even 20. As I got older, I found myself staring at people’s teeth more than anything and always had a passion to care for people. That’s how I knew I wanted to be a dental hygienist. A smile can light up a room and I hope to help my patients achieve that confidence with a healthy smile. I am looking forward to a career full of making smiles brighter!” Congratulations Tatiana! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 9, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates J’anna Connolly! We asked J’anna Connolly to share a little bit about herself: “Hi there! My name is J’anna Connolly and I am a recent dental hygiene graduate from Farmingdale State College. About 6 years ago, I graduated with my B.S. in Kinesiology from Liberty University but felt a calling to work in the dental field. Shortly after graduating, I found my way back to Long Island and began to work for a general practice. After assisting for a year and a half, I knew I wanted to further my career in dentistry by pursing dental hygiene. I am beyond thrilled to provide my future patients with an exceptional experience. Ideally, my goal is to work for an outreach program overseas to provide dental care for those who may not have access to care. Serving others is my passion and what better way to serve others than by using your skills and expertise? I am thrilled to begin this journey and I am grateful for my family, friends, and professors who have helped me achieve this wonderful success!” Congratulations J’anna! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 10, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Liz Castro! We asked Elizabeth Anne to share a little bit about herself: Liz is a recent graduate of the Associate of Applied Science Dental Hygiene Program. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Iona College in 2017. She found her love for dentistry when she began working full time as an office assistant at a dental office after graduating. She decided she wanted to go back to school and pursue a career in dental hygiene. It was a scary change but something she felt passionate and excited about. She can’t wait to start her career as a dental hygienist and build long lasting relationships with her future patients. Congratulations Liz! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 11, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Isabelle D’Ambrosio! We asked Isabelle D’Ambrosio to share a little bit about herself: “I graduated with an AAS in Dental Hygiene from Farmingdale State College in May 2021. I am looking forward to treating patients by promoting health and preventing disease. Always love a pretty smile!” Congratulations Isabelle! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 12, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Julia Tuohy! We asked Julia Tuohy to share a little bit about herself: “Hi everyone! My name is Julia Tuohy and I recently graduated from the first bachelor-entry level dental hygiene program at Farmingdale State College. It is hard to describe the amount of hard work and determination it took to overcome the near never-ending list of obstacles that were given throughout these past four years. I have grown so much as a person and clinician and for that, I wouldn’t change a thing. I am beyond proud of myself and the six girls who successfully completed this program- the Magnificent Seven! To the faculty and staff, we wouldn’t be the clinicians we are today without your help and guidance. You all have paved the way toward our future successes. This is an experience I will never forget, and I am so excited to continue to improve the health of my community. Congratulations Class of 2021!” Congratulations Julia! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 13, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Shelsy Apolinar! We asked Shelsy to share a little bit about herself: “Hello everyone! Thank you LIDHA for spotlighting the class of 2021. My name is Shelsy and I graduated from the first class of Farmingdale’s BS entry-level dental hygiene program. The past four years were nothing short of challenging, but it was worth it in the end as I created close friendships with the rest of my classmates. I couldn’t have done it without their support and from the encouragement of the faculty. Throughout the past four years, I have developed a passion for helping others and I am forever grateful for the education and experience I have obtained. One of my proudest accomplishments was the publication of an article my classmate (Madeleine Smith) and I spent a while working on. The article was published in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, and it discussed how gingival crevicular fluid may be used as a bio marker for assessing the risk and stages of periodontal disease, as well as other oral and systemic conditions. I am so proud of my class, and I wish everyone the best on our future endeavors.” Congratulations Shelsy! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!


June 14, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Kaitlyn Canavire! We asked Kaitlyn Canavire to share a little bit about herself: Kaitlyn has been a hygienist for two years. She graduated from the bachelor completion program in dental hygiene at Farmingdale State College in May 2021 and has already begun her master’s program at Bridgeport Connecticut. She is also a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. She has a love for education and does not know what she would do with her time if she didn’t have a form of schoolwork to do. She has a love for the dental hygiene profession and goes to work so proud to provide quality care to all her patients. She states seeing improvement in patients’ oral health due to the help of one’s guidance as being such a rewarding feeling. She is currently working full time at a general practice and absolutely has the best work family. In the future, by continuing her education, she hopes to educate future dental hygienists and make a difference in the profession of dental hygiene. Congratulations on your accomplishments Kaitlyn!


June 15, 2021 Spotlight:

Today’s Graduate Spotlight celebrates Nayla Yamel! We asked Nayla Yamel to share a little bit about herself: “Hey guys! My name is Nayla Yamel. I recently graduated from Farmingdale State College with my AAS. in Dental hygiene. When I first started college, I was never truly passionate about what I wanted to pursue as a career, until I found out about the dental hygiene program. I’m so grateful that the program has taught me so many things and I was able to find some of my closest friends. When I started, I realized I had found a profession that I not only enjoy, but I could help others at the same time. I have decided to continue my education in efforts to getting my Bachelors! This is a choice that changed my life forever and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.” Congratulations Nayla! LIDHA welcomes you into the dental hygiene community!