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Meet the New REACH Members

This April, we are excited to welcome to the newest members of the REACH Committee for the 2025–2026 term. The REACH Committee holds a special place within our organization, serving as a launchpad for residents who aspire to become future leaders within the specialty. Created with residents in mind, REACH offers an invaluable opportunity to engage in advocacy, professional development, and collaborative leadership. Each year, seven outstanding first-year residents are carefully selected from various institutions across the United States to bring their unique experiences and perspectives. These individuals will serve from one AAE annual meeting to the next, contributing their voices to the collective mission of advancing endodontics. As we welcome this dynamic group, we’re excited to share a brief glimpse into who they are, what motivated them to choose endo and what brought them to nominate themselves for REACH. 

Dr. Hwang  

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics: 

  • I’m currently a first-year Endodontic Resident at UCLA and graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine last year. My journey to Endo started during dental school, when I worked part-time as a dental assistant in various practices throughout New York City, which gave me invaluable chairside experience and solidified my interest in the specialty. What drew me to endodontics was the challenge it presents—both technically and intellectually—and the opportunity to save natural teeth for my patients.  

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • Even though endodontics may comprise mainly of performing root canal treatment, I am really interested in learning the emerging techniques and procedures that endodontists can perform to save teeth. I'm looking forward to adding additional procedures such as regenerative endodontics, microsurgical endodontics, and other adjunctive procedures to my skillset. 

What about REACH are you most excited for? / Why did you decide to join? 

  • What excites me most about REACH is the opportunity to collaborate with other residents and help shape the future of our specialty. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of ASDA during dental school and partaking in organized dentistry, and I see REACH as a natural extension of that. I’m especially looking forward to engaging with the Foundation on initiatives that elevate education, promote research, and expand awareness of endodontics. Being a voice for residents and contributing to meaningful change within our community is something I’m truly passionate about!  

Dr. Sprouse 

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics: 

  • I’m currently an endodontic resident with a background in general dentistry. I chose endodontics because I am extremely passionate about relieving pain and saving teeth—there’s something incredibly rewarding about turning a painful situation into a positive outcome for patients. 

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • I’ve always loved working with my hands and thinking critically, and endodontics brings those two passions together. There’s something really fulfilling about getting to the root of a problem—pun intended—and being able to make an immediate difference in someone’s comfort and health. 

What about REACH are you most excited for? / Why did you decide to join? 

  • I joined REACH because I believe everyone deserves access to high-quality care. I’m excited to be part of a program that combines service with specialty training, helping communities in need while allowing me to grow as a clinician. 

Dr. Nguyen 

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics? 

  • My name is Wyatt Nguyen. I was born in Florida and completed Dental School in Colorado. I completed a GPR at Tufts University in Boston where I focused on treating special needs patients with complex medical histories. I am currently a resident at Rutgers University in New Jersey. I chose to pursue a career in endodontics because of the impressive ability to save teeth and treat patients in a gratifying way. 

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • The part of Endodontics that makes me excited is the gratitude that patients express when they are out of pain and able to get back to their life and work without debilitating pain. I am satisfied knowing that they are comfortable and can maintain their dignity and keep their natural teeth. 

What about REACH are you most excited for?/ Why did you decide to join? 

  • I am excited to connect with other residents in REACH and to learn about the foundation that supports endodontics at every level. I would like to be able to dedicate time outside of clinic to improve endodontics at every level whether its research or advocacy.” 

Dr. Hsieh  

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics? 

  • “My name is Alex Hsieh and I am a current first year endodontic resident at the University of Iowa. Prior to endo residency, I obtained my DDS at Iowa and then completed a 1-year AEGD at Wichita State University. I chose endodontics because I love providing a service to my patients that gets them out of pain while preserving their teeth. It doesn't hurt that I love the meticulousness and precision required of the specialty as well! Outside of root canals, I enjoy cycling, cooking, listening to music, and reading.”

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • “Currently I am most interested in surgery as well as management of traumatic dental injuries.”  

What about REACH are you most excited for?/ Why did you decide to join? 

  • “I am most excited for the Domestic and International Access to Care initiatives. One of the big reasons why I changed my career from renewable energy to dentistry was because I saw it as a way to directly and positively impact the communities around me. Being a member of REACH will allow me to give back in the way I've wanted to since I started down this path.”   

Dr. Guo 

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics? 

  • “I was born in China but grew up in Arkansas. I attended the University of Arkansas for undergrad (Go Hogs!) and went on to UMKC for Dental School. I went back to my home state of Arkansas and completed a 2-year GPR program, before transitioning into residency here at Saint Louis University. I fell in love with endo due to its meticulous detail-oriented approach to treatment. There are not many dental procedures that get patients out of pain immediately, and the patients actually want to be there. Well, most of the time at least.”  

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • “Endodontics has always been at the forefront of technology in dentistry and is always evolving. I love this aspect of integrating the latest technologies and advanced techniques to help treat pain predictably. 

What about REACH are you most excited for?/ Why did you decide to join? 

  • “I am excited to work with a like-minded group of my fellow residents to help promote organized dentistry in our specialty. I became interested in REACH because it allows me to be part of a community that places value on supporting leadership development and professional growth. I look forward to working with other residents and mentors through the many engagement and volunteering opportunities as well. 

Dr. Covington 

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics?

  • “I am originally from South Carolina, and outside of dentistry, I love playing pickleball and wake surfing! My interest in endodontics began while volunteering at a free clinic in my hometown. I saw so many patients who had to have teeth extracted, even though some of those teeth could have been saved with proper endodontic care. That experience really sparked a passion in me to help preserve the natural dentition. Later, when I began learning endodontics both didactically and clinically in dental school, that passion only grew stronger. The most rewarding part for me is seeing how endodontics can transform a seemingly hopeless situation into a second chance for a tooth that still has value.” 

What part of the specialty interests you most?

  • “Outside of the art of the root canal itself, which I genuinely love for its challenges and precision, what interests me most about endodontics is the opportunity to build trust with patients during a time when they are often feeling anxious or afraid. Root canals carry a significant stigma, and many patients arrive expecting a painful, negative experience. Through clear communication, empathy, and a calm chairside presence, I have seen how it is possible to completely change that perception. There is something extremely rewarding about guiding someone through a procedure they once feared and seeing them leave not only pain free but also surprised at how comfortable the experience was. It is that combination of technical skill and emotional care that makes endodontics so fulfilling to me.” 

What about REACH are you most excited for? / Why did you decide to join?

  • “I am most excited to be part of a group that fosters a culture of service and philanthropy within the endodontic community. I am also eager to learn from the wealth of knowledge and experience others in the group bring as we work together to make a meaningful impact in the field. I joined REACH because I want to be on the forefront of the next generation of endodontists, helping to engage residents early in their careers with outreach, organized dentistry, and academic involvement. My hope is that by fostering these values during residency, we will inspire future endodontists to carry them forward and create a lasting legacy of service and impact.” 

Dr. Yashpal 

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and why you chose endodontics?  

  • “ Hi! I’m Dr. Shahen Yashpal, currently an endodontics resident at the University of Illinois Chicago. My academic journey began at the University of Toronto, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology and a master’s in nutritional epidemiology. I pursued my DDS at NYU, followed by a GPR at Weill Cornell Medicine – New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Endodontics drew me in for its unique blend of biology, precision, and problem-solving. When I’m not working under the microscope, you’ll likely find me on the tennis court, running along Chicago’s lakefront, or immersed in an Oscar-worthy film marathon.” 

What part of the specialty interests you most? 

  • “I’m deeply passionate about alleviating pain and educating patients on the value of saving their natural teeth. I love that each case demands attention to fine detail and that endodontics challenges us to evolve alongside innovations in imaging, materials, and microsurgical techniques. I’m particularly fascinated by diagnostic complexity and how emerging technologies are helping us deliver more precise, minimally invasive care. The more I explore, the more I realize how much opportunity exists to not only enhance treatment outcomes—but to improve access and equity in care delivery.” 

What about REACH are you most excited for? Why did you decide to join? 

  • “REACH offers a meaningful platform to contribute to both local and global efforts that align with my commitment to equity and access. Growing up, frequent visits to India exposed me to communities with limited access to education and healthcare—experiences that continue to shape my drive to promote equitable care. As a REACH member, I look forward to participating in international outreach initiatives that improve quality of life by saving teeth and restoring oral health. I’m also eager to help the Foundation engage the next generation of endodontists by drawing on my experiences as a resident. Through research, mentorship, and a focus on access-to-care, I hope to foster inclusivity, support professional growth, and help develop programs that reflect the evolving needs of our specialty.”