Sister Spotlight: Kaitlin Laxer

Hi everyone! Today our post is written by senior Kaitlin Laxer, who is not only a valued sister but also our chapter president! 

Kaitlin is a French major with a Chemistry minor, and has previously served as the Academic Chair for our chapter. She is active in the french club, an organization called Operation Smile in which she served as the Community Service chair in its founding year, and is additionally a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. 

Her post today is about her current summer internship, working at Laxer, Long, and Savage Dental and Orthodontic practice. Kaitlin hopes to attend dental school after graduating from the University of South Carolina to pursue her dream! 

Kaitlin consistently leads our chapter with grace and responsibility. Thank you Kaitlin for everything you do! Being chapter President is a very time consuming and hardworking role, and we are so lucky to have such a committed and especially loved president. 

I have always looked up to my mom as my mentor and admired her work as a pediatric dentist. A few summers ago, when I was deciding what I wanted to do as my future career, I started shadowing and working for my mom at her joint dental/orthodontic practice, Laxer Long & Savage (“LL&S”). I instantly fell in love with the pediatric patients, the practice, and dentistry as a whole, and I knew it was where I wanted to take my future.

I began my internship working in sterilization where I would sort through instruments, clean them, and set up clean kits for operative procedures. It was a very methodical process- something that a creature of habit like me loved! I soon moved into the clinic where I started working with patients alongside my mom. Here I learned to operate the dental computer software which enabled me to schedule new patient appointments, submit notes, read through insurance plans, do checkouts, bring patients back, write up treatment plans for any operative work needed, and discuss matters with parents. I really enjoyed working in the clinic because I was hands on with the patients, and there was always an opportunity for me to learn something new. The bustling of a pediatric dental office is always exciting!

Finally, my mom taught me how to assist during operative procedures in the clinic. She would explain various procedures to me, like extractions, fillings, root canals, and so on, as she was doing them, and I was able to assist her as needed. This was just the exposure that I needed to solidify my decision in pursuing dentistry. Additional volunteer opportunities that I was fortunate enough to partake in only further reassured me in my lifelong goal.

I couldn’t think of a better place to spend my summers than LL&S. I always knew growing up that whatever path I chose, it would involve kids and something medical, and I am incredibly lucky to have found something that incorporates both in one amazing practice. I am also grateful to have such a wonderful mentor in my mother who is open to teaching me new things every single day and is constantly encouraging me in my decision. I think it’s important that everyone finds that one someone who inspires and challenges us to pursue our dreams and goals, and I am lucky that I had to look no further than my own mother. Working with her has been an inspiration, and I love that I am able to pursue my passion and learn from the best woman I know in the business. I am very much looking forward to (hopefully!) going to dental school during the next few years and coming back to work with my mom for years to come!