Sarah Laks

Sarah Laks comes from a long line of Touro graduates that includes her father (who was in the school’s first graduating class) along with all four of her older siblings. Still, she found plenty of her own reasons for choosing Touro’s Lander College for Women (LCW) for undergrad. “I was looking for a school that not only provided a top-tier education and was centered on Jewish values, but also offered a closer, more personalized connection with the faculty and staff. LCW was exactly that. Being in the heart of New York City also gave me the platform to pursue jobs and research positions—and to experience the culture and environment that you can’t find anywhere else!”

While Sarah always had a love for science, she also was drawn to the arts—drawing , painting, singing, and playing musical instruments. It wasn’t until she visited her older sister, who was in her first year at dental school, that she considered a career in dentistry. “She gave me a tour of her school’s dental clinic, simulation lab, and introduced me to some of her classmates and professors. The experience was exhilarating!”

While at Lander College for Women, Sarah began shadowing dentists in many different dental specialties and fell in love with the field. “They say that when you find something that is a perfect fit for you, a light bulb goes off in your head and you just know you’ve found the thing you’ve been looking for. I was skeptical until I found dentistry—but I knew right away that becoming a dentist was the perfect profession for me.”

Sarah graduated from Touro’s LCW with an Honors Biology degree and then worked as the Presidential Fellow of Online Education for the dean of LCW for a year before starting at Touro College of Dental Medicine. “It was a no-brainer that continuing with Touro for dental school was the right decision for me. Touro Dental is focused on providing and teaching state-of-the-art dentistry with all the new cutting-edge technology and techniques. Plus, being a student here makes you feel like you are not just a number in a crowd, but a unique and special individual. You really feel like you are part of a big family.”

After her first year at Touro Dental, Sarah feels confident in her future as a dentist. “By offering amazing opportunities, top-notch classes and professors, research positions and an incredible student life on campus, Touro has allowed me to pursue and succeed in my career. I never had to compromise my Jewish values, my way of life, and my desire for a top-quality education. I have no doubt that my future will be a bright and successful one because of all that Touro has given me.”