GSBMS degree leads to Touro College of Dental Medicine
GSBMS Alum, Alexander Constantine, M.S. ‘21, Microbiology and Immunology, pursues his dream of a dental career at Touro College of Dental Medicine
Alexander Constantine, M.S. ‘21 is a current second year dental student at Touro College of Dental Medicine (TCDM). His passion for dentistry was clear since his early days: “My dad is a dentist and I always looked up to him. When I was 10 years old, we had a class assignment where we named our heroes. Other students chose Derek Jeter and Angelina Jolie, but I chose my dad. It would be my greatest success to provide care to patients in the same manner that he does.” With hard work, determination, and a propensity for knowledge, Constantine set out on his dental path, cultivating his interests in the varied fields of the sciences.
While enrolled as a biology major at Manhattan College, Constantine conducted research through the Herpetology Department at the Museum of Natural History on the geographic size differences of the North American rat snake. Following this, he worked as a chemical lab technician in the Forensic Crime Lab of the Yonkers Police Department. Despite numerous positions in the science field, he credits his studies at New York Medical College (NYMC) for refining his academic and professional abilities.
“While studying cell culture at Manhattan College, I became infatuated with cell biology and followed my newfound passion into the microbiology and immunology master’s program at the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences at NYMC.”
Constantine plans to use his master’s and dental degrees as a means to provide the best patient care possible, saying: “The oral cavity is home to millions of microorganisms, meaning dentistry is nothing without knowledge of microbiology and immunology. After completing my master’s program, I developed the necessary critical thinking skills to apply the latest medical research findings to the dental field.”
Along with his own academic drive, Constantine attributes his success at NYMC to the faculty and student body around him: “It was a very stressful time for me. I was working at the crime lab and studying for my dental admissions exam, while juggling graduate courses. It was professors like Dr. Mordue and Dr. Bakshi and classmates like Anthony, Anish, Amna and Ezdehar, who all gave me the confidence I needed to push forward.”
After graduating from NYMC, Constantine began classes at TCDM to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a dentist. Although he has reached his destination at dental school, he continues to grow exponentially, taking on multiple leadership roles. He serves as treasurer on the Executive Student Government Association, works as a tutor in the medical sciences, and volunteers as an alumni mentor to a pre-medical student from Manhattan College in his free time. His mission does not stop here as he continues to look for ways to contribute to society in the future.
