In May, Dr. Busra Akkaya. ’24, DMD, will present her master’s degree research at the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry Conference. In June she will complete her residency.
WHY DOES A TEMPLE DENTAL STUDENT choose pediatric dentistry? A love of working with children? A faculty member who sees potential? To both questions, Dr. Busra Akkaya would certainly answer, “yes.” Then she would add two more.
“Pediatric dentistry offers me a whole new world,” she explains. “It is so much more than ‘drill and fill.’ I get to support children’s oral health from the very beginning, focusing on prevention and education, which I value deeply as a clinician. This specialty also allows me to engage with the medical side of dentistry like managing complex conditions and understanding how systemic health affects oral health. It gives me a broader perspective and reminds me that we are not just dentists. We are doctors in every sense.”
Now in residency at the University of Toledo, Akkaya says she frequently collaborates with a wide range of medical specialists in pediatrics, cardiology, neurology, and more who have become a significant part of her training. Working in a hospital setting also means she cares for children with complex medical needs. “We often treat patients whose medical conditions directly influence their oral health,” she explains, “and it’s incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that supports the whole child, not just their teeth.”
Value of Honors Program
Pointing out that her faculty in Toledo often praise her hand skills, Akkaya credits the strong foundation she received at Temple. “I’m grateful to Temple for providing far more than clinical and diagnostic training,” she says.
For example, she was part of Temple’s Pediatric Honors Program, an experience she notes was especially influential. “Most of us ultimately have pursued pediatrics, and the program truly felt like a miniature residency. It offered an advanced level of exposure and responsibility that shaped my path.”
Reflecting on the experience, Akkaya’s enthusiasm is clear. “The most surprising and fulfilling part was realizing how much exposure we had. As a dental student, I was in the operating room watching patients go to sleep, taking their X-rays, handling pre- and post-op conversations with parents, and even assisting faculty. It opened a world that most dental students never get to see, and being immersed in it really confirmed that pediatrics was the right choice for me.”
A lot of “firsts”
Although she grew up in Ohio, Akkaya always knew that Temple Dental had a strong reputation. That mattered not only to her, but also to her father. “Education is very important in our family,” she says. “My dad has been a teacher and school principal for more than 20 years, so I was raised with a deep respect for learning. He never placed limits on where we could go or what we could pursue, as long as we were committed to a strong education and a meaningful career.”
So although a bit far from home, Temple Dental was the school she chose. And when she graduated, she achieved several major milestones for her immigrant family: the first to complete higher education in the United States, the first to become a dentist, and the first to accomplish it all as a first-generation woman.
Keeping connected
However, she comments that the journey was often an uphill battle. “I entered dentistry without many built-in connections,” she says. “That’s why Temple Dental became such a meaningful part of my professional foundation. It’s a community I truly value.”
As a result, she would like to give back. “I hope to maintain a lasting connection with Temple Dental,” she says. “It’s an exceptional institution, and I can see myself contributing to it again in the future.”
She adds that her aspirations extend beyond clinical practice. “I want to continue my family’s legacy in education. I don’t want my journey to end with becoming a dentist. I’ve always envisioned being involved in academia in some way, shape, or form. I believe I can do that with the skills I’ve gained and with everything I still hope to learn.”