{"ItemType":0,"Id":4029,"Key":"20ea2889-fd56-487c-9059-bdd365a6f5e0","TemplateId":2666,"SortOrder":11,"Name":"Kristen Mullins","DocumentTypeAlias":"soDStudentProfilePage","DocumentTypeId":2661,"WriterName":"WVU HSC ITS","CreatorName":"ssw0005","WriterId":0,"CreatorId":39,"Path":"-1,2674,2676,4029","CreateDate":"2024-04-18T10:03:20","UpdateDate":"2024-05-22T15:19:02","Version":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","UrlName":"kristen-mullins","Level":3,"IsDraft":false,"Url":"/who-we-are/students/kristen-mullins/","metaKeywords":"","pageTitle":"","hideFromSearch":false,"navigationSettings":"","umbracoUrlName":"","metaDescription":"","navigationTitle":"","umbracoNaviHideChildren":false,"seoSettings":"","umbracoRequireSSL":false,"umbracoNaviHide":false,"auditNotes":"","auditStatus":"","photo":{"src":"/media/2282/image1-1.jpeg","focalPoint":{"left":0.5104477611940299,"top":0.37176938369781309},"crops":[{"alias":"Portrait","width":500,"height":700,"coordinates":null},{"alias":"2000w","width":2000,"height":1334,"coordinates":null},{"alias":"1200w","width":1200,"height":800,"coordinates":null},{"alias":"600w","width":600,"height":400,"coordinates":null}]},"firstName":"Kristen","quote":"I am the first person in my family to pursue and earn a doctoral degree! I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of my family and friends. I’m so blessed that I got to do it here in my home state at WVU!","suffix":"D.D.S.","lastName":"Mullins","mainContent":"<h2>Hometown</h2>\r\n<p>Hurricane, WV</p>\r\n<h2>Undergraduate degree</h2>\r\n<p>B.S. in Biology, Marshall University</p>\r\n<h2>Next move</h2>\r\n<p>I will be practicing general dentistry at a private practice in Charleston, WV starting in July!</p>\r\n<h2>What made you want to earn your D.D.S.?</h2>\r\n<p>I made the decision to pursue a D.D.S. degree at the very young age of 12. In high school I attended a vocational program for dental assisting and it helped confirm my passion for dentistry. I am the first person in my family to pursue and earn a doctoral degree! I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of my family and friends. I’m so blessed that I got to do it here in my home state at WVU!</p>\r\n<h2>Why did you choose to earn your degree at WVU?</h2>\r\n<p>It was a no brainer to attended WVU! West Virginia University School of Dentistry has an incredible track record for training and producing top tier clinicians. I knew WVU would provide me with an exceptional educational experience that would prepare me to enter private practice immediately following graduation. WVU was exactly where I was meant to be and I couldn’t be happier with my decision! </p>\r\n<p><img style=\"width: 342.56055363321803px; height: 500px;\" src=\"/media/2283/image0.jpeg?width=342.56055363321803&amp;height=500\" alt=\"Kristen Mullins\" data-udi=\"umb://media/f498d4ccc24546eeabe7c69c0a618cb1\" /></p>\r\n<h2>As a soon-to-be graduate, what is your best advice for incoming School of Dentistry students?</h2>\r\n<p>The days are long, but the years are so, so short! These last 4 years have been some of the hardest yet rewarding years of my life. You will laugh, cry, and even contemplate what you’re doing with your life. Just know you’re doing something amazing, and the faculty are there to help you every step of the way! Don’t be scared to ask for help when needed! </p>\r\n<h2>What will you miss most about WVU?</h2>\r\n<p>The atmosphere, the location, but most importantly the PEOPLE! The people I have met during my time here have impacted me in so many positive ways. Everyone at the school has become my family and I’m so grateful to have crossed paths with each and every one of them! </p>\r\n<h2>What school-related events or activities did you enjoy most and why?</h2>\r\n<p>I was a part of the dental fraternity Delta Sigma Delta all four years! I held a leadership position during my D2 year. This fraternity provided me with so many great friends and experiences! Community service is a huge aspect of Delts and was a great way to help me give back to the community. The best part of Delts is the social events! Attending the Annual Regional Meeting (ARM) is a must!</p>\r\n<h2>What are you excited for next?</h2>\r\n<p>It’s so bittersweet to be leaving what I have called home for the last four years, but I’m so excited for what is to come! I will be joining a private practice in Charleston, WV with an amazing mentor! I’m very excited to be returning home but, I can’t help but to leave a little bit of my heart behind at the School of Dentistry!</p>","graduationDate":"2024-05-10T00:00:00","program":{"ItemType":0,"Id":2561,"Key":"869405b3-0c80-414b-a185-e1df835d39de","TemplateId":2562,"SortOrder":0,"Name":"Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)","DocumentTypeAlias":"sodProgramPage","DocumentTypeId":2545,"WriterName":"ssw0005","CreatorName":"ralintner","WriterId":39,"CreatorId":11,"Path":"-1,2420,2465,2561","CreateDate":"2018-11-15T10:50:28","UpdateDate":"2021-04-05T15:07:31","Version":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","UrlName":"doctor-of-dental-surgery-dds","Level":3,"IsDraft":false,"Url":"/students/doctor-of-dental-surgery-dds/","metaKeywords":"","pageTitle":"Doctor of **Dental Surgery**","hideFromSearch":false,"navigationSettings":"","umbracoUrlName":"","metaDescription":"","navigationTitle":"","umbracoNaviHideChildren":false,"seoSettings":"","umbracoRequireSSL":false,"umbracoNaviHide":false,"auditNotes":"","auditStatus":"Updated","departmentID":2039,"userID":"","featureImageDescription":"A WVU dental school student receives one-on-one instruction in a small class size.","featureButtons":[],"featureImage":{"src":"/media/1721/img_5604.jpg","focalPoint":{"left":0.52,"top":0.48},"crops":[{"alias":"large","width":2000,"height":1125,"coordinates":{"x1":0.0822320117474313,"y1":0.20807521108663704,"x2":0.0,"y2":0.017558048825258157}},{"alias":"medium","width":1200,"height":675,"coordinates":{"x1":0.0822320117474313,"y1":0.2256332599118952,"x2":0.0,"y2":0.0}},{"alias":"small","width":600,"height":337,"coordinates":{"x1":0.0822320117474313,"y1":0.22678046989721093,"x2":0.0,"y2":0.0}}]},"primaryFeatureButton":"[]","featureSummaryBlurb":"The four-year curriculum involves intense academic study, preclinical training and direct patient care. Students treat their first patients as early as the Summer session of their second year.","overviewBlurb":"A dental degree offers a variety of career options including private practice, teaching, research, and public health dentistry.","tuitionLink":[],"hideTuitionLink":false,"widgets":"{\"fieldsets\":[]}","programSummary":"Students spend four years earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. The final two years of the program place students in direct patient care opportunities.","applyNowButton":"[{\"name\":\"Doctor of Dental Surgery\",\"udi\":\"umb://document/8d777c1a9a9a4b5594ad09c800de0182\"}]","mainContent":"<p>The state's only dental school prepares students to provide high quality, comprehensive oral health care. Students train using state-of-the-art technology including digital radiography, dental simulation and electronic health records. Experiences in laser treatment and dental sleep medicine are unique to the program.</p>\r\n<p>A faculty of expert oral healthcare providers guides future dentists through a holistic approach educating them to recognize the relationship between oral health and overall health.  All students complete a minimum of six weeks experiencing community-based dentistry while completing a clinical rotation at a rural West Virginia practice.</p>\r\n<p>An emphasis on interprofessional learning places dental students in collaboration with health professional students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Local, state and global outreach is an imperative part of the student experience.</p>","programDeadline":""}}
Meet the Grads

Kristen Mullins

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
School of Dentistry

I am the first person in my family to pursue and earn a doctoral degree! I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of my family and friends. I’m so blessed that I got to do it here in my home state at WVU!

Hometown

Hurricane, WV

Undergraduate degree

B.S. in Biology, Marshall University

Next move

I will be practicing general dentistry at a private practice in Charleston, WV starting in July!

What made you want to earn your D.D.S.?

I made the decision to pursue a D.D.S. degree at the very young age of 12. In high school I attended a vocational program for dental assisting and it helped confirm my passion for dentistry. I am the first person in my family to pursue and earn a doctoral degree! I wouldn’t have made it through without the support of my family and friends. I’m so blessed that I got to do it here in my home state at WVU!

Why did you choose to earn your degree at WVU?

It was a no brainer to attended WVU! West Virginia University School of Dentistry has an incredible track record for training and producing top tier clinicians. I knew WVU would provide me with an exceptional educational experience that would prepare me to enter private practice immediately following graduation. WVU was exactly where I was meant to be and I couldn’t be happier with my decision! 

Kristen Mullins

As a soon-to-be graduate, what is your best advice for incoming School of Dentistry students?

The days are long, but the years are so, so short! These last 4 years have been some of the hardest yet rewarding years of my life. You will laugh, cry, and even contemplate what you’re doing with your life. Just know you’re doing something amazing, and the faculty are there to help you every step of the way! Don’t be scared to ask for help when needed! 

What will you miss most about WVU?

The atmosphere, the location, but most importantly the PEOPLE! The people I have met during my time here have impacted me in so many positive ways. Everyone at the school has become my family and I’m so grateful to have crossed paths with each and every one of them! 

What school-related events or activities did you enjoy most and why?

I was a part of the dental fraternity Delta Sigma Delta all four years! I held a leadership position during my D2 year. This fraternity provided me with so many great friends and experiences! Community service is a huge aspect of Delts and was a great way to help me give back to the community. The best part of Delts is the social events! Attending the Annual Regional Meeting (ARM) is a must!

What are you excited for next?

It’s so bittersweet to be leaving what I have called home for the last four years, but I’m so excited for what is to come! I will be joining a private practice in Charleston, WV with an amazing mentor! I’m very excited to be returning home but, I can’t help but to leave a little bit of my heart behind at the School of Dentistry!