Following her mother’s footsteps – and country roads – Sidney Fix started her journey at West Virginia University four years ago. Now she’s preparing to graduate from the School of Dentistry with a degree in Dental Hygiene and a desire to share her passions with others.
“I have always had a soft spot for the state of West Virginia,” Fix, from Staunton, Virginia, said. “My mom is a WVU alum and continuing the Mountaineer legacy only felt right!”
Fix also found the right fit in the field of dentistry after learning about the profession from her volleyball coach.
“I was an avid volleyball player through my teen years and one of my coaches was a dental hygienist. She always said she loved what she did and encouraged me to consider a career in the dental field.
“I knew dentistry was the right fit for me when I enrolled in a dental careers class at our local vocational center during my junior year of high school. Ever since, I have always felt very passionate about what I do as a student treating patients in the large clinic, and there is truly nothing I would rather do!”
During her time at WVU, Fix has drawn on her interests, inspirations and purpose to guide her journey.
Her love of athletics continued throughout college as she transitioned from volleyball player to fitness instructor. Certified by the American Council on Exercise, Fix coached F45 Training classes at the WVU Student Rec Center and even created her own HIIT cycle class that she named JoyRide.
In the classroom, Fix’s interest in overall wellness and inspiration from her mother once again influenced her journey. When choosing a topic for a research project, she and her partner, Taylor Stotler, decided to explore a subject based on her mother’s experiences.
“She’s lived with psoriatic arthritis for years, and I’ve watched her face so many challenges due to the excruciating pain,” Fix explained. “She always mentioned that, at the dentist, local anesthesia never seemed to fully get her numb. That stuck with me, and I started to wonder why. That simple question turned into a deeper curiosity and ultimately into a research project. It became personal. I wanted to understand the science, but more than that, I wanted to find answers that might help people like my mom feel seen.”
To answer that question, Fix and Stotler explored whether immunocompromised patients may face challenges in achieving optimal effectiveness of local anesthesia during dental procedures due to altered pain perception and the effects of medications.
In addition to presenting their project to dental hygiene students and faculty, Fix shared their research with the wider WVU community at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
“I found that I had an interest in research and wanted to continue spreading awareness about my topic,” she said. “I would love to come back and reinvestigate my research as I believe there is more work to be done.”
With her passion for wellness and helping others, Fix is ready to start a new journey as a dental hygienist, fulfilling her purpose to improve others’ well-being and share the joy that she has found.
“Choosing WVU to pursue dental hygiene was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This program challenged me in the best ways—academically, professionally and personally. The faculty truly care about each student and invest an immense amount of time into making well-rounded clinicians. They want you to succeed.
“I do not feel like I am graduating with just a degree in dental hygiene; I am leaving this program with so much more. I’ve gained confidence in myself, a genuine passion for patient care, professionalism and empathy and a deep, evidence-based understanding of oral health. This is a program that teaches you more than just dentistry. It shapes you into a better version of yourself, not only for you, but for your patients for years to come.”
-WVU-
jw/5/8/25
CONTACT: Jessica Wilmoth
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Dentistry | WVU Dental
