Yan Zhang

I was born in Harbin, a beautiful city in northeastern China. My parents always valued education and wanted me to receive the best possible one. Starting in middle school, I left home to attend a boarding school, which helped me develop independence and resilience from a young age.

I earned my bachelor's degree in Biology and master's degree in Cell Biology. In 2011, by a stroke of good fortune, I came to the United States as a visiting scholar and worked for nearly three years in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, followed by more than four years at the UK Markey Cancer Center.

Although I was deeply engaged in scientific research, I never gave up my dream of becoming a doctor. I kept looking for opportunities to make that dream come true and eventually I was accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry that fall. I was already a mother to an 18-month-old baby, and during my four years at dental school, my second child was born. The four years of study were challenging yet incredibly fulfilling.

After graduation, on a friend's recommendation, my family and I moved from Kentucky to North Carolina, a place we quickly grew to love. Over the past eight years in dentistry, I have found immense joy and satisfaction in helping patients restore their health and confidence. Seeing their problems resolved gives me a deep sense of accomplishment. I truly love what I do and feel grateful to have found my lifelong career in dentistry.