Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Sarah Franklin

In 2019, Dr. Sarah Franklin graduated from Roseman University with her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. Following graduation, Dr. Franklin completed an AEGD residency at University of California, Los Angeles (2020) and an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology residency at Northwell Health in New York (2023) before taking a teaching role at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.

As an oral and maxillofacial pathologist and assistant professor, she is responsible for treating patients in her faculty practice, teaching students, and providing biopsy services for other practitioners.

The most rewarding aspect of Dr. Franklin’s work is addressing the underlying causes of her patients’ and students’ discomfort. “My patient population is generally afraid and/or in pain,” she explained. “Being in a position to help them discover answers and implement appropriate therapy is incredibly rewarding.”

“Similarly,” she continued, “most students feel afraid and/or in pain when they approach my subject material [general pathology and oral pathology]. Introducing nontraditional learning methods that make the material practical and relevant to their future practice has been my goal, and my efforts are well-received.”

As fulfilling as these responsibilities are, the work Dr. Franklin enjoys most is diagnosing tissue samples. “Using my specialized knowledge to perform microscopic diagnosis is my favorite and most challenging aspect of my role,” Dr. Franklin shared. “It is intellectually demanding and meets an important need in the community.”

Last year, the American Academy of Maxillofacial Pathology presented Dr. Franklin with the Shafer Award in recognition of her outstanding performance as an oral pathology resident and for receiving the highest score on their Fellowship exam. “I attribute this success to the foundation I acquired at Roseman,” she remarked. “I entered residency with an understanding of how to master new material.”

When asked about her time in the College of Dental Medicine, Dr. Franklin shared, “Roseman was my first experience with meaningful learning happening in the classroom. Prior to my dental school experience, most of my learning [happened] at home as I studied. At Roseman, the learning model allowed me to maximize the value of each class session leading to mastery of concepts that would have taken hours of individual study to accomplish. The emphasis on collaboration also completely shifted my approach to learning and working effectively.”

“By far the most important lesson Roseman taught me was the value in remaining flexible and trying nontraditional methods,” Dr. Franklin continued. “Leveraging nontraditional methods to accomplish real-time learning is a skill I use every day, with patients, students, and in my independent studies.”

In addition to expanding her learning toolkit, Dr. Franklin’s experience at Roseman University helped to focus and direct her career’s trajectory. “I developed a passion for education during dental school that I’m not sure I would have discovered had I attended a different university,” she explained. “My goals shifted from a desire to practice general dentistry to a desire to find a career with meaningful patient interaction, intellectually challenging subject matter, and teaching opportunities. Oral pathology has been the perfect career path for me.”

When asked what advice she had for current students, Dr. Franklin said, “Dental school can be challenging and stressful, and there is often a looming temptation to fixate on flaws you may identify within your academic environment. I would challenge you to focus your attention on embracing the opportunities Roseman provides.”

“When you leave dental school and interact with other dentists,” she continued, “you will likely realize that our environment at Roseman is entirely unique. If you take full advantage, I am confident you will graduate with the clinical skills, relevant knowledge, and emotional intelligence necessary to succeed in your career.”