Page 25 - Dentistry Magazine 2022

For Kristelle Yewah, DDS ’23, soccer is a family affair. She and her two siblings played soccer from childhood through college. Yewah began playing when she was four years old. “All my cousins and aunts and uncles all played soccer as well,” she said, “so growing up I was surrounded by the sport and did not know much about other sports.”
As an undergraduate pursuing a degree in kinesiology, Yewah played for Michigan State University. Traveling with the team to Minnesota was one of the things that led her to the School of Dentistry. “In college, the University of Minnesota was always one of my favorite campuses to visit,” she recalled. “So when the opportunity presented itself to still be in the Big Ten and attend one of my favor- ite campuses, I couldn’t turn it down.”
Yewah chose dentistry because of its openness to art and creativity. “I love that there is more than one way to go about doing things, and I have always been interested in health. It’s exciting to know that your work can completely change a person’s life, and I love
being able to help others,” she said.
When she came to Minnesota,
Yewah stopped playing soccer—but she certainly wasn’t lacking for
things to do. She is part of the Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity. She
has served as social chair of the Student National Dental Association since her third year of dental school and was a member of the executive committee beginning her second year.
She is a member of Better Together, a student-led group that seeks to address implicit bias and racism and further diversity, equity and inclusion at the School of Dentistry.
Even so, Yewah missed playing competitive soccer. “Since my first year in dental school, I have been hoping for a semi-pro team in Minneapolis,” she said. So when a friend found a flyer for the newly-formed, women-led, community owned Minnesota Aurora, it didn’t take much convincing to go for it.
Yewah made the team, along with eleven other women.
“I’m especially excited to be part of the first of something like this, particularly because it is primarily a women- driven team,” Yewah said. She looks forward to being a role model for younger girls who play soccer in the state.
The journey will not be easy—but she’s confident in herself and her abilities.
“It is a blessing to be part of a team again, and I hope we make the com- munity proud,” she said. “I am so thankful that I had this opportunity, and I hope to be an inspiration to others watching my journey of becoming a dentist and being a semi-pro soccer player.”
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Student life 25
Courtesy of MN Aurora
A PRO ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLINICS
I’m especially excited
to be part of the first of something like this, particularly because it is primarily a women-
Kristelle Yewah, DDS ’23
riven team.
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