Dental School Alumni Watch: Garrett Heck, DDS, reflects on residency during COVID-19

Garrett Heck, DDS, is a 2018 School of Dentistry graduate. Upon completing his degree at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, Heck began a general practice residency at Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio.

His residency has been anything but typical as he and colleagues are facing the same challenges in patient care as a result of the relentless spread of COVID-19.

In his guest column, Heck said the circumstances are nearly unbelievable. 

"I never thought that at the very beginning of my career I would be facing one of the greatest challenges of my life as a dentist and a human being: a global pandemic. None of us thought we would have to completely adjust every aspect of our lives in order to combat and live through the first pandemic of the modern age."

Click to download Heck's entire submission to learn how he is coping in his residency and his hopes for the future following the completion of his program.