Leaders From Within

Sarah Paige Weddington

President

Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Paige Weddington, and I am a senior from Vanceburg, Kentucky, majoring in Human Health Sciences on the pre-dental track. I am super excited to serve as the president of PDS this year. I chose dentistry because of the opportunity to create smiles that improve health and confidence. Coming from a small town, I know how overwhelming it can be to find people with similar goals in college. As president, I hope to reach new pre-dental students and help them find ways to connect and work towards their goal of becoming a dentist, just as PDS helped me. Becoming a dentist has always been a dream of mine, and I am excited to work towards that with all of you!

Hi everyone! My name is Rama Shalash, and I’m a senior majoring in Neuroscience with a certificate in Business. I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, and I’m excited to serve as your Vice President this year. PDS has been one of the highlights of my college experience, and I’m looking forward to working with the executive team to make this our best year yet. I’m passionate about dentistry and committed to giving back to my community. Having personally faced barriers to accessing dental care, I aspire to be a dentist who leads with empathy and advocates for her patients. I’m so excited for what this year holds, and please don’t hesitate to reach out; I love meeting new people!

Rama Shalash

Vice President

Hi everyone! My name is Khushi Patel, and I am a senior majoring in biology. I’ve been a part of PDS since I was a freshman and absolutely love the community, friends, and experiences I’ve had in the club! Being able to share my journey to dentistry with others is something I look forward to doing. Dentistry, along with community service, is my passion because I want to provide patient-centered care and help those around me have a confident, pain-free smile. I am so excited to serve as your secretary this year and can’t wait to see how PDS can grow even more as a community and club! Let’s have an awesome year!

Khushi Patel

Secretary

Xavier Noe

Treasurer

Hello everyone! My name is Xavier Noe, and I have the pleasure of serving you as your Pre-dental Society Treasurer for this year. I am a junior majoring in Biology and minoring in Pharmacology. As Treasurer, I will be in charge of receiving PDS dues, managing donations, and organizing the PDS savings account. Finance is one of my passions, combining mathematics, critical thinking, and creativity. I truly believe that people underestimate the interrelatedness of finance and dentistry. Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a healthcare provider, but it wasn’t until I took a tour of Dr. Fuentealba’s office where I knew that I wanted to become a dentist. As he showed me an oral prosthetic he was making for a little girl, I knew that one day, I had an opportunity to help others and transform lives the way that he does. In college, PDS has given me so many wonderful opportunities and helped me along my pre-dental path; I can’t wait to help guide you on your journey!


 

Peyton Adams

Public Relations Chair

Hi everyone! My name is Peyton Adams, and I’m a junior majoring in Biology with a minor in Communications. I was born in Virginia, but I’ve lived in Lexington most of my life. I’m so excited to work with you guys and meet new faces! As Public Relations chair, I aim to bring more people in, keep everyone connected, strengthen our presence, and make sure every achievement and smile gets the recognition it deserves! I’ve known from a young age that dentistry was for me, and through my own experiences, I learned just how powerful a healthy smile can be. Seeing how dentistry can truly change lives, from restoring confidence to relieving pain, it has inspired me greatly. Without PDS, I wouldn’t be where I am on my pre-dental journey, and I want to make the same impact on others.


 

Jessie Bryant

Volunteer Chair

Hi everyone! My name is Jessie Bryant, and I’m one of the volunteer chairs for UK’s Pre-Dental Society this year! I’m a senior majoring in Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology from Russell Springs, KY. Growing up in a rural town, I saw how hard it was for families to access consistent dental care. During a tough time in my life, my dentist’s office became a safe space, one that showed me just how powerful compassionate care can be. That experience is what inspired me to pursue dentistry. PDS has given me the chance to grow, serve, and connect with others who share a passion for making a difference. As volunteer chair, I’m excited to help bring more service opportunities to our members and give back to the communities that shaped me. I will be partnering with Mission Lex and can’t wait to serve alongside Wesley to bring great volunteer opportunities to PDS! Let’s make it a great year!

Wesley Hughes

Volunteer Chair

Hey everyone! My name is Wesley Hughes, and I am so excited to serve as your volunteer chair for this year! I am a sophomore from Bardstown, Kentucky, majoring in Human Health Sciences on the pre-dental track with a minor in business. As the volunteer chair, I will be coordinating with the Ronald McDonald House in Lexington to help serve the people staying there through cook nights and cleanings. I chose to pursue dentistry because of the unique combination of hands-on patient care, precision, and artistry. Having a direct impact on someone’s health and confidence through restoring their smile is the thing that continuously draws me to pursue this amazing profession. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Megan Richey

Fundraising Chair

Hi everyone!! My name is Megan Richey, and I am serving as a fundraising chair this year. I am a junior majoring in Human Health Sciences and Neuroscience. I love being a part of pre-dental society as it gave me a chance to meet so many likeminded individuals, and introduced me to opportunities I would have never known about. This past summer I’ve been working in a pediatric office as a sterilization and radiology tech! I love dentistry because it allows me to use my creative side while also helping others gain confidence in their smile. I can’t wait to work with this club and see what we can accomplish!

Ashlyn Davis

Fundraising Chair

Hey everyone!! My name is Ashlyn Davis, and I’m one of the fundraising chairs this year! I’m a senior majoring in Human Nutrition. Growing up in London, Kentuck,y and seeing family in more rural areas travel over an hour for dental care is what first inspired me to pursue dentistry and help make smiles more accessible to underserved communities. I also fell in love with the creative and hands-on aspect of the field. Being a member of PDS for over two years has been the best experience, filled with fun hand skills events, community outreach, and more. It’s introduced me to a wonderful, supportive group of people who’ve helped me throughout my undergrad journey and the dental school process. I’m excited to give back to PDS this year alongside Megan as we gain sponsors and plan fun fundraisers. Let’s make it a great year!

Jack Graves

UKCD Ambassador

Hello everyone! My name is Jack Graves, and I am a business management major following a pre-dental track. I’m honored to serve as the UKCD Ambassador of the Predental Society, where I will be connecting undergraduate Predental students to current dental students at UK’s College of Dentistry to answer questions, share advice, and make connections in the dental community! I joined PDS to be more involved with UK’s campus and surround myself with like-minded, driven students who share the same passion for dentistry as I do. “Why dentistry?” you may ask. I am a firm believer that a smile is one of the most powerful things people can give, and preserving that smile through oral hygiene education is where I want to make an impact. Oral health is too often overlooked in conversations about our overall wellness, and I’m passionate about promoting dental health equity in communities with limited access to care to give everyone the opportunity to give a powerful smile. Some fun facts about me: I am a proud owner of a pet chameleon, and I’ve hitchhiked across Albania (long story.) Looking forward to a great year!