Miriam Villa

850-376-2310•miriam.villa@midwestern.edu

Education

DMD, Dental Medicine

Midwestern University - Arizona

2023 - Present

B.S. Biomedical Science

University of West Florida

2020 - 2021

A.A. Biochemistry

Pensacola State College

2018 - 2019

Professional Experience

Pre-Dental Student Mentor Director & Mentor

Dental School Guide, Remote (Peoria, AZ)

2024 - 2025

Registered Behavior Technician

Java Autism Services (Scottsdale, AZ)

2023

Registered Behavior Technician & Parent Resource Coordinator

Little Oaks ABA (Wake Forest, NC)

2022 - 2023

Translator & Assistant in PEKIP Early Family Formation

Social Catholic Woman Services & Counseling (Wiesbaden, Germany)

2016

Assistant Teacher & Recreation Coach

Gerhart-Hauptman-Schule (Wiesbaden, Germany)

2014

Conferences & Professional Meetings

Panelist
2026 ADA Lobby Day
2026
Panelist
National ASDA Webinar: Paths to Purpose
Oct 2025
Speaker
AADMD One Voice Conference
2025
Leader
ASDA Spring Council
2025
ADA HOD
2025
AAPD Annual Conference
2025
ASDA Annual Session
2024-2025
American Dentist & Student Lobby Day
2025
AZ State Lobby Day
2024-2025
ADA Western Regional Experience
2024-2025
ASDA District 10 Conference
2025
AZDA House of Delegates (HOD)
2024-2025
Western Regional District 10/11
2024
ASDA National Leadership
2023-2024

Awards & Achievements

ASDA National Delegate of the Year
American Student Dental Association
Selected from 23,000 dental students nationwide
2025
NHSC Scholarship
National Health Service Corps
Four-year public health service commitment
2023
ADEA Fellowship Program
Academic Dental Careers
Conducting IRB approved survey based research; lecturing to Class of 2028 on 'Salivary Glands and TMJ Histology'
2025-2026

Speaking Engagements

2026 ADA Lobby Day - NDC Advocacy Panel Breakout Session
2026
New Dentists, New Voices: Advocacy for the Profession — Panel moderated by Dr. Adam Saltz (NDC Vice Chair) with panelists Dr. Alexandra J. Fitzgerald and Dr. Jillian Stacey, sharing experiences on the impact of advocacy and meeting with congressional leaders to shape the future of dentistry
AADMD Break Out Session
2025
Co-hosted "Assessing a Special Need's Initiative" presentation focusing on founded Brave Hearts: N.O.A.H initiative at Phoenix Rising: One Voice Conference
PA Studies Speaker
2025
Presented on Fluoride, Diet & Social Determinants of Health to PA Class of 2027; Co-hosted Fluoride Varnish Workshop with hands-on applications and created intercollaborative event between Dental and PA students
Introduction to D2 Community Service Rotations
2025
Co-presented lecture to the Class of 2028, Winter 2025
Oral Histology: Salivary Glands & TMJ
2024
Lecture delivered to the Dental Class of 2028 as part of the Oral Health Science course, Winter 2024. Developed the presentation and objectives as part of the ADCFP Fellowship

ASDA Recognition

District 10 Delegate of the Year (2025)Advocacy Certificate (2025)DEI Certificate (2025)Most ASDA Fever (2025)Annual Session Scholarship (2024, 2025)

Midwestern University

Sim Helping Hands (2024, 2025)Community Service (2024, 2025)Golden Heart (2025)Humor Award - for consistently lightening the mood and elevating spirits (2025)

Academic Honors

University of West Florida
Dean's Honor RollPresident's ListCoca-Cola Gold ScholarAll Florida Academic TeamPhi Theta Kappa
Pensacola State College
Department ScholarStudent ExcellencePresident's ListCommissioner's Leadership AwardCorvias FoundationNMFA ScholarshipMYCAA Scholarship

Publication

"When Autism and Dentistry Collide"
Nov/Dec 2025
Contour Magazine, American Student Dental Association — Volume 9, Number 10. Issue theme: Disability Awareness in Dentistry. Author: Miriam Villa

Research

IRB Approved Research
Survey-Based Research Study
Assessment of an Interdisciplinary Outreach Initiative for Pediatric Special Needs Patients by Healthcare Students and Providers

Languages

German Native
Arabic Native
English Fluent
French Proficient
Spanish Beginner

Pediatric Dental Experience

Clinical Shadowing

2024-2025
Midwestern Dental Institute
Pediatric Dental Clinic
Dr. Copeland DMD, M.Ed., M.S. • Dr. Rao, DMD • Dr. Johns, DDS, MSD
Kids Dental Spot
Special Needs Dentistry
Dr. Jourabchi DDS, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
West Valley Pediatric
Pediatric & Anesthesia
Dr. Brownstein, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist and Board Certified Anaesthesiologist
Jungle Roots
Dentistry & Orthodontics
Dr. Culp DMD, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Kids Dental Office PHX
Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Bienstock, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

Service & Clinical Experience

Team Smiles
Sep 2025 & Apr 2026
Provided free dental care to underserved children in the community
Saving Amy
2026
Provided free dental treatment to individuals experiencing homelessness
Dream Center Partnership
2025
Provided free dental care and established a dental home for sex trafficking survivors
Career Fair - Pendergast Elementary
Mar 2026
Career fair presentation for elementary school students
Feed My Starving Children
Feb 2026
Volunteered to pack meals for children in need
Children's Oral Health Institute - "Lessons in a Lunchbox"
Oct 2025
OHI presentation and hands-on activities for children
Buckeye Union High School District - Exceptional Student Services
Mar 2025
OHI Presentation & Workshop Day in self-contained S.T.E.P.S program classrooms
Give Kids a Smile
Feb 2026, Feb 2025 & 2024
Provided clinical treatment as a third-year student (2026). Assisted third-year dental student to provide free dental care to underserved children (Feb 2025). Volunteered as first-year by escorting families and providing OHI (2024)
Brave Hearts: Nurturing Opportunities and Aspirations for Hope (NOAH)
Jan 2025 & Apr 2026
Co-founded a Health & Wellness Literacy Fair with 12 Healthcare programs for Children with Special Needs and their Caregivers at Midwestern University in collaboration with Special Olympics and Delta Dental. Second annual event held in April 2026
Eggstravaganza - Midwestern University Family Spring Event
2026
Hosted kid-friendly activities in combination with OHI
Independence High School - Special Education Classroom
Dec 2024
Provided OHI Presentation and Workshop for young adolescents with special needs
Horizon Elementary School
Oct 2024
Provided OHI Presentation and Workshop for young adolescents with special needs
MET Academy Dental Day for High School Students in Arizona
2024, 2025
Presented on Careers in Dentistry and led a hands-on restorative workshop for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing dentistry and other STEM fields
Health Science Career Days for High School Students
2024, 2025
Led a hands-on laboratory workshop for high school students interested in exploring careers in dentistry

Service & Clinical Experience (Continued)

Gentry Behavioral Services - Applied Behavioral Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum
2024
Organized and held OHI workshops for children on the spectrum, modeling oral hygiene techniques, and facilitating desensitizing strategies regarding lights, textures, and sounds in dentistry
Pure Heart Church, Arizona
2024
Provided Oral Health Screenings to Children in the Community
St. Vincent de Paul, Arizona
2024
Organized a 4-week Summer program for Children and young Teens and managed a group of dental students to facilitate a presentation on Oral Hygiene and Nutrition. Held hands-on workshops to promote healthy habits regarding oral health and nutrition
CVUSD English Language Acquisition Department - Family Fair
2024
OHI Presentation and Hands-on Workshop
Desert Ridge Elementary School - Science Night
2024
OHI Presentation and Hands-on Workshop
GCU Back to School Event
2024
Provided oral health screenings for over 50 children from Title I schools, identifying and documenting dental conditions to facilitate access to follow-up care. Collaborated with peers from MWU CDMA and ATSU ASDOH to improve public dental health awareness in underserved communities

Professional & Organizational Leadership

American Dental Association
National Fluoridation Advisory Committee - ASDA consultant (2025-2027)
Fluoridation Ambassador Program (2025, 2026)
ADPAC member (2025)
American Student Dental Association
National Advocacy Chair (2025-2026)
District 11 Community Outreach Co-Chair (2025-2026)
District 10 Chief of Staff (2024-2025)
Chapter Vice President (2024-2025)
Chapter Treasurer (2023-2024)
AADMD
National Student Resident Committee – Special Olympics Chair (2026-2027)
Student Resident Committee – Policy Subcommittee (2025-2026)
Chapter Co-President (2025-2026)
Chapter President (2024-2025)
CDMA Dental Liaison (2023-2024)
National Health Service Corps
Chapter Vice President (2025-2026)
Chapter President (2026-2027)
Arizona Dental Association
Council on Government Affairs - Student liaison (2025-2027)
AZ Dept of Health Services
CYSHCN Focus Groups (2024)
Family Voices & MCHB
Cultural Responsiveness Committee (2024-2028)
University of West Florida
Autism Peer Mentor (2021)
AAPD
Chapter Co-President (2025-2026)
Social Media Chair (2024-2025)
Midwestern University CDMA
Give Kids a Smile - Lead Coordinator: Alongside Clinical Director, directing planning and execution of dental school's largest annual community service event (2025-2026)
Give Kids a Smile Committee Member: Managed teams of student volunteers on preclinic and clinic roles and served as marketing liaison to promote University's Community impact (2023-2025)
CODA - AD HOC Committee, Class 2027 Representative (2025-2026)
Student Interviewer - Admissions (2024-2025)
Student DEI Ambassador (2024)
Amazon Prime - The College Tour Cast (2024-2025)

Community Outreach

Dream Center Partnership
2025
Provided free dental care and established a dental home for sex trafficking survivors
Special Olympics - Lead The Field
2025
Coach & Student Lead with BRAVE HEARTS
Dentists for Special Needs — Halloween Event
2025
Assisted individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers in experiencing a sensory-friendly Halloween celebration with games and activities
The Opportunity Tree
2025
Provided Oral Health Screenings for individuals with IDD & Oral Health Literacy for Caregivers
PA Program Collaboration
2025
Co-presenter on Fluoride and Nutrition at Interprofessional Event between Dental and PA students. Co-led hands-on workshop on Fluoride Varnish Application
Diversity in Dentistry Day
2024-2025
Student Mentor to underrepresented youth and undergraduate students. Provided hands on demonstration and led restorative workshop
Rainbow Acres Living
2024-2025
OHI Presentation to caregivers and Hands-on Workshop with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Chris Nikic - Special Needs Awareness Event
2024
First Person with Down Syndrome to complete Iron Man
Arizona Mission of Mercy
2023-2024
Free dental care outreach
Special Olympics Arizona
2023-2024
OHI & oral cancer screenings
Raising Special Kids
2023-2025
Parent Leader role
CDMA Acceptance Day, Dental Day
2024-2025
Dental Student Ambassador: provided accepted Students and their Families with details regarding the University and guidance on next steps
St. Thomas More Church (AZ)
2023
Food Packaging and Distribution
Project Humanity - Homeless Outreach Arizona
2023-2024
Homeless Outreach