Students support each other, help fellow classmates succeed at ATSU-ASDOH
Posted: April 4, 2025
A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) student Derek Shreeve, D1, has an established set of professional goals, and every day is working toward pursuing them.
“I hope to become a competent and proficient dentist. Eventually, I would like to own my own practice and ATSU has helped me prepare for that because of the faculty here,” Shreeve said. “A lot of doctors here have owned their own practice and are great mentors in accomplishing this goal.”
Shreeve is from Auburn, California, and has his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in microbiology. At ATSU-ASDOH, he is a member of the Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) and American Student Dental Association (ASDA), as well as serving as a student ambassador.
“I became a student ambassador because of my experience of touring ATSU when I was applying. I really liked the people that I met on that tour and the way this school was organized. I enjoy this role because of the opportunity I have to help future applicants by answering their questions about ATSU,” he said.
Shreeve enjoys playing tennis and basketball, going on hikes with his wife, and watching football in his free time.
He said he enjoys the camaraderie and interactions with his cohort, which helps the students bond and provide each other support.
“We all take the same classes together, which has allowed me to get to know my whole class individually,” Shreeve said. “My cohort has also found ways to do things together outside of the classroom, such as playing volleyball, pickleball, and having class parties. I also enjoy the pass/fail curriculum. This makes classes manageable and less stressful, especially, because there is less of a competitive feeling. We all want each other to succeed and become great dentists.”