Because of her love for dentistry, Dr. Lowe was determined to go to college. After graduation, she enrolled at
The College of the Bahamas and was on the dean’s list as she pursued a degree in BioChemistry. “C.O.B. was
tough”, she remembered, and it was great preparation for study abroad. After one year, Dr. Lowe transferred her
college credits to Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and
Economics. Mentorship was vital at each step of her career. The Director of Diversity, Siclinda-Canty Elliot,
made sure she had a part-time job and advised her during her application process to dental school. It was in
undergraduate school that having a focused plan of action paid off. Dr. Lowe completed research at the
University of Iowa College of Dentistry on the primary bacteria responsible of dental caries – Streptococcus
mutans. The research project, “The Effects of Experimental Dentrifice on Streptococcus mutans”, gave her
application a unique feature and exemplified her commitment to dentistry prior to starting graduate training She
was also mentored by The Biomedical Science Institute; Boston, MA where she met dentists, medical doctors,
and pharmacists all of whom had diverse backgrounds which gave her the support she needed to pursue her
dreams. While at Grinnell, she stayed at the home of a dentist alumni during spring break and visited her office
daily. At Tufts University College of Dentistry, Bahamian dentist Dr. Andre Rollins, personally tutored her in Gross
Anatomy and made sure that she had the books, academic, and social support she needed to successfully
graduate Tufts University with the distinction of Magna Cum Laude.
While at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, mentors Dr. Abi Adewumi, Dr. Roberta Pillegi, Dr. Uma
Nair, and Dr. Demetrick Lecorn were a constant pillar of strength when the pressures of residency seemed to get
too high. They met with her after hours, weekends, holidays and did whatever it took to make sure her
residency was a successful one. To date, Dr. Lowe is still blessed with the assistance of her many mentors.
It was with this experience as a mentee that Dr. Lowe developed a burning desire to give back to the
community, help other students, and show compassion for the less fortunate. The golden rule, “do unto others
as you would have them do unto you”, was instilled by her parents at a young age. While at the University of
Florida the opportunity came to provide free dental care to the less fortunate in the Dominican Republic. The
trip was a great success and life changing. It was after this trip that she contacted her mentor, other students,
and local government officials in the Bahamas to organize a local trip. She was quite familiar with family island
life and the issue of limited access to dental care. Dr. Mitchell Lockhart, Director of Oral Health, Ministry of
Health Bahamas identified Andros as the island with the greatest need. In 2014, the UFCD Mission Trip to
Andros was started with 10 students, and 5 dentist under the leadership of Dr. Abi Adewumi, Program Director
of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Florida. At the end of the first trip, Dr. Abi was committed to
returning. “We just loved the elementary and high school children in Andros. They were always courteous,
polite, and appreciative”. To date, three successful trips have been completed and we are all looking forward to
a fourth one. There are an average of 400 students treated with an emphasis on oral hygiene instruction,
cleanings, sealants, fillings, and extractions. When the team arrives in Andros “It feels like coming home”. At
the end of the day, Dr. Lowe has not forgotten her home and she believes that all things are possible with faith,
hardwork and determination. Forward, Upward, Onward, and Together!
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