Natalie Sadek
Natalie Sadek is a student at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine pursuing her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. She graduated from Brandeis University in 2023 with a double major in Biology and Health: Science, Society, & Policy and a minor in English. Public health was the center of her undergraduate degree and because of her passion for the field, she decided to pursue dentistry to research and advocate for underserved communities.
During the LDI program, Sadek is working with Dr. Kari Hexem on a pilot feasibility study to examine the relationship between substance use disorders and oral health within the context of broader social determinants of health. Sadek is also collaborating with Dr. Alonso Carrasco-Labra on the Living Guidelines Project, which is aiming to create systematic reviews to create guidelines for the American Dental Association.
At Penn Dental Medicine, Sadek serves as the D1 representative for the Healing Hearts Knitting Club. She also shadows at Esperanza Health Center, a community health center in North Philadelphia and is a Graduate Residential Advisor at Rodin College House for the Penn undergraduate students. In her free time, she enjoys work out classes, baking, and crocheting.