Brandon LabeSub-Title

Brandon Labe ’18

Name: Brandon Labe 

Graduating Class: 2018

Major: Biology

My Story:

Hey everyone, my name is Brandon Labe! I grew up in Los Gatos, California and I am a recent Gustavus graduate. When I’m not in the classroom, I enjoy playing hockey and lacrosse, hiking, traveling abroad, and hanging out at the beach.

After spending a few gap years post high school playing junior hockey in Michigan and Boston, I chose to attend Gustavus for the great opportunities to become involved in the community, the small class sizes, research opportunities, and the science department’s strong reputation. The professors were always willing to help outside of class and truly care about the individual students, so make sure to take advantage of it!

My interest in dentistry began when I first shadowed my own dentist the summer before I started college. I really enjoyed the patient relationships, working in a team atmosphere, and the diverse range of procedures the dentist performed on a daily basis. This shadowing experience turned into my first job as a dental assistant, which further confirmed that this was the profession I wanted to go into.

The most influential experience I had during my time at Gustavus was the opportunity to work for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Mankato. As a lab/anesthesia assistant, I was exposed to many different procedures including wisdom teeth/general extractions, implants, gum biopsies, and orthognathic surgeries. The hands on work and learning opportunities were invaluable, as this experience sparked my interest in becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon!

Top Five Activities/Experiences (in no particular order):

  1. Dental Assistant and Lab/Anesthesia Assistant
  2. Research and Development Engineering Internship- RODO Medical Dental Implant Abutment Systems
  3. Pre-Health Club Leadership Member
  4. Gustie Buddies Mentoring Program
  5. Bartender/Waiter- Ummie’s Bar and Grill

Advice:

  1. Try to get as much working/shadowing experience in dental offices as you can! The time I spent working as a dental assistant and shadowing was what created my interest in and passion for dentistry, along with helping me develop my chair side manner and patient interaction skills. Most dentists love to share their knowledge and passion for dentistry with others; so don’t be shy about reaching out to dentists about shadowing and work opportunities!
  2. Reach out to upperclassmen and alumni that are also pre-dental/dental students for advice and help. Having an upperclassman to lean on for advice that had already gone through the application process really helped me with preparing for the DAT, writing my personal statement, and preparing for dental school interviews! If any pre-dental Gusties have questions or want help preparing for the dental school process, feel free to contact me at bjlabe@gmail.com!
  3. Make time for the things you enjoy! With papers to write, exams to study for, and daunting tasks at every turn, you’ll have to learn how to manage your time. Taking time each day to do something fun will help to keep you healthy and happy during those long nights of studying.

Future Plans:

I will be attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine beginning in the fall of 2018.

 Updated HB 7/19/2018