Lenka Serdar had always believed disciplined effort led to perfect results. The professional hockey player’s determination and effort had led to a stellar academic career, success in sport, and a major scholarship from the Air Force. But her time treating patients in clinic at the School of Dental Medicine opened her eyes to the ways luck and circumstance can shape outcomes, and she’s keeping that in mind as she prepares to serve.
Why did you choose UConn?
I chose UConn because during my interview I saw an environment where I could thrive both personally and professionally. The rigorous didactic curriculum, taught in a flipped classroom model alongside the medical school, combined with a small class size and pass/fail grading, fosters collaborative learning in a way that resonated deeply with my background in competitive sports.
What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?
I study at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. As a former professional athlete, I have always been highly attuned to health, performance, and discipline, which sparked my interest in a career in health care. My initial draw to dentistry, however, came from a personal experience as a child: a traumatic accident to my lower face that required frequent visits to a family dental practice. I felt welcomed and cared for by that practice, and I realized the profound impact compassionate dental care can have on a patient’s confidence and overall well-being.
Did you have a favorite professor or class?
It is difficult to choose just one, because I have been fortunate to learn from so many exceptional faculty members at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. I particularly appreciated courses that integrated medicine and dentistry, reinforcing the importance of treating the whole patient rather than just a single tooth. The interdisciplinary foundation shared with the medical school strengthened my understanding of systemic health and its connection to oral health, which has been invaluable in the clinic. I have valued most the faculty who challenged me to think critically and defend my clinical reasoning. Those were the professors who consistently asked “why?” and pushed me beyond memorization and toward genuine understanding. Dr. Pooja Bysani, for example, challenged me to independently formulate comprehensive treatment plans for complex patients, refining both my diagnostic thinking and my sequencing of care. Dr. Martin Freilich taught me to critically interpret three-dimensional CBCT imaging and apply it strategically in spatial planning for implant surgery. Dr. Thomas Taylor guided me through nuanced fixed prosthodontic decisions, weighing material selection, biomechanics, and long-term prognosis rather than defaulting to routine choices. In each of these experiences, routine case reviews evolved into deeper discussions about ethics, risk assessment, and patient-centered decision-making. Those conversations did more than shape my technical skills – they shaped the way I think as a clinician.
What activities were you involved in as a student?
I was fortunate to participate in several dental service trips providing care to underserved populations in Pennsylvania, Maine, and Connecticut. I also served as the president of the UConn chapter of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), leading events for the dental student body as well as community outreach via our dental ambassador program at local high schools. In this role I also worked with dental students from other schools in our chapter for regional and national events. In addition, I really enjoyed the ADEA Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program, which strengthened my knowledge of dental academia and research. I also established UConn Health’s first Military Service Interest Group and helped coordinate dental outreach at multiple Veteran Community Events across the state. I served as co-president of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association, valuing not just skilled clinicians, but ethical, thoughtful, and professional practitioners committed to doing what’s right for their patients and the profession. Lastly, I served as co-president of the Athlete Rx student interest group, leading events for mentorship with current Division I undergraduate student-athletes at UConn Storrs interested in pursuing careers in health care. Outside of dental school, I was fortunate to continue pursuing my athletic passion – ice hockey. During my first year, I balanced my studies with playing professional ice hockey for the Connecticut Whale. Although it was challenging to be a student-athlete at the professional level, I significantly strengthened my time management skills. When the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) was bought by the now Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), there was no longer a team in Connecticut, and with this, I retired from playing hockey. Currently, I continue to share my passion for ice hockey by coaching for the CT Northern Lights youth girls hockey organization in nearby Simsbury. It has been really special giving back to the game that has given me so much and being a positive, motivational, and supportive coach to the girls.
What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?
One thing that surprised me about UConn was how collaborative the culture truly is. During the admissions process the value of a small class size and pass/fail curriculum are emphasized heavily, but experiencing it firsthand showed me how deeply teamwork is embedded in the program. My classmates genuinely want one another to succeed, and that environment fosters excellence and camaraderie. I was also surprised by how quickly responsibility is entrusted to us in the clinic. The transition from simulation to comprehensive patient care is both daunting and empowering. The balance of high expectations and strong support is something I will always value about my training here. I am truly astonished by what we have accomplished in such a short period of time.
What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?
After graduation, I will move to Colorado Springs for the AEGD-1 residency at the United States Air Force Academy. As a Health Professions Scholarship Program recipient and with strong family ties to the military, I am honored to continue my training in the Air Force. I chose this path because it represents something greater than a job – it is a commitment to character, discipline, and service before self. I am drawn to the challenge of caring for those who dedicate their lives to serving our country, and I view it as both a privilege and a responsibility to serve them in return. I also have a passion for immersing myself in new communities and cultures. The ability to practice dentistry in diverse environments across the country and around the world will broaden my perspective and strengthen my adaptability as a provider. Ultimately, my goal is to build a career defined by courageous leadership, global awareness, and steadfast integrity, using dentistry as a vehicle to make a meaningful impact wherever I am called to serve.
How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?
Throughout my life, I believed disciplined effort produced nearly perfect results. In hockey, academics, and physical training, practice and preparation reliably led to the desired outcome. My time at UConn School of Dental Medicine challenged that belief. Working with patients taught me that outcomes are shaped by biology, healing, compliance, finances, timing, and personal values. The ideal treatment on paper is not always feasible or what best serves the patient. What I carry forward from UConn is a shift from pursuing perfection to practicing pragmatic excellence rooted in service. I learned that success is not defined by achieving a textbook ideal, but by choosing what best supports the person in front of me.
Any advice for incoming students?
My biggest advice for incoming students is to embrace the process, as cliché as it sounds. Dental school is demanding, but it is thoughtfully designed to transform you into a doctor. There will be moments of doubt, fatigue, and frustration — but those are often the moments where the most growth occurs. Stay disciplined, stay humble, and remember why you started, and that you will get to where you are supposed to be. Embracing the process includes being intentional in building strong relationships with your classmates, faculty, and patients. Your classmates will become your lifelong colleagues, and the habits you develop now — integrity, accountability, and teamwork — will define your professional reputation. Seek constructive feedback from faculty, ask questions, and do not be afraid to make mistakes; growth in dentistry comes from reflection and refinement. Learn about each of your patients’ lives and listen to their concerns. Those interactions will teach you a great deal about being a clinician and a caretaker. Sometimes your greatest teachers are your patients. Most importantly, while embracing the challenging process that is dental school, protect your character. Clinical skills can always be improved upon, but your integrity is paramount. If you commit yourself to consistent effort, service to others, and a growth mindset perspective, you will leave not only as a competent clinician, but as a well-rounded professional prepared to lead and serve with confidence.
What is one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?
Besides attending a UConn basketball game, one thing every student should do during their time at UConn is intentionally getting to know at least one faculty member beyond the clinic and classroom. In such a small, close-knit community, our professors don’t just teach dentistry, they quietly invest in us as people. Taking the time to ask how they found their path in dentistry, what drew them to teaching, or what they are passionate about outside of school transforms the relationship. The clinician who critiques your tooth preparation is also someone with hobbies, stories, insecurities, and pride in their family — just like you. These interactions deepen your education in ways textbooks can’t. They remind you that dentistry is a long career built by real people with layered lives and one day, I hope to be a trusted leader who can provide positive, constructive, and enthusiastic mentorship to students too.
What will always make you think of UConn?
UConn will always represent a season marked by a grateful transition. It was the place where hockey shifted from being the center of my identity to becoming one part of a much larger picture. That transition was bittersweet. Stepping away from playing at the professional level after my first year of dental school wasn’t about walking away from a steadfast passion, but about recognizing that I had the privilege of building another. Dentistry gave me a lifelong pursuit, a way to channel the same discipline, focus, and competitiveness into something sustainable and service-oriented, a commitment that will continue as I join the United States Air Force. At UConn, I reframed my love of hockey. I still carry it forward through coaching and mentorship, but I also gained a profession that challenges me intellectually and allows me to impact people in a different, lasting way. When I think of UConn, I think of growth, perspective, and the confidence to evolve without losing who I am. UConn will always be the place where I learned to define myself by the responsibility and purpose I carry in a white coat and scrubs.
