Using Her Mind (and Hands) to Restore People’s Smiles: Meet Gina Cittadino ’25

Gina Cittadino ’25 traces her fascination with dentistry back to the first tooth she lost. Like many children, Cittadino asked lots of questions when she first discovered that wiggly incisor, and even more when she was eventually fitted for braces. By the time she was in high school, the New Hartford, New York, native knew that she wanted to become a dentist. Her years on the Heights, where she majored in biology and minored in chemistry and dance, prepared her for the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

Today when Cittadino is in the classroom she reflects on her undergraduate courses in microbiology, organic chemistry, and anatomy and physiology. Not only did they ready her for the dental school entrance exam, but they also left her well-prepared for graduate school itself. It is enormously helpful to hear one of her professors reference a particular muscle in the mouth and already understand how it helps control chewing, for example. Cittadino also draws on skills she cultivated at Le Moyne as a member of the swimming and diving team, student government representative, and resident adviser – namely the capacity to lead, to problem solve and to communicate effectively. Additionally, she found that the College’s Health Professions Advisory Committee was a wonderful resource for her when it came time to select the graduate schools to which she applied, gather references and prepare for her interviews. 

When Cittadino saw her first patient for a cleaning, it reaffirmed  that dentistry is a perfect use for her passion for science, working with her hands and interacting with others. What’s more, dentistry aligns with the Jesuit principle of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, that undergirded her College experience. Today whether she is learning about the structure of the mouth in a lecture or practicing injecting anesthesia in the lab, Cittadino finds herself reflecting on what draws her to this work. Caring for people’s smiles has ripple effects, from improving their overall health, to boosting their self confidence. As Cittadino puts it, “Your mouth reflects how the rest of your body is doing.”