UW School of Dentistry students Mhary De Francia (‘25) and Nathan Dahm (‘26) have each been named to the 2025 cohort of the UW’s Husky 100, the university announced.
The Husky 100 annually recognizes 100 undergraduate and graduate students from the UW Bothell, Seattle and Tacoma campuses who are making the most of their time at UW. Students are evaluated on the basis of applying what they learn to make a difference on campus and in their communities, as well as their capacity for leadership and commitment to an inclusive community.
De Francia grew up in Alaminos City, Philippines, until she was 14, before moving to Pearl City, HI. She came to Seattle for dental school after receiving her BS in Biology from Hawaii Pacific University with a concentration in Human Health.
“Growing up in a rural province in the Philippines, I observed the disparity of dental care first hand,” said De Francia. “We had one dental clinic in our subdivision, and despite the already busy schedule of the clinic, most people only went to the clinic for emergency purposes. This made me realize the immense need for dentists in our country.”
After moving to Pearl City, De Francia noted that there was still inequity in access to care, particularly for the marginalized populations on the island. She also watched her father navigate oral health issues, having to get dentures at a young age. All these factors pushed De Francia to apply to dental school and brought her to Seattle.
Dahm is a Washington native. He lived in Seattle when he was younger, while his father was in dental school. His family moved out to Issaquah when he was older, but Dahm returned to Seattle to receive his BS in Biology-Physiology from the UW, with a minor in Microbiology.
“I chose to pursue dentistry because not only can I engage in direct patient care, including surgery, but can put effort into improving and advancing our specialty within healthcare and the community at large,” said Dahm. Dahm recognizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the oral health field, believing strongly that education across specialties is key to improving healthcare as a whole and strengthening the benefits to patients.
“It’s through this collaborative attitude that I strive to affect positive change within the field of healthcare—beyond just being an excellent clinician,” said Dahm. “Being selected as a member of the Husky 100 is a culmination of my accomplishments and represents what I stand for as a Husky, provider and member of the Seattle community.”
De Francia sees the Husky 100 selection as a motivating factor to continue working toward her short- and long-term goals and aspirations, which include her upcoming Oral Medicine residency at Harvard University and potential mission trips in the Philippines and remote islands of Hawaii.
“To be selected as a member of the Husky 100 is a great honor and privilege,” said De Francia. “Moving to another state by myself and being able to thrive while doing something I am passionate about, and now being recognized for it, is the cherry on top. It feels like a validation of my resiliency, hard work and tremendous growth over the last four years here at UW.”
De Francia is also motivated by her personal experiences taking care of her mother, who suffered an arduous journey dealing with endometrial cancer. She plans to be a pillar of support for future patients who are going through similar experiences, just like the healthcare professionals who were there for her and her mother.
As a third-year student, Dahm is narrowing in on what he wants to do after dental school. “Ideally, I’d love to pursue an advanced education in dentistry to learn more about how to manage complex cases and their restoration of function,” said Dahm. He’s also interested in eventually returning to the UWSOD as a faculty member to build upon the system the Schools of Dentistry and Medicine share that teach collaborative initiatives.
“When I end my career, I hope to look back without regret that I had a positive impact on the healthcare system as a whole. Through improved access, efficiency and quality of precision-oriented healthcare, while also focusing on reducing the costs of healthcare, I hope to help have a positive impact on each patient’s life to facilitate their best possible wellness and perpetuate that for generations forward,” said Dahm.
In his free time, Dahm enjoys getting outside and interacting with the environment through walks, hikes and camping. He also cherishes meaningful connections with others and spending time with loved ones and friends when he can.
When De Francia is back in Oahu, she enjoys reading books under the palm trees and listening to the sound of the waves on the beach. While in Seattle, she’s enjoyed playing badminton or tennis with friends, gardening and watching Korean dramas or rewatching Harry Potter to unwind from dental school.