Bethany Kum, DDS, RDH
Doctor
Bethany Kum, DDS, RDH grew up
in local South Pasadena,
attending the local schools and graduated from So. Pasadena High School
in 2004. She attended U.C. Riverside and
U.C. Irvine, focusing on Biology. She
was accepted to the University
of Southern California Dental Hygiene
program, and received her B.S. / RDH degree in 2009. She worked for a year as a dental hygienist,
but also went back to school to take additional science courses, applied to
dental school and was accepted to the USC Dental School in 2010, and graduating in 2014.
Her desire to be a health
care professional was sparked during her high school years while she worked
part-time in her father’s dental office in Burbank, CA. She observed and
appreciated the close personal interaction with the patients.
She is uniquely qualified
with her background as a dental hygienist first, and then as a dentist. She continued to work Saturdays as a dental
hygienist during the four years of dental school. She ahs enjoyed her 6 years of schooling at
the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC in many ways, but has found the most
life-changing experiences through helping those who lack access to dental care.
During her program in dental hygiene, she has provided care at the USC Mobile
Dental Clinic, AYUDA Dental Clinic, Queenscare, Children’s Dental Center
in Inglewood,
Los Angeles Veteran Administration Dental Facility, Union Rescue Mission, and
at multiple health fairs. She has been providing dental care with the John
Wesley County Hospital (JWCH) in downtown L.A.
skid row area of town.
Bethany has been on several dental mission trips to Guatemala with
the Christian Medical Dental Association, providing care to the underserved.
However, it was her continuation of volunteering at the USC Mobile Dental
Clinic that showed she could have a bigger impact within her community. The USC Mobile Dental Clinic travels to 6
locations in Central and Southern California a
year, providing week long dental services to the underserved communities. Her
involvement through the years culminated in her being chosen to be a
Co-Director of the Mobile Dental Clinic program in her senior year of dental
school. She is looking forward to her
future career in dentistry and her unending commitment to the community.
2014 is THE year of celebrations
for her….graduation from the dental school, and getting married to her fiancé,
who is a Dentist as well! She is very
excited to start working by her Dad’s side and continuing the Kum Family dental
legacy.