Class Year: 2028
Program: Doctor of Dental Medicine
For Joseph DeCarlo, dentistry is more than just a career—it’s a calling. With a family legacy rooted in healthcare and a personal drive to provide compassionate care, the first-year dental student is poised to carry the torch forward as he begins his journey at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.
DeCarlo sees the dental field as the place where his skills and passions meet the needs of others. His perspective on the profession goes beyond the technical aspects; for him, it's about overcoming challenges and making a real difference in people’s lives.
"One of my goals in dentistry is to make people more comfortable with going to the dentist," DeCarlo explains. "There are people who have access to care but choose not to utilize it out of fear. The idea that I can combine aesthetic elements through science is truly special, and I hope to relieve stress for my patients while improving their self-esteem and quality of life."
DeCarlo has been immersed in the field from a young age. He watched the relationships his father—Francesco DeCarlo, DDS (WRC ‘84, DEN ‘88)—built with patients and staff, his precision and the satisfaction he gained from providing proper treatment.
"My father never had to tell me how great dentistry was," DeCarlo reflected. "It was shown indirectly through the work he did and the bonds he formed over the years."
The importance of family and legacy is woven throughout DeCarlo’s story, inspired by his grandfather—a physician and Air Force Reserve colonel from a small town in Calabria, Italy—whose perseverance instilled in him the value of hard work and dedication to others. By shadowing several dental school alumni, DeCarlo has found role models who embody the passion and professionalism he hopes to bring into his own practice one day, further fueling his excitement about the patient-dentist relationship and the lasting connections built over time.
"One of my favorite quotes is: 'Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best,’" said DeCarlo. “It’s a reminder to always keep improving and never waste potential. We have limited time here, so we need to make the most of it."