“I always loved going to the dental office and trying to see what they were doing through the reflections from their googles,” said the Knoxville, Tenn., native. “My childhood dentist was the only healthcare provider I had who looked like me. As I grew up, I also wanted to be a source of inspiration for future generations of providers,” she said.

Rainey, a May 2026 graduate, took a moment to speak with UofL News about her journey to become a dentist.

UofL News: You worked as a dental hygienist in Tennessee from 2014 to 2020 before being accepted to the UofL School of Dentistry. What inspired you to go for dental school and why Louisville?

Rainey: Dental school was always the end goal. I learned about ULSD as a pre-dental student through Dr. Sherry Babbage-Melisizwe, who visited Tennessee State University to present about the dental school. Her tenacity and passion during that meeting ignited my desire to be taught by her and a curiosity about Louisville. The next summer, I attended Summer Medical and Dental ����ֱ�� Program (SMDEP) in Louisville, and I knew ULSD was my dream for dental school. When it came down to it, Louisville was the first dental school to offer me the chance to complete my number one childhood goal.

UofL News: What has been your favorite part of the dental school experience?

Rainey: All the meaningful connections and communities built along this journey. From classmates to staff and faculty, and even patients, I formed new life-long friendships that I can’t imagine living without. There are lots of individuals I am really going to miss seeing on a daily basis.

UofL News: You received numerous awards for the volunteer hours you have devoted to community dentistry such as UofL’s Goodwill Opportunity Clinic and Free Smiles Clinic. What is it about that work that is gratifying for you?

Rainey: I always had a heart for service. From middle school forward, I was always active in local and national community-based service organizations (such as Beta Club, USNDA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Remote Area Medical). Coupling that with my love of providing free dental services is my niche. I plan to continue volunteering with free dental clinics wherever I am living. Sometimes, help is simply needed without any strings attached.

UofL News: What are your post-graduation plans?

Rainey: I am a National Service Corps scholar, so the next four years I will be fulfilling my service requirements in underserved areas. I’ve signed on with a federally qualified health center in Northern Kentucky. While I wait on my license to process to begin work, I will definitely enjoy a bit of a break.

UofL News: Now that you are embarking in your career as a dentist, what is your patient care philosophy?

It is important to me that I understand my patient’s needs and wants so that I can provide them with the necessary information for them to make an informed decision about their health. I always want to create a safe, non-judgmental environment for my patients to build a bridge of trust. The majority of them notice and appreciate this.

UofL News: How do you envision your long-term goals and career path?

Rainey: As far as long-term goals, I see myself volunteering and providing mentorship to other young aspiring professionals. How and where I will be to do that is still up in the air, but I know everything will work out in the end. I hope my journey in becoming a dentist may inspire upcoming generations of oral health professionals.