A fourth year dental student at New York University College of Dentistry, Vanessa Mancuso Cortinas has been involved in serving and providing dental care for underserved and underrepresented minorities. As the President of Hispanic Student Dental Society, Vanessa advocates for her patients she treats at the University. In addition, she organizes outreaches for members to attend and provide free oral health screenings, she also organizes fundraisers to provide food and clothing for children in third world countries one including the Dominican Republic. As a leader for Saturday Academy a program built to help High School Students with the college application process while introducing them to a career in dentistry; Mrs. Cortinas is able to connect with minority students, help them apply to college, prepare personal statements, prepare for interviews, understand the financials of undergraduate loans. As a dental student she serves as a peer mentor for new incoming students living far away from home, helping them get situated into the program and serve as a mentor for their four years at the College of Dentistry. Mrs. Cortinas also serves as a mentor for the interns of The Bringing Smiles Dental Enrichment Program at the College of Dentistry. A program for pre dental students pursuing a career in dentistry. She educates the interns as they shadow her through clinic and observe her working with her patients. She is a leader at the University and a role model to many. She was one of only two recipients of the 2019 Colgate-Palmolive/NMF Dental Leadership Program Scholarship, which recognizes underrepresented minority dental students who have demonstrated commitment to leadership and serving medically underserved communities. This coming July 20? she will be beginning her Periodontology residency at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine.