From Montclair's Health Careers Program to Hometown Pediatric Dentist

Meet the alum

Name: Suffiyah Webb ’04 
Majored in / Degree in: Biology 
Current role: Pediatric Dentist

Career highlights

When Suffiyah Webb ’04 arrived at Montclair State University, she already knew she wanted a career that would allow her to help others. Through Montclair’s Health Careers Program (HCP), she found a community that helped her turn that goal into an attainable career path. Now a pediatric dentist in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, Webb spends her days caring for children and helping young patients build healthy habits they can carry with them into adulthood.  

Finding a community through the Health Careers Program 

Growing up in Newark, Webb knew she wanted a career that would allow her to help others, and health care felt like a natural path. When it came time to choose a university, a visit to Montclair left her with a strong sense that it was a place where she could see herself.

That feeling continued through the Health Careers Program, where Webb found a support system that became an important part of her Montclair experience. The HCP supports students pursuing health professions through tutoring, mentoring, specialized workshops and other resources designed to prepare them for graduate and professional programs. 

“The entire Health Careers Program staff felt like extended family,” Webb says. “My family and I knew I’d be well taken care of.” 

Webb especially remembers her first summer with HCP. Visiting professional schools, connecting with upperclassmen and hearing the success stories of graduates gave her a clearer picture of what pursuing a career in health care could look like.

“It helped me to understand what it was going to take to make my dreams attainable,” Webb says

Just as important were the relationships she formed with other HCP students. Those connections continued long after graduation, with Webb turning to fellow alumni while navigating dental school, opening her practice, taking on new professional responsibilities and experiencing milestones in her personal life. 

From Biology major to pediatric dentist 

Along with the support she received through HCP, Webb credits her Biology coursework at Montclair with preparing her for the academic demands of dental school.

“The work at [Montclair] was rigorous,” she says. “It gave me a great science foundation which led to my success in the sciences in dental school.”

After graduating from Montclair in 2004, Webb earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, completed a general practice residency and earned a Master of Public Health in Dental Public Health while completing her pediatric dental residency.

As Webb continued her education and training, she was drawn to dentistry because of the opportunity to make an immediate difference in her patients’ lives. Working with children became an especially meaningful part of that path.

“Children are sponges,” Webb says. “I can exhibit my fun and quirky personality every single day while teaching young people great health habits that they can carry into adulthood.”

Making an impact in her hometown

For Webb, practicing pediatric dentistry in the community where she grew up makes her work especially meaningful. Beyond caring for children and families in Newark, she hopes her own path can show young people in the city what is possible.

“The ultimate reward as a pediatric dentist in my hometown is being able to serve as an example that someone from Newark can make a choice about their life, be disciplined and accomplish a goal that took years to earn,” Webb says. “I hope to be thought of as a community member who poured into others.”

It’s a role that allows Webb to make an impact in Newark not only as a pediatric dentist, but as a member of the community she has always called home. 

Advice for students in the Health Careers Program 

For current HCP students preparing for careers in health care, Webb encourages them to stay focused on their goals and take advantage of the support around them.

“Stay the course,” Webb says. “Remain disciplined and stop at nothing to get the help you need along your journey.”

From her time in the Health Careers Program to her career as a pediatric dentist, Webb’s journey demonstrates how a strong foundation and supportive community can continue to make an impact long after graduation. 

From classroom to career. Our “Alumni Voices” series spotlights Montclair alumni making their mark across industries, sharing how their time at the University helped build the skills, confidence and connections that shaped their professional journeys.