ATSU-MOSDOH’s mission of service to underserved aligned with student’s personal goal
Posted: May 14, 2025
Growing up in a rural community, A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) student Kara Harker, D2, learned the importance of accessible healthcare, igniting her passion for contributing to underserved communities.
That’s one thing that helped make ATSU-MOSDOH a perfect fit for her dental education.
“I chose ATSU-MOSDOH because of its strong mission to serve underserved populations, which aligns with my personal values,” she said. “Additionally, I was drawn to ATSU-MOSDOH’s smaller class size, creating a close-knit, family-like environment. The sense of community here fosters collaboration and support, which I believe is essential for both personal and professional growth.
“The strong sense of camaraderie makes it easy to collaborate and support one another throughout our education.”
Harker is from Vienna, Missouri, and has a bachelor of science in biology with minors in chemistry and business administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Delta honors society, Dental Business Club, American Student Dental Association, and serves as a student ambassador.
“I joined the student ambassador program because I wanted to play a role in helping prospective students navigate their journey to dental school,” she said. “I believe in creating a welcoming environment for future students and showing them all that ATSU-MOSDOH has to offer. By sharing my experiences and insights, I hope to make their transition into dental school smoother and help them feel more connected to the community here.”
Outside of class, Harker enjoys spending time with family and friends, and is passionate about the outdoors and spending time on her family farm with her dogs, Skeeter and Si. She also enjoys running, lifting, cooking, and plants, and has earned her American FFA Degree, the highest attainable degree in the National FFA Organization.
Ultimately, Harker hopes to provide dental care to underserved populations in a rural setting.
“ATSU-MOSDOH is helping me achieve this by providing rigorous training and education that ensures I’m well prepared for the challenges of the profession. Additionally, ATSU-MOSDOH’s strong focus on public health is a key component of my preparation, as it aligns with my passion for serving communities in need and addressing healthcare disparities,” she said.
