Student finds ‘unmatched curriculum’ and opportunities to develop skills at ATSU-ASDOH
Posted: October 29, 2025
A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) student Sonia Mathur, D2, made her decision on where to attend dental school pretty quickly.
“From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew this was the place I wanted to spend the next four years,” Mathur said. “The welcoming environment and supportive teachers make ATSU-ASDOH the excellent program that it is. I knew that if I attended this school, I would be exposed to an unmatched curriculum and develop clinical skills that could make me the dental provider I dream of being.”
Mathur is from Tucson, Arizona, and has a degree in biological sciences with a minor in psychology from University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.
Now in her second year on ATSU’s Mesa, Arizona, campus, those initial feelings have proven to be spot on.
“I love every aspect of being an ATSU student. I love being a part of a diverse student body, and I love being a part of such a welcoming and supportive healthcare family who truly care about our education and our clinical competency,” she said. “One aspect of student life I like are all of the clubs that we have on campus, which give students the opportunity to meet new people, be a part of amazing initiatives, and learn how to be better practitioners.”
Mathur is involved in many of those clubs, serving as vice president of the Local Student Research Group, whose goal is to provide research opportunities to dental students to enrich their curriculum and allow students to provide meaningful work to the dental industry. She is also a member of the American Student Dental Association’s (ASDA) Advocacy Committee, where she has an opportunity to address policies and legislation within the dental industry that affects dental students’ day-to-day lives, as well as their futures. Through ASDA, Mathur has had the opportunity to visit the Arizona Senate and House to speak with lawmakers about topics like water fluoridation and student loans.
Mathur also serves as a student ambassador.
“Visiting dental schools and making the big decision to commit to a program for the next four years is an incredibly daunting and stressful task,” she said. “Being the first in my family to pursue a healthcare career, I did not know what to look for in a dental school and how to pick the program that was truly right for me. I know this sentiment is shared by so many prospective dental students. I became an ambassador to help provide transparency and mentorship to students when it came to answering all the questions they had, so that they could make the best decision for their future. I love having the opportunity to mentor prospective students with limited healthcare backgrounds like me, and provide them with clarity to make a stressful process a little easier.”
In her free time, Mathur enjoys painting, cooking, and trying out new restaurants and coffee shops.
On campus, she’s preparing to become a dental professional who will make a difference in her community.
“I hope to graduate as a dental professional who is confident in my clinical skills and who is culturally competent so that I am able to provide dental care to everyone who needs it, and break down barriers to dental accessibility through dental services and education,” she said. “ATSU makes this their top priority by getting its students in the clinic early on, so that we can become comfortable and confident treating all kinds of patients with all kinds of dental needs. Additionally, our fourth-year external rotations allow us to get exposed to many diverse communities and begin to work towards providing greater dental access and education to our patients.”