Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Melanie Silvestrini.
Hi Dr. Silvestrini, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a curious child, I found myself frequently encountering puzzles, chess boards and art brushes. I held a strong interest in the arts as a hobby at home and in school while also appreciating science and the human body as I grew up shadowing my father, a VA hospital podiatric surgeon. Similarly, at the age of seven, I shadowed my mother receiving dental veneers in our dentist’s office – an intriguing experience that I held close to me. I knew I held a strong passion for anatomy, physiology and chemistry in high school and later chose a dual major in Biochemistry and Chemical Biotechnology.
While my studies did consume a majority of my time as a university student, I still maintained a strong interest in my childhood passion for art. A work opportunity was presented to me at the early age of 17 by a professional makeup artist who trained me to assist her with bridal makeup for events. As I began college, I maintained this makeup artistry job in addition to two others, a server and a chemistry tutor. After the age of 18, I developed my own freelance makeup artistry business and did makeup for countless bridal parties. I greatly enjoyed improving my brides’ self-confidence for their special day. I also enjoyed the individuality and intricacies involved in personalizing a makeup look for each client. This interest has paralleled in my early interest in dentistry after witnessing veneer fabrication. It was at this time in my life where I felt certain that a career in dentistry would be a perfect synergy for my interests in art and science. I earned my DMD from Tufts University in Boston, MA and became the first dentist in my family. During the beginning of my dental student journey, I created a personal blog where I wrote evidence-based articles on topics ranging from medicine, whole body wellness and how to live an optimal life.
Shortly after earning my DMD, I enrolled in advanced hospital training in my home state of NYC with a focus on general dentistry and oral surgery. During my challenging year in advanced training, I competed in Miss NY USA and earned a position in the Top 20 as a state finalist. My professional and personal network continued to grow in both the beauty, medical and fitness industries. My focus still remained in dentistry, but with a unique twist — one that allowed me to continue to grow as a professional in dentistry but also advance in passions that had to remain dormant during my years of professional studies. I have expanded from commercial and beauty modeling to pageantry, website blogging, social media content creation, podcasts and speaking about how to maintain a balanced life as now a female doctor and entrepreneur. What I did not realize is that my perseverance and willpower to work past the difficulties I’ve encountered during my journey has helped me remain on a path to success in building my personal brand and continuing with entrepreneurial pursuits.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My path has definitely been a rocky one, and it still is. While I was sure I wanted to be a dentist at a young age, the journey was very difficult for me because I was not fortunate to have had mentorship nor financial support. Maintaining my resilience and utilizing any available academic and professional resources became very imperative for me… From working three jobs while earning my dual bachelor’s degree in college, to managing my own makeup artistry business, to funding my travels and life in dental school, to building my personal brand and career in one of the most competitive areas: New York City. I now work in a very competitive city as a 27-year-old female dentist and entrepreneur — my personal and professional journey continue to unfold.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a dentist specializing in cosmetics and medical aesthetics. I currently practice procedures ranging from esthetic composite bonding, veneers, crowns, root canals, clear aligner therapy, neurotoxin and facial dermal filler. My passion for medical aesthetics has been heightened during my time in NYC, where I have noticed several intriguing business models in this industry. I am very proud of my achievements thus far and now want to shift from the professional aspect of work to a more creative side — one that enables me to innovate in the dental and beauty industries and be an entrepreneur as well. Amongst my busy work and personal schedule, I also make it a priority to promote my social media and create as much content as possible while being authentic to my followers. I continue to utilize my website now as an educational blog but also as a means for clients to contact me for virtual consultations to schedule for in-office visits. I am always up for a challenge! A personal challenge for myself in this upcoming year and one that would help positively influence other aspiring women and allow for a larger circle of influence is competing again for Miss NY USA 2023. This would be my last chance to compete as the age limit is 28. I am confident that my journey thus far and vision for the future will lead me on the best path to this title with a chance to make a positive impact on the Miss USA venture as the first female doctor titleholder. I believe that what sets me apart from others is not only my variety of interests but also my willingness to pursue other passions outside of my profession.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is essential for personal growth and enables and encourages innovation. It is only with failure that improvements can be made and more opportunities continue to present themselves. I have experienced failure several times in my life and have always followed the path of least resistance – the path that I knew would bring me out of my comfort zone. I still continue to practice this philosophy in both my personal life and professional life. Especially as an entrepreneur now, it is imperative to take risks. If we avoid taking risks, we may become very passive and let life happen to us rather than being proactive and going after our dreams and goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: Drmelanierosalia.com
- Instagram: @dr.melanierosalia
- Youtube: Dr. Melanie Rosalia
- Other: https://bio.site/drmelanierosalia
