Agee, who has spent his entire career serving in an IT role, cites a desire to serve others as his inspiration for applying to OUCOD. “A big part of my inspiration came from community outreach through DDOK and the DDOK Foundation,” said Agee. “I have felt for a long time that I want a career in which I would be able to serve others every day, and also see the impact of those efforts. Dentistry seems like a great way to make that goal a reality.”

Admission to OUCOD is a demanding process. To be eligible, Agee, who had already earned a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2011, was required to take approximately 50 additional hours of prerequisite classes, mostly in chemistry and biology. He was also required to shadow various dentists for at least 100 hours.

“I would use my vacation time to shadow dentists. I also volunteered at the dental clinic at Good Shepherd Ministries OKC on extraction nights assisting the dental students with extractions,” said Agee. “I was required to take the DAT as well, which is a standardized dental school entrance exam.”

“In the 10 years I have known and worked with Matt, he has demonstrated the fundamental qualities critical to create a dental professional focused on the needs of the people of Oklahoma,” said John Gladden, President and CEO of DDOK. “Matt’s volunteer work at the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy clinic and his time serving the dental clinic at Good Shepherd Ministries OKC has taught him the important role dental professionals play beyond the commercial business model. He demonstrates a genuine caring for people which is critical in the health care field in this time of great need.”

At this time, Agee is uncertain of whether he will specialize in a certain type of dentistry after he graduates, but says he will most definitely participate in at least one of Delta Dental’s networks when he becomes a dentist.

Congratulations, Matt!