Three sisters share Penn Dental education

The trio of DMD students were raised in Lebanon and grew up in an environment where oral health care was inaccessible to the general population. At Penn Dental Medicine, they share a unique bond and a common vision for their future.

Joanna Haddad, Mira-Belle Haddad, and Anna-Maria Haddad have made history by being one of the very few groups of three or more siblings to be enrolled at Penn Dental Medicine in the DMD program at the same time. Born and raised in Liban-Nord, Lebanon, Joanna, Mira-Belle, and Anna-Maria are all in various stages of study and class years at Penn Dental Medicine.

“Going to dental school with my sisters has been an incredible experience. We share a unique bond and a common vision for our future in dentistry,” says Joanna Haddad, a fourth-year DMD student. “Having a support system during the challenging journey of dental school has been invaluable. Our shared upbringing and values have shaped our approach to patient care and our commitment to excellence. We are fortunate to have each other as not only family but also as colleagues in this exciting field.” Anna-Maria Haddad, a first-year student, says having her older sisters as both role models and a support system has made the journey as a dental student more exciting.

While being raised in Lebanon, the three grew up in an environment where oral health care was inaccessible to the general population. “We came to America when we were teenagers because of our living situation in Lebanon,” says Joanna Haddad. “As a child, I witnessed the detrimental effects of poor oral dental care and the way it spread far beyond teeth and into people’s lives, happiness, and even the ability to enjoy food,” says Anna-Maria Haddad. “Seeing firsthand the impact of poor oral health care and the toll it takes on people’s daily life and overall happiness, I felt compelled to be a part of improving the quality of people’s lives,” says Mira-Belle Haddad, a third year student.

Having been inspired by their own life experiences, the three hope to make a deep impact on underserved populations during and after their time at Penn Dental Medicine. Joanna, Mira-Belle, and Anna-Maria Haddad also credit their passion for dentistry to the sacrifices their parents, Bassam and Georgina, made in order to immigrate to the United States over 10 years ago. Because the family spoke French and Arabic as their first languages, they also had to learn English.