In 2013, Dr. Rickert was interviewed by Juliet Farmer for the Sudent Doctor Network where she discussed her childhood education:
"I went to the University of Michigan as an undergraduate, because my high school counselors told me this was the best option to be accepted into a professional school. At the University, I informally visited the law school, the medical school, and the pharmacy school. Law was not a good fit for my personality and aptitude. My organic chemistry professor suggested I also visit the dental schools. I visited the University of Michigan Dental School when an open house was announced.
The moment I walked into the pre-clinical lab, I was fascinated by what was going on, the subject matter itself, the processes, and the intensity of the students. The students enthusiastically demonstrated what they were doing and chatted non-stop about the school. My final though as I left was, “I can do this! I would be really good at this, and I could help a lot of people!”
I began the more formal process of applying to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. My undergraduate counselor made an appointment with the admissions counselor at University of Michigan School of Dentistry. When he looked over my transcript, he was glad that I had been on the pre-medical track, because I had all the needed pre-requisites. He encouraged me to apply, and walked me through the process. I am grateful to the University, because I had no professionals in my immediate family to advise me. So, I chose University of Michigan School of Dentistry, because I was there, on campus, and the staff was helpful.
Although I expected the subject matter to be difficult, the amount was overwhelming, at first. All the pre-requisites are so necessary, but the School of Dentistry courses were more difficult than anything I had taken in my undergraduate studies. Also, the students were truly the top of the top. As we students talked, it became more and more obvious that we would hold the very health of our patients in our hands, a huge responsibility which was always in the back of my mind. I kept thinking, “I have to master this, to take the best care of my patients.”
There were extremely few women or minority professional students. I do not remember a single woman professor. Although a few professors, staff and fellow students were kind, most were not. We often encountered prejudice, bias and even cruelty. We few women did form a close group and encouraged each other. I will always be grateful to the women students, African-American students, Jewish students and some Caucasian men who were helpful."
The full interview can be found HERE.
