Associate Doctor
At the young age of 11, Sha-Vashtiy Young-Ufeli, DMD, aspired to become an exceptional dentist. Dr. Young-Ufeli has a rich family legacy of health care professionals, which has inspired her to become a change agent in the field of dentistry as a public health advocate for the underserved.
Dr. Young-Ufeli graduated cum laude from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. Dr. Young-Ufeli has always had a strong passion for dental health promotion and has held many leadership roles, such as president of Spelman’s chapter of Operation SMILE, a medical-mission based organization empowering health care professionals to aid in the relief of disadvantaged populations in desperate need of cleft lip and palate surgery. She received a scholarship to attend Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Young-Ufeli’s passion for dentistry did not miss a beat during her academic career while attending Tufts Dental School. Her drive led her to frequently attend annual medical and dental conferences, such as those by the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), and she was elected to a two-year position as the diversity chairman for the Tufts’ SNDA chapter. She hopes to one day start a nonprofit for mentoring predental students interested in the field.
Education & Continuing Education
- Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology with a predental concentration — Spelman College, Atlanta, GA
- Doctor of Dental Medicine — Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
Commitment to Community
Dr. Young-Ufeli became well versed in the field of dentistry by attending several dental summer pipeline programs throughout high school and college, such as the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio; the Dental Career Exploration program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia; and the Increasing Diversity in Dentistry Pipeline Program in Atlanta, Georgia, to name a few.
Dr. Young-Ufeli enjoys community outreach programs. Her favorite form of volunteering involves educating communities on preventive dental medicine as well as giving oral presentations to minorities interested in the dental field.
Professional Memberships
- American Dental Association®
- National Dental Association
- North Georgia Dental Society
- American Dental Education Association
- Increasing Diversity in Dentistry Pipeline Program
Personal Life
Dr. Young-Ufeli is a native of Richmond, Virginia. She is a proud member of the Eta Kappa chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Young-Ufeli enjoys reading dental articles in her spare time and staying current on the newest dental trends in the field. Her hobbies include hiking, camping and nature. She loves the great outdoors, especially with friends and family.
