30 Years and Two Degrees Later, Alum Crafts His Dream Career

Life circumstances forced Sergio Vargas to put his dream of becoming a dentist on hold. Now, he’s combining dentistry and public health to make a difference in his community.

As a kid, Sergio Vargas’ favorite game was playing dentist. He’d go around his house in Miami Beach, checking his brothers’ teeth. He always wanted to be a dentist.

For many years, life got in the way of that dream becoming a reality.

“I lost my parents at a young age, and I couldn’t go to school,” he shared. “I had to give priority to my home and my family. We took care of each other.”

Vargas graduated high school and then spent the next two decades doing just that. He moved to Boston in 2015 to start a new life. Shortly after, he discovered Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) and revisited his childhood dream.

Just over 30 years after graduating high school, Vargas has his bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and a Master of Public Health from MCPHS. He is a pediatric dental hygienist and has recently accepted a new position as an Environmental Health Agent with the Belmont Department of Health.

“There was a time when people thought I should just quit, but I ignored them,” he said. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”

‘Why Not?’

Vargas found MCPHS by accident. A few years after moving to Boston, he was out for a walk along Longwood Avenue and saw the chemistry labs through the windows. He had to know more.

“I stopped a girl who was going into the building and asked her what this place was,” he recalled. “She was excited to tell me all about the University and its programs. I thought, why not? If I don’t try, then I’ll never make my dreams come true.”

In 2017, he enrolled in the dental hygiene program to earn his bachelor’s degree. It had been many years since he was a student, and the first semester was a struggle.

“When I was in school, we didn’t use computers; everything was on paper, and studying was completely different.”

After that first semester, Vargas landed on academic probation but did not let it deter him.

“The Dean at the time told me she believed in me and that she knew I would graduate one day,” he said. “She gave me the motivation to keep going.”

After taking a little extra time to earn his degree, Vargas did, indeed, graduate and finally started his career as a dental hygienist. Vargas was living his dream but said he didn’t want to lose momentum.

“I questioned if I wanted to continue school, but I proved to myself that I could do it, so I thought, why not keep going?” he said about his decision to enroll in the Master of Public Health program. “I’m glad I did because I have met so many amazing professionals who want the best for me.”

A Growing Dream

This summer, Vargas completed the Local Health Internship Program with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. He was placed with the Belmont Department of Health, where he spearheaded a decluttering program at the senior center. He meets with a group of residents once a week to help them clear unused items to make their homes safer places to live.

“I’ve noticed what’s really bothering them is being alone,” Vargas explained. “They miss their loved ones, and it feels like if they get rid of things, they’re losing pieces of those loved ones.”

The program’s mission isn’t to make sure the participants clean out their homes; it’s to make progress every week, no matter what that looks like. For Vargas, showing up counts.

“Some days, we spend most of the meeting talking about other things, not decluttering,” he said. “They open up and seem happy to just talk to me. Sometimes, I think, that helps them more.”

The Best of Both

Vargas went from failing his first semester to earning his master’s degree with a perfect grade point average. At the end of his internship, Vargas was asked to stay. He now works part-time in Belmont while continuing to work as a dental hygienist.

He’s interested in many public health issues, from hoarding to food insecurity. Most of all, he hopes to incorporate his dental experience into his new venture.

“I’d like to move onto fluoridated water and how it improves oral health,” Vargas said. “When we add fluoride into our dental hygiene, it helps mineralize the enamel and prevents cavities.”

This opportunity is more than 30 years in the making, and Vargas said he hopes to be an example for everyone with a goal like his.

“No matter how old you are, don’t give up your dreams easily. Even if you fail, don’t give up. If you really want to do something, you can do it.”