Dr. Daniel Hupp is set to embark on a new chapter as a Navy dentist after dedicating a decade to serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Graduating from Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas on May 25, he is preparing to report to Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he will serve as a Navy officer.
During his time in the Marines, Hupp gained significant experience, including serving as a Naval Flight Officer on combat missions in Syria and Iraq.
In 2021, he made the decision to resign from the Marines but promptly reenlisted in the Navy the next day to participate in its Health Services Collegiate Program, which assists Navy personnel in becoming dentists and other healthcare professionals.
Reflecting on his military career, Hupp expressed gratitude but also acknowledged the challenges of military life.
“The deployment cycle and lifestyle when I was flying with my squadron were tough,” he said.
He desired a career that involved hands-on work and offered skills that could easily translate to civilian life.
Encouraged by discussions with his squadron’s flight surgeon, Hupp decided to pursue dentistry, hoping it would provide him with a better work-life balance.
He and his wife, Sidney, who is a personal trainer and homemaker, have three elementary-age children.
Hupp shared the challenges of balancing family time while serving.
“When I wasn’t deployed, I was with them, but being in aviation makes you acutely aware of the distances that can separate a family,” he explained.
Hupp’s academic path to dentistry was not straightforward.
While he initially studied international business and finance at the University of South Carolina, he took science classes during his military service to prepare for dental school.
Texas A&M was his first choice, as he grew up in North Richland Hills, Texas, and has family in the area.
Making the transition to full-time dental school was a daunting challenge for Hupp, now 39 years old.
“There were moments in the first six months where I thought I had made a mistake,” he recalled.
The onslaught of information and the pace of academia felt overwhelming initially.
However, Hupp eventually found his footing and a mentor in Dr. George Cramer, a fellow aviator and Marine Corps veteran who was a long-time clinical associate professor at the dental school.
Their coincidental connection deepened their mentor-mentee bond.
From the outset, Hupp impressed the faculty with his strong work ethic and eagerness to learn.
Dr. Vonica Chau, a clinical group leader and professor of comprehensive dentistry, highlighted Hupp’s dedication.
“During a particularly hectic week in the group practice rotation, when several students struggled to keep up, Daniel sacrificed his personal time to help his classmates, assisting with patient care and reviewing lab work,” Chau stated.
Through the Health Services Collegiate Program, while Hupp’s salary enabled him to support his family, he acknowledged that it does not cover educational costs.
His prior service in the Marines contributes to his Navy retirement benefits.
In return for his education and training, Hupp will complete a one-year residency rotation followed by a four-year term in the Navy, with the potential for postings worldwide.
Hupp is particularly looking forward to rotations in oral surgery and endodontics but remains undecided about his long-term career path after completing his military commitment.
While the thought of private practice is appealing, Hupp cherishes his military experiences thus far.
“I want to do what’s best for our family, especially as the kids grow older,” he asserted.
Although participating in a residency would be an honor, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that his family is fully supportive of additional training and schooling as he plans for the future.
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