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AVON PARK, Fla. – June 10, 2026 – South Florida State College (SFSC) alumna, Jenale Alfonso Cruz, is passionate about becoming a dentist and a dental researcher. When she was 12 years old, her father had a cardiac event that sent him to the hospital, where nurses and doctors saved his life. Witnessing their dedication to patient care, Cruz decided that she wanted a career saving lives, too.
A first-generation college student, Cruz graduated from SFSC in December 2023 with an Associate in Arts and was the keynote student speaker during her Commencement ceremony. Currently, she’s working toward a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Pathogenesis at the University of Florida (UF). Her goal is to become a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) and earn a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences.
Last spring, Cruz was awarded a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. In 2026, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation drew from an applicant pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors to award 1,485 students the Goldwater Scholarship. Scholars receive an annual amount of support equal to the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year.
The Goldwater Foundation is an independent agency that identifies, encourages, and financially supports outstanding graduates who wish to pursue research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Cruz’s submission to the Goldwater Scholarship cited her three undergraduate research studies in which she participated at SFSC, a community college.
But Cruz’s academic journey hasn’t been an easy one. Because of her tenacity and desire to make significant contributions to patient care, she’s maintained her focus and developed supportive relationships that continue to point her in the right direction.
Seven years ago, Cruz met Dr. Albert Ruiz, a Sebring dentist, when she visited his office for a dental appointment. During a conversation with Dr. Ruiz, Cruz indicated that she was in college and working at a local restaurant to pay for tuition. She wanted to become an emergency room nurse or doctor. Dr. Ruiz offered her a job in his dental office and instructed her in dental assisting.
Cruz has said that as a dental assistant working with patients, she learned the importance of empathy, precision, and good communications. “At the dentist’s office, we pay attention to what’s happening with our patients beyond oral care,” she said. “While working with Dr. Ruiz, I noticed a difference in patients who have cardiovascular disease or systemic diseases.”
As a student at SFSC, Cruz was curious about the links between oral health and cardiovascular disease and wanted to know more. She met Dr. Mintoo Patel, biology professor, who was starting an undergraduate research project on “The Oral Microbiome as a Cardiovascular Biomarker: Bridging Dentistry and Cardiology.” Cruz signed on.
“I have watched Jenale grow from a curious student into a thoughtful and independent researcher, and the recognition through the Goldwater Scholarship is incredibly well deserved,” Dr. Patel said. “Her research on the oral microbiome as a biomarker for cardiovascular disease highlights the critical connection between oral and systemic health, an area of growing importance in modern medicine. Through this work, she has developed the analytical and translational skills to pursue clinically meaningful questions. This experience is laying a strong foundation for her future as a dentist/scientist, where she will bridge patient care with impactful research. I have no doubt she will make meaningful contributions to both dentistry and medicine.”
Other undergraduate research that Cruz pursued while at SFSC was “The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Oral Health: Implications for Comprehensive Care” with mentor Dr. Patel and “Pseudoziziphus celata GC-MS and LC-MS,” with Dr. Kate Calvin in her Organic Chemistry class. The research, in partnership with Bok Tower Gardens and Metaware Bio, studied and analyzed the endangered plant, the Florida Ziziphus. In spring 2026, Cruz returned to SFSC to continue research on “The Oral Microbiome as a Cardiovascular Biomarker.“
SFSC professors encouraged Cruz to present posters and make oral presentations at SFSC’s Undergraduate Research Forum and at significant scientific forums, such as the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) and the Florida Academy of Sciences Annual Conference (FAS). Cruz and other SFSC students visited the Capitol in Tallahassee in 2026 to present their scientific posters and explain their research results to state lawmakers.
In summer 2026, Cruz is participating in the McNair Scholars Program at UF. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and prepares high-achieving first-generation undergraduate students for doctoral studies (Ph.D.). UF supports 25 scholars annually. The scholars work on research with mentors, develop writing and research skills, and attend workshops on the graduate admissions process.
“In the McNair Scholars Program, I’ll work with DMD/Ph.D. students in their lab doing oral microbiome research,” Cruz said. “I’m super excited. I’m the first online student ever at UF to get accepted into the McNair Scholars Program.”
While Cruz was doing research and taking courses toward her bachelor’s degree, she was preparing to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) for entry to dental school. She took the test in January 2026. The test runs approximately five hours and consists of 280 multiple-choice questions.
Cruz anticipates graduating from UF in August 2027 with her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science, with a minor in Pathogenesis. She will apply to dental school and a Ph.D. program to do oral health research. “The first four years, I’d take classes like any other dental student,” she said. “Then, I’d have about two or three more years as a Ph.D. candidate.”
“I have a strong passion for dentistry,” she said. “I aspire to bridge the gap between clinical dentistry and biomedical research by investigating how oral bacteria contribute to chronic conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. I aim to translate discoveries from the laboratory into innovative diagnostic tools and preventive therapies that improve both oral and overall health.”
