When Holly Kohout reflects on her time at the UNMC College of Dentistry, one word comes easily: community. A 2012 graduate of the dental hygiene program, Kohout says the close-knit environment and deeply invested faculty shaped both her confidence and her career.
“I loved how the school felt so small. I wasn’t just a number,” she said. “All the teachers really cared for their students and wanted what was best for them.”
Kohout grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where dentistry was already a part of daily life. Her father is a dentist, and she remembers being fascinated by his work from an early age. After graduation, she went back to Maryland, where she worked in her father’s practice. But life soon pulled her west again. After she and her Nebraska-born husband decided to return to his home state, Kohout started working at Precision Dental in Crete.
“It took a little time, working part-time, staying home with my kids, but once I landed at this practice, I knew it was the right place,” she said. “They are the best people; humble, supportive, the kind of team you feel lucky to work with.”
She credits UNMC with giving her a strong foundation that made the transition into practice feel natural. “UNMC is top notch,” she said. “I felt like I had a really good base going into the real world. The clinical training and even the higher-level courses like pathology and anatomy gave me such a solid understanding.”
Outside the clinic, Kohout is equally committed to serving her community. In addition to raising three children and cheering them on at games, she volunteers as a firefighter in her hometown of Friend, Nebraska.
“It’s kind of an odd thing,” she laughed, “but I’ve always wanted to do something like military or firefighting. When we moved here, I just decided to go for it.” She is currently completing Firefighter I certification and has served with her local department for nearly three years.
Whether she’s supporting a patient in the dental chair or responding to a call with her department, Kohout says she’s motivated by compassion, service and a desire to make health and health education accessible. Her advice to future hygienists and dental students is simple: “You’re starting off at one of the best universities. Take advantage of everything you’re learning, because it truly prepares you.”