Dr. Sara Mandell '05

After serving as Chief of Dentistry for Task Force Medical Baghdad in the U.S. Army, she now brings that same dedication and precision to family dentistry, providing compassionate, comprehensive care rooted in service.

A Foundation in Science and Service Leads to Dentistry

Growing up in Reading, Massachusetts, Sara Mandell combined a love of science with a desire to help others—interests that guided her toward a career in medicine and dentistry. After earning her degree in Biology from Saint Anselm College, she completed her Doctor of Dental Medicine at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. During her clinical training, she treated patients at Suffolk Dental in Boston and at Blackstone Valley Community Health Center in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, experiences that strengthened her commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care.

Advancing Dental Leadership Through Military Service

Soon after graduation, Mandell commissioned as a Dental Officer in the United States Army. At Fort Gordon, Georgia, she served as Chief of Restorative Dentistry at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, overseeing infection control, patient safety, and clinical quality programs. She later completed a two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, earning a Master’s degree in Oral Biology from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Following her residency, she managed a 30-chair dental clinic at Fort Hood and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in 2021 as Chief of Dentistry for Task Force Medical Baghdad, where she provided comprehensive dental care and led operational training for medical teams in the field.

Bringing Military Precision to Family Dentistry

After nearly a decade of active-duty service, Mandell transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserve, continuing her commitment to military readiness while expanding her work in civilian practice. As a full-time dentist at Forest Family Dentistry, she delivers comprehensive care for patients of all ages, integrating the precision and professionalism of her military background with a compassionate approach to family-focused dentistry. Her journey from Austin Prep to international leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to excellence, discipline, and service through medicine.

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