Strength Under Pressure

By Sarah Smykowski; Photos by Douglas Levere

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of UB Dentist magazine. 

Ask anyone who’s been through dental school, and they’ll agree: It’s tough. Between the long hours, high-pressure moments, and intense curriculum, dental school pushes every student to the limit, even under the best circumstances. Now imagine receiving a life-altering diagnosis on top of it all.

Meet Morgyn Maresco, Class of 2027, and Ashley Turner, DDS ’25, a first-year pediatric dental resident, two remarkable young women who were diagnosed with serious health conditions in the middle of dental school.

At a time when most students are focused on their courses and clinic, Morgyn and Ashley navigated the unimaginable and never once gave up. Their stories remind us that dental school isn’t just about grades and requirements. It’s about grit, resilience, and the drive to push forward.

Morgyn Maresco came into this world fighting — her first moments of life involved a dramatic resuscitation. At just a few minutes old, Morgyn made it clear that she would never give up, a quality that has stayed with her since the start.

Morgyn knew she wanted to be a dentist at age 4. Yet, her path to dental school wasn’t easy. She took three gap years after undergrad, completed a master’s program, and worked as a dental assistant in a private practice. “I’ve never given up on anything I’ve dreamed about,” she says.

Morgyn enrolled at the SDM in fall 2023. At first, her D1 year was like any other student’s. Soon, however, something seemed off; she didn’t feel like herself. Then came the full-body rashes, followed by ongoing respiratory issues. The unexplained flare-ups caused her to miss class and struggle to stay focused.

Morgyn’s health issues persisted in her D2 year, which is notorious for an increased workload and long hours in the sim lab. Morgyn was in the hardest year of dental school with fewer and fewer good days and no answers from her doctors.

At the beginning of the spring semester, Morgyn found a lump in her neck. Her doctor sent her for imaging.

By now, Morgyn was used to dividing her time between doctor’s appointments and school, even remarking to the technician that she had to be back by 1 p.m. for her rotation.

When the tech returned and asked her to call someone for support, Morgyn knew she was about to get bad news.

The scan identified multiple masses throughout her neck and chest, leading to a diagnosis of Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects two or more groups of lymph nodes. In Morgyn’s case, the affected lymph nodes were above her diaphragm, which led to a good prognosis.

Morgyn asked her oncologist the standard questions about treatment plans and outcomes. Then, she asked the question that would define her journey: “Can I stay in school while undergoing treatment?”

Yes was the only answer she would accept. Staring down a cancer diagnosis, Morgyn’s drive to fight kicked in. “I needed to at least try,” she says. “I didn’t want to take a leave of absence not knowing if I could’ve done it and regretted it later.”

Morgyn, her oncology team and the dental school made it work. Biweekly treatments were planned to minimize the impact on her body and school schedule. In the end, she only took off every other Thursday afternoon and Friday. Morgyn adapted her approach to her coursework based on how she felt, but somehow managed to get it all done. 

Morgyn recalls the gestures from faculty and classmates that helped her navigate this difficult time. One faculty member came in over spring break so she could take an endo competency that was scheduled during a treatment; classmates delivered food and provided judgment-free support. Morgyn learned not to compare herself to others — difficult to do in a competitive program — and to let herself rest.

After completing chemotherapy, Morgyn returned for her D3 year this past fall with a new perspective: “Don’t forget to have a life outside

of school, because you only have one life to live,” she says. She also has a deeper sense of compassion for patients, knowing firsthand the fear and discomfort they may feel.

Morgyn is now in remission and notes that her life has, in a way, changed for the better: “After going through cancer, you’ll never be the person you were again. I feel like me, but a better me than who I was before.”

Nothing about Ashley Turner’s path to dentistry has been linear, but that’s never stopped her. While many students start their DDS program after undergrad, Ashley entered the workforce and found success in corporate America instead.

It wasn’t fulfilling. She wanted to live a life of service, and becoming a dentist would allow her to do that. She started dental school in her late 20s, with 10 years of career experience, a master’s degree and a plan to serve others.

Then, she received a medical diagnosis that changed her entire life. It started with numbness in her right arm and, periodically, her leg. Ashley, then a D2, met with various doctors to determine the cause while also balancing her studies.

Fast forward to finals week. Ashley fit in an MRI before a final. By the time the exam was over, her doctor was calling.

Ashley had moyamoya disease, a rare condition that narrows major blood vessels in the brain. The progressive disease can lead to strokes, seizures, and physical and cognitive impairments.

“I struggled to cope with the diagnosis, but the prognosis was promising,” she recalls. At the time, her only treatment option was an open craniotomy, which took place in the summer after her D2 year, right in the middle of her dental training.

While the surgery was a success, she suffered post-operative complications that involved a year-long recovery.

Ashley needed months of speech, physical and occupational therapy. She worked on buttoning clothes, cooking skills and word-picture association. The challenges in regaining her hand skills were eye-opening.

“One day during my recovery, I stood in front of the mirror and felt plaque on my teeth,” she says. “I remember thinking, ‘I know how to brush my teeth. I’ve taught patients how to brush.’ In that moment, I couldn’t brush the way I needed to because of my cerebrovascular event.”

During her journey, Ashley leaned heavily on her faith to see her through, which gave her assurance that she would be OK.

Slowly, Ashley found her way back to herself. That meant returning to dental school full-time.

One full year after her diagnosis, she was back at the SDM as a D3 student.

She jumped in headfirst, but life was different from what she was used to. While her dexterity and cognitive functioning were strong, she noticed an effect on her academic performance. She received support from faculty to complete her courses successfully and also from classmates and mentors who offered prayers and understanding.

Ashley, always a high performer, had to learn to accept her new normal, noting that her support system — particularly, her mother, grandmother, husband and church family — helped keep things in perspective.

This perspective also changed her approach to patient care.

“My health challenges and recovery have shaped me as a clinician,” she says. “I have a new level of compassion for patients and a deeper understanding of the challenges they face.”

Ashley graduated with her DDS in 2025 and entered the SDM’s pediatric dental residency program the following fall. It’s an amazing comeback for someone who, just two years ago, was practicing how to button clothes. Today, Ashley feels healthy and appreciates who she is now. She often says she is “blessed.”

Through her experience, she learned to take life one day at a time, making the best of any challenges thrown her way: “You can’t give up on your hopes,” she says. “Take it from me.”