When McKenna Gibson walked across the stage to receive her D.M.D. from the UAB School of Dentistry more than a decade ago, she didn’t know when – or if – she would return as a resident. Life had other plans. And so did she.
Now a mother of four, an owner of multiple practices, and a current orthodontics resident, Gibson is living proof that dreams deferred are not dreams denied. She describes her return to UAB as a full-circle moment, one that’s both professionally enriching and personally meaningful.
“I feel blessed to be here,” she says. “This is what I dreamed of as a 16-, 17-, 18-year-old. And while I would have been okay coming into the program right away, having time in private practice helped me grow.”
Her path to residency wasn’t linear. After marrying classmate Matt Gibson between their second and third years of dental school, she went straight into private practice while he pursued a general dentistry residency. Then together, they built a thriving general dental office in North Alabama, where she led a team she loved. She later supported her husband’s decision to return to UAB for orthodontics and by the time he completed his residency in 2022, they had three children and two businesses (a general dentistry office and an orthodontics office) – and Gibson was ready to chase her own long-held dream.
She applied, was accepted, and began the orthodontics residency program at UAB in July 2023. “I was close with my dental school classmates and loved the faculty and dental school, so coming back here was very special to me,” Gibson says.
One month into the program, she learned she was expecting their fourth child. She says the program leadership was incredibly supportive, and while there were certainly challenges, she has persevered.
“I adore being a Mama,” Gibson says. “But my time here is time where I get to focus on me, where I can learn and grow professionally. It’s still a juggle – studies, schedules, kids, home – and I love it.”
Gibson is quick to emphasize that the program is rigorous. “It’s not easy,” she says. “But it’s doable. Especially when you keep first things first, the rest seems to fall into place.”
She credits program leaders Dr. Chung How Kau, chair of the Department of Orthodontics, and Dr. Christos Vlachos, postgraduate program director, for fostering a supportive, family-like environment.
“They make sure we learn what we need to learn, but they care about us as people. There’s a closeness here if you want it,” she says. “They are great leaders who do a great job of juggling the different practice and dental school backgrounds of our residents, who are from across the country and international. A lot of blending into a close-knit group.”
That sense of community was on full display during the clinic’s first daylong screening event, which Gibson helped coordinate. The event ran smoothly and was a positive experience for both residents and patients.
“McKenna is a great student and practitioner, and a natural leader,” says Dr. Christos Vlachos. “She brings a calm confidence to everything she does, and her ability to organize and inspire her peers is a tremendous asset to the program.”
Dr. Chung How Kau adds, “Our program is designed to challenge and support residents as they grow into leaders in orthodontics. McKenna exemplifies that balance. She’s committed, compassionate, and deeply respected by faculty and peers.”
Her story is one of resilience, timing, and trust in the process. “Everyone has a different path, and they’re all okay,” she says. “For those of us who want to do both – raise littles and be professionals – it’s possible. Some days look better than others, but you find ways to make it work.”
Now, with her residency nearing completion in January and a third practice location just opened outside of Madison, Alabama, Gibson continues to lead, learn, and inspire. “It’s a huge mental flex,” she says. “But I’ve loved my experience. Coming back to UAB has been very special to me.”