Hello, my name is Yara Alhajji.

I’m a 3rd year dental student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in public health, paediatric dentistry, and community outreach. As someone with lived experience as a Syrian refugee, I’m deeply passionate about equity in healthcare access and using my platform to give back to underrepresented communities.

Over the past few years, I’ve actively participated in several outreach programmes including OpenWide, Raised in Yorkshire, and Reach for Expense, all aimed at improving dental awareness and education across diverse populations.

I’ve proudly been part of OpenWide for three consecutive years initially as the Primary School Representative, then as President, and currently serving as the Outreach Representative. The society works to bridge the gap between dental professionals and the wider community, delivering workshops for people of all ages. Through the society I’ve initiated a collaboration with Raised in Yorkshire, a long term outreach and research initiative exploring public understanding of dental health and shaping how we engage communities more meaningfully.

Outside of dentistry, I’m an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and challenging myself through physical activities. My background and personal journey continue to fuel my drive to advocate for inclusive healthcare and make a positive impact through both clinical practice and community-led research.

Feel free to reach out to me on here or through my email dn23ya@leeds.ac.uk or through my Instagram account!