Natalia Acosta-Farhadi
Dr. Natalia Acosta-Farhadi, Periodontology Class of 2026, grew up living in the sunny state of Florida where she spent her days at the beach, playing softball, and visiting theme parks. She graduated high school with her Associate of Arts degree and then went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Sciences at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, Florida.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Natalia worked as a research technician in the Oral Biology Department at the UF College of Dentistry. Her research in the Abranches lab, in collaboration with the UF Pediatric Dentistry, focused on the association of Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans with collagen binding properties in early childhood caries (ECC) recurrence. Natalia’s research is published in the journal Scientific Reports and the Journal of Endodontics, and her work has been presented at multiple international research conferences.
While at UF, Natalia obtained a Master of Science in Health Education and Behavior. Her thesis focused on building collaborations between local, state, and federal health agencies, health organizations, and patient care settings to plan, implement, and evaluate beneficial oral health programs that improve public health.
Natalia then moved to San Francisco to attend the University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry where she obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. During her dental training, Natalia was an active board member for UCSF’s American Student Dental Association, American Association of Women Dentists, and Hispanic Student Dental Association where she was involved with her community by participating in outreach, advocacy, and mentorship events. Natalia proudly served as Class President for three years and was nominated to be the student speaker for the UCSF Class of 2023 commencement ceremony.
Natalia’s passion for providing her patients with the highest level of dental care, and her interest in learning state-of-the-art periodontal surgeries brought her to the UNC Adams School of Dentistry Graduate program in Periodontology. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, she looks forward to exploring everything the beautiful state of North Carolina has to offer. When she’s not in the clinic, Natalia loves traveling with her husband and spending time with her pets. She enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, baking, playing the piano, and exploring new restaurants in her spare time!
