Hillary Diffee
Hillary Diffee, Orthodontics Class of 2027, grew up in the “Sailfish Capital of the World”, Stuart, Florida.
Following high school, Hillary attended the University of Florida, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Communication Studies, while serving as the President of the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Ambassador Program. After graduating from Florida, Hillary moved to Sweet Home Alabama to attend dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, receiving her DMD in 2018. Inspired by her grandparents who were active duty in the Air Force and Navy, Hillary applied to and was awarded a four-year Navy Health Professions Scholarship to dental school. Hillary was also honored to receive the 2018 Academy of General Dentistry Senior Student Dental Award and was chosen to represent her school internationally on an exchange trip to Japan. A former dancer, Hillary loved dancing with her classmates at the annual UAB Variety Show!
On the day of her dental school graduation, Hillary caught an immediate flight to Newport, Rhode Island, where she attended Officer Development School for 5 weeks, after which she commissioned into the U.S. Navy. She completed a 1-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, where she won first place for her research at the Tri-Service Dental Convention. She then completed a two-year tour aboard the aircraft carrier JOHN C. STENNIS, as Dental Division Officer. She spent her last two-year tour as Assistant Department Head, leading a medical and dental clinic serving the Navy Seals. Perhaps her favorite tour (and one that she fought to attain) was a humanitarian healthcare deployment on the USNS COMFORT Naval Hospital Ship, where Hillary spent three months deployed in the Caribbean, providing dental care to those in desperate need in Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Haiti. This deployment was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Hillary.
Hillary separated from the Navy in July 2023 and has enjoyed one year of private practice experience- six months in general dentistry and six months in pediatric dentistry.
In her free time, Hillary loves exploring new coffee shops and restaurants, especially sushi restaurants! She also enjoys taking Pilates classes. If you want to get her excited, ask her about doodles- she adores her sweet goldendoodle, Brinley!
Hillary is ecstatic and honored to be training at UNC Orthodontics. She is excited to train under the best orthodontists in the specialty and alongside her incredible co-residents. Most of all, she is so excited to meet her patients and help them attain a smile that they are proud to wear and share, every day!