Each Tuesday, The Citizen features a health professional from the Finger Lakes community in The Banks: This week, we spotlight Erin Marie Wilkinson.

Erin Marie Wilkinson

Age: 21

Hometown: Auburn

Family: Daughter of Pat Wilkinson and Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Lawrence; fiancee of Shawn DiBello

Occupation: Dental assistant at Drs. Davidson and Keating dental office on South Street in Auburn

Hobbies: Working out and playing softball

- Nominated by her fiance, Shawn DiBello.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A. Making patients feel better about themselves and making their visits to our office comforting.

Q. What is the most challenging?

A. Ensuring that our patients have a most relaxing atmosphere during the time of their office visit.

Q. What is the best piece advice you can give someone to prevent a trip to your office?

A. Brush at least three times a day and floss at least once a day.

Q. The most common misconception you hear from patients?

A. “Is this going to hurt?”

Q. If you weren't a health care professional, what would you like to be? Why?

A. A zoologist. I would probably be working as a veterinarian assistant. I love working with animals and love being able to connect with them.

Q. For someone considering a career in the health industry, what career advice would you give them?

A. My advice would be to make sure you like what you do, and have a good personality and great people skills.

Q. What's the favorite thing you have in your medicine cabinet? Why?

A. My floss! Because it prevents me from having cavities.

Q. If you could select anyone in the world to be your next patient, who would it be?

A. Definitely, Derek Jeter.

Q. When you're sick, describe yourself as a patient.

A. When I am sick I still work as hard as I can, because my patients need me to be at my best.

Q. Fill in the blank. Despite being in the health care field, people would probably be surprised that when at home, I _____.

A. Am a country girl.