Dr. Hillary A. Mendillo was born and raised in Branford, Connecticut. She attended Branford public schools, graduating from Branford High School in 1998. At BHS, she was on the varsity track and field hockey teams, serving as a field hockey captain her senior year. In addition, she was a member of the National Honor Society, was the Vice President of the school-wide Student Council, and volunteered for the Connecticut Special Olympics.
Dr. Hillary received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science and Geology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. After college, she worked for Sea Education Association as a shipboard engineer and educator for several years, sailing to such places as Tahiti, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. These travels inspired her to pursue the field of dentistry. Dr. Hillary returned to Connecticut and worked as a chair-side assistant for Dr. James H. Mendillo while taking pre-requisite courses at Southern Connecticut State University.
Dr. Hillary attended the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree in May of 2012.
Professional Affiliations and Outreach
While at the University of Michigan, Dr. Hillary was a member of the American Student Dental Association and participated in numerous community outreach programs, such as Give Kids a Smile® and Student Council-sponsored Dental Health Day. She was active in the Student Council as a clinic representative on her class council. Additionally, Dr. Hillary spent 10 weeks during her senior year working at various community clinics throughout the state of Michigan.
Since returning to Branford, Dr. Hillary has spent many hours working with the Branford Cares organization on their Dental Health Initiative, called Branford Healthy Smiles. The goal of this organization is to find a dental home for every child in Branford. Look for Dr. Hillary at various community events with the Branford Healthy Smiles team throughout the year!
Dr. Hillary is a member of the American Dental Association, the Connecticut State Dental Association, and the Shoreline Dental Society.
Community Affiliations and Outreach
Since returning to Connecticut, Dr. Hillary has become an active member of the Branford Yacht Club. She has sailed competitively on the J30 Magan out of BYC, and is always looking forward to more adventures at sea!
In her free time, Dr. Hillary enjoys hiking, snowboarding, skiing, live music, gardening, the beach, and spending time with her friends and family.