What inspired you to become part of the dental profession?
I had the opportunity to complete a preceptorship in a dental office of an inner-city community health center while I was in high school in Mississippi. The dentist I was working for was very patient. While I was in college I met a dentist who was a Meharry graduate, and I had the opportunity to shadow her in her dental office. After working with her, I was motivated to go to Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry.

What is your specialty, and how did you get there?
My original track was not to pursue academics, but after dental school I took on a general-practice residency where I had the opportunity to oversee first- and second-year students in a clinical environment. My plan was to go back to Mississippi, but then the opportunity to work as a professor at Meharry presented itself. I have been working at the college for 13 years now. I became associate dean of student affairs in 1996. It's particularly gratifying to watch students enter into the unknown of dental school and graduate as extraordinary dental health providers. I also serve as the admissions chairwoman and work to recruit students into the college. It's critical that we continue to encourage minorities to consider the profession because these are the people who will serve their communities.

How do you address health care disparities among minority populations within your profession?
Meharry's mission is to serve the underserved, so we work hard to overcome health disparities in many ways. As an administrator in the dental profession, I work closely with faculty and students to ensure they are exposed to minority populations and are aware of the health care disparities associated with these groups. During my tenure as chair of the curriculum committee, major changes have occurred to enhance the students' didactic and clinical experiences in the areas of health care disparities as they relate to minority populations.

As a minority from an underserved community, I am committed and passionate about addressing ways to eliminate the disparities that disproportionately affect minorities. Many of these communities are mirror images of neighborhoods similar to those around the area where I grew up.

What do you like best about working in the field?
Knowing that I am making a contribution to health care and the dental profession is the greatest reward. I have the best of both worlds -- dentist and educator. As a dentist, I am improving the oral health of people. As an educator, I am helping train future health care professionals that I love so dearly.

What, if any, barriers or challenges have you personally had to overcome?
The most frustrating time for me was when I first started on the faculty because I had been a student just two years earlier. I set out to prove myself. I didn't want the other faculty members to question my ability, so I was extremely hard on myself. Then, I was the only full-time female in a department of men. When I entered the administration, I was still younger than most people at this level.

What are the greatest challenges within the profession?
It's become difficult to get students to consider dentistry because of the cost involved with education, and many students never even consider it as a profession. We continue to educate students on the different aspects of the field. Dentistry is much more than just looking into mouths.

A particular challenge for us at Meharry is to recruit African American males into the field. We've had a larger enrollment of women over the last few years. Debt is an issue, and it's becoming increasingly harder to compete with the salaries offered in other professions. Men are seeing instant financial gratification through other fields. With dentistry the financial reward takes time. We try to promote that in dentistry you don't hear of people getting laid off and that they have the opportunity to set their own course.

What are your proudest accomplishments in your profession? In your life?
Obtaining the administrative role of Associate Dean of Students Affairs was a major accomplishment for me. I am a native of the Mississippi Delta, which at the time that I finished high school and college, was one of the poorest and lowest educationally ranked areas of Mississippi. I was fortunate because both of my parents were educators (my mother teaches college English/Literature and my father was an elementary school principal before retirement). They were hardworking and instilled strong educational values in me.

Who is/are your role model(s) or mentor(s)?
My parents are my greatest mentors. A large part of who I am and where I am is because of their hard work and support and the values they instilled in me.

My grandfather, who was a Pullman porter and business owner, was another mentor and role model. He taught me that you have to work hard and not depend solely on other people for what you want. He told me to always be appreciative of what you have. Dr. Rueben Warren, who was the dean at Meharry when I was a student, has also been a role model because he encouraged me to pursue public health. I now have a master's in public health from Meharry.

What words of wisdom do you have for students just graduating?
Always be prepared -- start early, plan ahead, be organized and use time wisely. Put your best foot forward because first impressions are lasting impressions.