What inspired you to become part of the dental profession?
I was inspired to become a part of the dental medicine profession by my dad and his childhood friend Dr. George Woodland, who was our family dentist. I was always fascinated by all of the interesting instruments and equipment in his dental office. Some of the instruments reminded me of the microscopes and instruments that were in the science kits I would get as a child at Christmas time.

How long have you been involved in the profession?
I have been involved in the dental profession for 16 years, not including my dental school training.

What is your specialty, and how did you get there?
I am a certified pediatric dentist. While in dental school, I excelled in the area of pediatric dentistry. In 1987 after graduating from dental school I returned to Baltimore and went on to practice general dentistry for two years as an associate with my childhood dentist, Dr. George Woodland.

In 1990, I purchased my first dental practice. I also was hired about this same time by the Baltimore City Health Department as a clinic dentist. During the first four years I practiced, I treated many children and families with tremendous dental disease and oral infections.

In 1994, I was accepted into the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. I completed the program in 1996 and have practiced the specialty since that time.

How do you address health care disparities among minority populations within your profession?
In addition to treating children who are disproportionately affected by Early Childhood Caries and Baby Bottle Tooth Decay in my private practice, Valley Dental Pediatrics, and in the hospital operating room, I founded the Maryland Children's Oral Health Institute in 1996. MCOHI is a nonprofit organization created to combat dental neglect and oral abuse among children. The goal of MCOHI is to improve the behavior and attitudes of children and families toward a variety of oral health issues through early dental health promotion and disease prevention education.

In 1999 I established Brushtime Products, Inc., which designs and manufactures pediatric dental hygiene products. Introduced in 2000, the Brushtime Bunny®, a dental-hygiene-products delivery aide, was developed to empower children at brush time. It features a personal rinse cup, toothbrush and toothpaste designed especially for kids, tasty dental floss and a whimsical song. The idea was conceived when I was flipping through the retail circulars just before Easter.

I thought with all this candy, and a lot in the shape of bunnies, no wonder kids have cavities. And then the idea came to me. I wrote it down and several years later I started the company. The amazement and excitement on the faces of children when they see the Brushtime Bunny is very rewarding. They become so enthused to brush their teeth.

What do you like best about working in the field?
I absolutely love working with children, improving their dental and general health, their self-esteem and giving them a reason to smile!

I engage the children. I share language that they will appreciate. I refer to needles as sleepy drops and the suction as Mr. Thirsty. I also watch one cartoon every Saturday so I can talk about it with the children. They love that I know what is going on with Dora the Explorer or Oswald the Octopus.

What, if any, barriers or challenges have you personally had to overcome?
There have been enormous financial barricades to keeping a private practice open when you treat, more often than not, patient populations that have disease, pain and suffering, and require more patient care time and medicines/supplies to eliminate their disease.

What are the greatest challenges within the profession?
It has been a very big challenge to educate parents on the importance of early dental health care prevention. That is why I created the Maryland Children's Oral Health Institute and Brushtime Products, Inc.

What are your proudest accomplishments in your profession? In your life?
My proudest accomplishment in my profession has been eradicating dental disease for hundreds of children around Baltimore, educating children and families about the importance of oral health and creating the Brushtime Bunny. I have traveled to China to secure production of the product. Now that it is being distributed to children and families, research demonstrates that it does empower children at brush time and creates a lot of happy smiles.

Who is/are your role model(s) or mentor(s)?
Both of my parents have been role models and mentors. My mother, Martha, a corrective reading and writing teacher, is where I get my passion to empower children to improve the quality of their lives. As a teacher and a mom, she was always kind, soft-spoken and had endless patience.

My father, a retired college professor, always demonstrated a wonderful work ethic and unyielding tenacity, earning a Ph.D. when I was in the seventh grade. Others who have influenced me include my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Lee; my high school softball coach, Mrs. Diane Lawton; college professors Dr. James Risby and Dr. Cynthia Hodge. Dr. Bettye J. Jennings and Dr. Sidney O. Burnett also have been wonderful role models.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to continue to empower children and families via Valley Dental Pediatrics, the Maryland Children's Oral Health Institute, Brushtime Products, Inc. and/or via a major health care industry giant interested in improving the quality of dental and oral health through prevention and education.

What words of wisdom do you have for students just graduating?
Begin your career by working with a dentist who has been practicing for a while.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I am an avid bike rider, but I participate in a variety of sports, including swimming, rollerskating, speed walking and hiking when there is time. I also love to travel.