Growing up, it was my intention to be a physician. My dad’s an anesthesiologist, so that was the direction I was heading in. Fast forward to my undergrad at Rutgers: I was taking all the sciences, and I had joined the combined pre-med/pre-dental society, where we got to hear from both physicians and dentists who came in as speakers.

I had never really thought of dentistry until I started to hear from dentists about their quality of life. As a kid, I didn’t see my dad very much because he was always on call or at the hospital … anesthesiologists, they’re always so needed. So, hearing from dentists, it was notable to me how much free time they had, how much control they had over their schedules.

My dad arranged for me to shadow a friend of his who was an oral surgeon, for a few weekends. Part of what inspired me to lean more towards dentistry was how the oral surgeon interacted with patients. I’m a people person; in high school and college, I worked a lot in retail because I liked interacting with people. Seeing him with his patients, I appreciated that bonding that he did with them, especially with his repeat patients.

Dentistry’s other appeal was the artistry of it. In high school, I did a lot of oil painting, and in college, I learned how to sculpt. As I looked more closely at dentistry as a possible profession, I saw how much of the technique—the work of creating teeth from nothing—is a form of art. When emergency patients come in with their front teeth broken, I get to build and restore what they previously had, from nothing. That’s the great part: using artistry to bring back that smile. And then I get to see the relief on their face. That locked in dentistry for me. 

My dad joined the Army Reserve when he was in his 40s. I’ve always admired him for wanting to serve his country; after 20 years of service, he retired as a colonel. When I was a young dentist, he encouraged me to think about joining, too. And in August 2001, I raised my right hand to swear my oath. As a reservist, I was expected to do one weekend per month and two weeks a year, with the two weeks primarily as a medical mission or further training.

One month later, the whole world changed.

I wasn’t called up immediately after 9/11, but in 2003, I got the call: I was deploying to Iraq. I was in shock at first. To be honest, I was afraid of dying. I had two small kids at the time, and it was a tough moment for my family. 

We were the first dental reserve unit to go to Iraq. A lot was uncertain and scary for everyone. We received multiple mortar attacks every day, and we’d be running for the closest bunker; it was surreal. One day, a group of us were walking back from our clinic and we heard a whistle in the air. We stood still because there was no shelter to run to. We couldn’t do anything but wait to see where the mortar rounds would land.

When I left the U.S., my dad gave me his grandfather's Bible; my mom gave me her rosary. I kept both by my bedside in Iraq. I said, ‘If this is my time, I’m going to pray.’ So, I prayed. The mortar rounds landed 50 meters away from me, and somehow the shrapnel missed me. I was very fortunate. 

In the end, going to Iraq showed me why the military needs dentists. Before soldiers get deployed, we do their dental check, confirming they're in perfect dental health. But then, in combat, they pound energy drinks and eat candy, doing anything to stay awake, trying to stay vigilant to attacks. After a year's deployment, their teeth are blown out from all the sugar. So, we’re doing extractions and fillings, trying to ease their pain. 

In my role with the 455^th Dental Company, I make sure everyone’s learning what they’re supposed to learn and the roles they play. During our missions, I oversee Individual Readiness Trainings for our enlisted men and women who are dental techs and assistants. They don’t work in dentistry as civilians, only on the military side, so, during our two-week trainings, that’s their time to practice what they learned at their advanced individual training. I also make sure the clinics are set up correctly. A lot of times we set up clinics in schools that are closed for the summer or convention centers. My job is also to make sure we have all our equipment set up and working, all our disposables to complete the mission. 

We have some changeover in personnel. But, luckily, with our unit, we’ve had some of the same people for over 10 years. I have gotten to see their growth, to see them become leaders as well, after having been my mentees.

Even as a reservist, whether I'm wearing my uniform or not, I'm meant to follow our soldiers' values. We even carry a wallet card that bears our creed. My most significant value is selfless service: it’s not about me, it’s about the people I am helping. After that, it’s about integrity—the way you act when no one is looking. 

The hardest part has been giving up my time. We have a schedule for that one weekend each month, and the two weeks a year, and it’s set in stone. So, I’ve missed my kids’ birthdays, anniversaries … time I could be spending with my family. In exchange, I’ve gotten the camaraderie with my fellow officers. In my unit, we have 35 dentists, which is big for a dental unit. I taught two of them at Tufts—they used to be my students and now they’re my soldiers. 

In my own practice, a lot of my patients are veterans, so there’s a great connection there. They’ll hug me when they leave; that’s the kind of thing I love. And when I must go away as part of the Reserve and I need to reschedule my appointments with them, my patients are super-understanding, knowing that I’m doing something bigger than myself.