Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Adkins.
Anthony, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a South Florida native, born & raised in Plantation, FL. I was born at Plantation General Hospital and attended preschool through middle school in Plantation including American Heritage. I attended high school in nearby Davie, FL at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before pursuing a degree at the University of Florida.
While a student at the University of Florida, I was introduced to dentistry by another fellow Florida native & professor at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Rashondia Gaines (from Ft. Pierce, FL). She inspired me to pursue a career in dentistry and motivated me throughout time at Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, TN. While attending Meharry Medical College I co-founded Project DReam Inc. An organization aimed at inspiring and motivating minority students to pursue careers in Healthcare & higher education. The organization is still active in Nashville, TN and boasts multiple current students and recent graduates of medical and dental school.
Upon graduation, it was Dr. Gaines that helped me locate my role as a practicing dentist in the underserved area of Riviera Beach, FL. Once able to commit more time I began volunteering with Dr. Gaines and Nova Southeastern on their annual Medical Outreach trips to Jamaica. On these trips, we spend 10 days providing free dental, medical, optical, physical/occupational therapy, nursing, & pharmacy services to the people of Jamaica in both Kingston & St. Mary. June 2019 will mark my third such trip.
I opened my own practice, Atlas Smiles, in March of 2019. Our mission is to provide top notched dental care to our community leveraging cutting edge technology to increase patient outcomes and comfort.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Undergraduate was a struggle for me. My GPA dropped at times, I was put on academic probation, my advisor informed me I needed to switch majors. She went on to say that I may not be cut out for the course load I had selected, that I should change career paths. While applying to dental school I was told I was not qualified because of my GPA, although my standardized test scores showed promise. I was denied admission to almost all 12 schools I applied to. The University of Florida offered me an interview but denied me also. Meharry medical college reached out to me in early 2010 for a March interview for a position in the post-baccalaureate class. I was waitlisted there as well. A few weeks later, I received a phone call asking if you would like to begin as a first-year dental student. Not a post-bac, not on a waitlist, an actual spot in the class! I graciously accepted and have not looked back since, serving as the freshman class Academic vice-president, as the junior class President, and passing Part I & Part II of my dental boards, and the state licensure exam on my first try with flying colors. I crossed the stage in May of 2014 will all requirements completed and ready to start practicing. When no one believed I should have a chance.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Atlas Smiles – what should we know?
We are a general dentist practice that prides ourself on making our patients comfortable in the dental setting. We want to learn what your desires are, what your goals are, & tailor our services to meet your needs & wishes. This isn’t pushy or guilty dentistry.
Our services run the gamut of dentistry included dentures, oral surgery, root canals, preventative dentistry, & clear aligners but we pride ourselves on our Cosmetic & Implant dentistry and our digital workflow.
What are your plans for the future?
I would like to reach back to Meharry Medical College and my relationship with Project DReam to identify other people like me that may be falling through the cracks, that the system may not be seeing in the correct light and provide mentorship, guidance, and ultimately, a job with future offices I would like to open.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.atlassmilesdental.com
- Phone: 9546046777
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/atlassmilesdental?igshid=5jalvd1tp023
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlassmilesdental/
Image Credit:
Marquella Sawyer, Ricardo D’Avila
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