Today we’d like to introduce you to Julio Hernandez.
Hi Julio, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Born and raised in Miami, I am the son of Cuban immigrants. My father was a dentist and I chose to follow in his footsteps. I graduated dental school from University of Florida in 1995. I immediately joined my father in practice in Miami. After five years, I opened a second location and over the years grew to four locations in Miami. I currently have just one location in Edgewater which I relocated to in 2010. Just before relocating, I expanded the services in my practice to include facial aesthetics. As a dentist, I was a pioneer in incorporating these services which I found to be very complimentary to the cosmetic dentistry I was doing. Today, my practice is primarily focused on facial esthetics under the brand name Vikara Esthetics.
Vikara is a Sanskrit word that means transformation and aligns with my belief that beauty is achieved through a balance of art and science and that customization is a key ingredient to my success. In addition, my dental associates offer a full range of dental services in the same location. One of my associates is my nephew, Dr. Cesar Hernández who I am very proud of and continues to hold the torch in our long line of family dentists.
In 2018, I led a medical mission trip for the organization Angels for Humanity which helps impoverished children around the world through health and education. As the CFO and Chairman of the Executive Board, I am very involved in the programs we create throughout the year to support children in Miami, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. This year we will extend our medical and dental mission trip to Guatemala in April to help 430 children living below the poverty level with preventative and emergency dental and medical care.
I have been honored with the Angels for Humanity Humanitarian award in 2018 and my husband of 25 years and I are both being recognized this year as the first “Men of the Year” by the Women Who Rock organization.
I live with passion for my career and I feel grateful to use my skills to give back to the children we support through Angels for Humanity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been some struggles. However, I look at these as opportunities for growth. There is always a lesson to learn and sometimes you learn more from your defeats than from your wins. After being in business for ten years, I decided to relocate. I found a great space to purchase that was available preconstruction at a reasonable price. By the time the building was built and I had started construction in 2008, the real estate market crashed which affected all businesses. Instead of worrying about the present situation, I was focused on building the future. The build out took me longer than I expected and cost more than I anticipated but by the time it was all said and done, and my beautiful brand-new office was ready, the market recovered, and I was in a position to take my business to the next level. The lesson for me was to not worry about the things I could not control and focus on the things I could so that I build something for the future.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My education provided me the skills to become a dentist. Although I became a dentist like my father and brother, I wanted to be more than just a general dentist. I wanted to learn all aspects of dentistry so that I could provide my patients with a comprehensive treatment plan that incorporates different aspects of dentistry. Early in my career, I learned orthodontics and did a 4-year preceptorship with an orthodontist. Later, I did a 2- year intensive program in dental implants. By my fifth year of practice, I opened a second location and decided it was going to be a fully cosmetic practice offering patients only porcelain and tooth-colored restorations. Becoming so well-rounded in my career early on allowed me to be known as an excellent cosmetic dentist. I then took it one step further and started doing facial aesthetics, including Botox and fillers in 2008. A dentist doing Botox was very innovative at the time and I became known as the “Botox dentist.” Now I have the pleasure to teach other doctors and dentists how to place Botox and fillers. I am very proud to take my years of knowledge in dentistry and facial aesthetics and share this with others. Becoming so proficient in facial aesthetics has allowed me the possibility to expand my current practice and create a new brand, Vikara Esthetics that will provide innovative customized treatments for my patients.
Of all my accomplishments, I am most proud of the work I do with Angels for Humanity. I am on the Board of Directors of this organization which provides health and education to impoverished children around the world. It gives me great joy to use my skills as a dentist to help children whose parents don’t have the means for basic healthcare.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
It is important to find mentors who have been through experiences that can share their knowledge. When looking for a mentor, I would look for someone with passion in what they do. I would say that just because you are successful doesn’t mean your passionate. Look for mentors who are both successful and passionate. The passion is the drive to keep you moving and thinking. Someone who loves what they do and is passionate about it is more likely to share their experiences and point you in the right direction.
Contact Info:
- Email: drjulio@bdfamiami.com
- Website: https://www.bdfamiami.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdfamiami/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bwcmiami/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/smilesbydrjulio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bwcmiami
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/biscayne-dental-and-facial-aesthetics-miami
Image Credits
Dale Stine
