A distinct pair of paths<\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/i>and perspectives\u2014in healthcare<\/span><\/h3>\nBY HANNAH VAN SICKLE<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
When Kendall Smith ’10 chose to play the baritone euphonium under the tutelage of Dr. James Criswell in the SSSAS band, it\u2019s unlikely he saw the off-the-beaten track brass instrument as symbolic of the unique path he would ultimately forge in healthcare. In fact, the aspect of humility within success has been integral to his journey for as long as he can remember \u2014 which means he\u2019s hardly one to toot his own horn.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a lightbulb moment,\u201d Kendall says of deciding to pursue nurse anesthesia, rather a converging of myriad moments. His initial interest in medicine was piqued as a young person when several members of his family had to overcome health challenges by undergoing extensive surgical procedures. \u201cSeeing the compassion offered to them really opened my eyes to the human aspect of healthcare,\u201d he recalls. With science and math as his strong suits, he was motivated to \u201cgo for the best.\u201d After an initial search of the best nursing schools (ranked by U.S. News & World Report) he aimed for the University of Pennsylvania which was in the top five.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI really wanted to identify a school where I would be able to challenge myself and get the most out of a nursing education,\u201d Kendall says. After a successful undergrad experience, rounded out in research and coupled with rigorous options like business classes at Wharton, the unique blend of opportunities called him back to Penn Nursing for grad school (which was ranked #1 for nursing at the time). There, Kendall embarked upon a challenging three-year journey of anesthesia training that combined his critical care nursing background with the opportunity to pursue the pharmaceutical and physiological aspects he sought in a career. Kendall recalls shadowing in an operating room, watching a patient get put to sleep, and thinking: \u201cWow, that\u2019s really cool!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nUpon his graduation from the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) program in 2021, he received a special note from Leslie Williams \u2014 his kindergarten teacher \u2014 evoking a picture of five-year-old Kendall walking into SSSAS for the very first time. \u201cSeeing that message was a very cool, full-circle moment,\u201d he says, one that reminds him of how far he has come.<\/span><\/p>\nToday, Kendall is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C. He attributes much of his success to lessons gleaned from his Saints education \u2014 chief among them, \u201clearning to be in a community where [we were encouraged] to find commonalities among one another despite our different strengths, interests, and talents.\u201d He has fond memories of hands-on lessons in science classes with Upper School teacher Sam Chan and Middle School teacher Robert Davis, as well as the great leadership shown by Upper School History teacher Bud Garikes, who during Kendall\u2019s time was the Upper School Director. Another name that jumps out while he is reminiscing is Associate Head of School Bob Weiman. \u201cBob, someone I have kept in touch with until this day, is fantastic,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
As for an overall theme taken from his time at SSSAS? \u201cThe discipline of trying to organize and manage a busy schedule while building a full day and interacting with different types of people, while remaining as versatile as possible [in the process].\u201d Kendall cites the sheer number of activities he\u00a0 participated in, from baseball and basketball to band, as helping to shape him. His passion for music persists (he was a DJ while an undergrad, as a way to earn a bit of extra money), and his playlist is packed. \u201cYou\u2019ll find a little bit of everything,\u201d he says, from classical music to hip-hop and R&B (he\u2019s a big Kendrick Lamar fan).<\/span><\/p>\nFurther shaping has come from, \u201cthe privilege of having a couple of really great mentors,\u201d Kendall adds, immediately pointing to Dr. Wallena Gould, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. Her organization\u2019s mission \u2014 to inform, empower, and mentor underserved diverse populations as a means of preparing them for a successful career in nurse anesthesia \u2014 has inspired Kendall to pay it forward.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThat\u2019s kind of where my stage is now,\u201d he says. \u201cCreating access to those channels of information that weren\u2019t necessarily accessible to me.\u201d In the world of nurse anesthesia, one Kendall calls \u201ca hidden gem,\u201d men comprise more than 45% of the population (as compared with less than 10% of nurses in general); that said, only 12% of CRNAs are People of Color, with only 3% identifying as African American.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image with Caption” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f3″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
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Kendall Smith ’10<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pull Quote” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#536574″ header_3_font_size=”28px” custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#4c9e45″ border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#4c9e45″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n
\u200b\u200b<\/span>\u201cWhether or not that is fair, that I might have to meet the challenges of being the only African American person in the room, in the department, in the school \u2014\u00a0<\/b>I can\u2019t necessarily change that for myself but hopefully, by walking through these doors, I will be able to change the dynamic for\u00a0<\/b>those behind me \u201d<\/b><\/p>\n– KENDALL SMITH<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Eventually, Kendall has his eye on joining an academic faculty and working to develop an even greater presence in organizations that promote diversity while increasing exposure to the field. \u201cThe numbers are a fact,\u201d he admits, adding \u201ca lack of healthcare workforce diversity plays out in health disparities, and pairing the two creates a sense of responsibility,\u201d he says, to use his specific skill set and create change for the better \u2014 something that motivates him to show up and be his best self, every single day.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cWhether or not that is fair, that I might have to meet the challenges of being the only African American person in the room, in the department, in the school \u2014 I can\u2019t necessarily change that for myself but hopefully, by walking through these doors, I will be able to change the dynamic for those behind me,\u201d he says, noting that a shift is already underway. The numbers that exist today are better than those his mentors saw which, to Kendall, is progress but just a start. \u201cI\u2019m striving to push down one more domino…with integrity…while having fun…and while also maintaining my sense of self and representing my community (of which SSSAS is a part) and my family,\u201d which includes a younger brother who, while in a different field, is aligned with Kendall\u2019s overarching goal: to carve a career path in healthcare that positively impacts as many people as possible.<\/span><\/p>\nAs a third-year dental student, Kamal Smith ’14 is doing just that. At present, the DDS Candidate at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry is busy seeing patients five days a week in clinical rotations. His inherent interest in healthcare emerged early on. Growing up, Kamal gravitated toward math and science classes and figured the most impactful way to use these strengths was to help others. Following his freshman year at Duke University, he participated in the Summer Medical & Dental Education Program at the Duke University School of Medicine. \u201cThe seminar on dentistry really grabbed my attention for a number of reasons,\u201d remembers Kamal. He was initially struck by the simultaneous dearth of healthcare providers in underserved communities and providers who share demographic similarities with individuals in high-need, minority communities. Kamal was intrigued by the autonomy dentistry provides, namely being poised to shape his practice to reflect his goals and create an impactful environment. Ultimately, he was hooked by the preventive and interactive nature of dentistry. Dentists can stave off the spread of disease to the rest of the body by addressing conditions that present first in the mouth. Kamal was drawn to the ability to develop relationships with patients and whole families throughout their lives. That same summer, when shadowing dentists in the field, Kamal made two additional observations: the dentists he met loved what they did and they had a good work-life balance. \u201cI was intrigued, and I haven\u2019t looked back since!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image with Caption” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f3″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n
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Kamal Smith ’14<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pull Quote” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#536574″ header_3_font_size=”28px” custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#4c9e45″ border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#4c9e45″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n
Currently the president elect of the National Dental Association, Kamal Smith says the position has allowed him to \u201cadvance the field and make it more equitable and accessible to all those\u00a0<\/b>who are interested.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
Suffice it to say, he has a keen eye for detail \u2014 something Kamal attributes to his time at SSSAS. \u201cMrs. Geiger, my Upper School math teacher, was so organized. She really encouraged and helped me to come up with a study plan and turn something, that at first was very challenging, into one of my strengths,\u201d he recalls. Kamal participated in football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and track and field and found that preparation leading to success was consistently an underlying spirit of the environment in all the sports he played. This mindset of practicing as if it were the game \u2014 whether presenting a workshop or refining his technique in the skills lab \u2014 is a life lesson Kamal carries with him, one that permeates myriad arenas.<\/span><\/p>\nChief among his goals at present is making an impact in multiple spaces while still in school. For Kamal, this translates to participating in organizations such as the Student National Dental Association. He joined SNDA at the local level his first year. Last year he got involved on the regional level as a coordinator, and he is currently the president elect on the national level \u2014 a position that has allowed him to \u201cadvance the field and make it more equitable and accessible to all who are interested.\u201d In this vein, he also serves as the executive director of The Visionary Institute, a nonprofit he founded in 2020 to increase educational and career opportunities for underrepresented young men and women who are contemplating college, transitioning into graduate school, or entering the workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
He calls the endeavor, \u201ca mixture of both paying forward the support I received, and being that person for others I wish I would have had through the graduate school process,\u201d he says. Kamal cites programs such as Johns Hopkins CTY Scholars (a four-year scholarship and advising program aimed at helping underrepresented high school students achieve at top levels) coupled with the mentorship of his SSSAS College Counselor Mr. Tim Doyle, who led him directly toward the right resources throughout the college process. Subsequently, an undercurrent that ripples through his advocacy work is educating others about the disparity that exists among programs and resources while working to increase access.<\/span><\/p>\nDespite the full plate, Kamal is even-keeled and cognizant of the task at hand: finding balance. \u201cTo bring my full self to my work environment, to be able to provide care for patients, requires me to take time for myself and my passions outside of dentistry,\u201d he underscores. To that tune, Kamal loves to exercise (he goes to the gym pretty regularly) and enjoys watching and playing basketball during his free time. He\u2019s also a huge music lover \u2014 whether listening to live music, attending concerts or looping tracks (Kendall passed all his DJ equipment down to Kamal the summer before he started at Duke). \u201cHe taught me a couple things, and I took it from there,\u201d Kamal says. The four-year difference between the two precluded collaborating \u2014 something he hopes to make space for in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019m definitely leaving the door open,\u201d Kamal says of the potential for working together, a sentiment with which Kendall concurs: \u201cI hope to get the chance to work with my brother,\u201d either on dental procedures that require anesthesia or as a consultant. This shared desire is testament to the role family has played in their respective journeys to date. The siblings point to their parents, Maurice and Linda Smith, as teaching them the importance of working hard to achieve their goals.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIt took getting up early, it took staying at school late, and that sacrifice still motivates me,\u201d says Kamal, whose parents woke at 5 a.m. to cook breakfast and make the 45-minute drive from Prince George\u2019s County, Md., to drop the boys at school before going on to work. This was the routine, day in and day out, that positioned him \u201cto reach his dreams, to have the best opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nKendall has been focused on goals since graduating from high school; for the moment, he is keen on being present. \u201cI want to help people, and I want to preserve a sense of enjoying the process while I\u2019m going about it,\u201d he says. He notes accomplishments \u2014 such as being awarded the Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in 2020, part of the National Institutes of Health \u2014 as reason to take pause. He\u2019s certain this approach will allow him to remain energized while finding the passionate space he\u2019s best suited for.<\/span><\/p>\nAnd Kamal? He\u2019s taking things one step at a time lest he get daunted focusing on the final destination. \u201cFocus on laying one brick at a time,\u201d he advises \u2014 no matter what task is at hand. \u201cLet that build, day after day, and you end up getting where you want to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Catch up with Kendall and Kamal Smith, who share their journeys to becoming a nurse anesthetist and a dentist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1726,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1698"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2360,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions\/2360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
When Kendall Smith ’10 chose to play the baritone euphonium under the tutelage of Dr. James Criswell in the SSSAS band, it\u2019s unlikely he saw the off-the-beaten track brass instrument as symbolic of the unique path he would ultimately forge in healthcare. In fact, the aspect of humility within success has been integral to his journey for as long as he can remember \u2014 which means he\u2019s hardly one to toot his own horn.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a lightbulb moment,\u201d Kendall says of deciding to pursue nurse anesthesia, rather a converging of myriad moments. His initial interest in medicine was piqued as a young person when several members of his family had to overcome health challenges by undergoing extensive surgical procedures. \u201cSeeing the compassion offered to them really opened my eyes to the human aspect of healthcare,\u201d he recalls. With science and math as his strong suits, he was motivated to \u201cgo for the best.\u201d After an initial search of the best nursing schools (ranked by U.S. News & World Report) he aimed for the University of Pennsylvania which was in the top five.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI really wanted to identify a school where I would be able to challenge myself and get the most out of a nursing education,\u201d Kendall says. After a successful undergrad experience, rounded out in research and coupled with rigorous options like business classes at Wharton, the unique blend of opportunities called him back to Penn Nursing for grad school (which was ranked #1 for nursing at the time). There, Kendall embarked upon a challenging three-year journey of anesthesia training that combined his critical care nursing background with the opportunity to pursue the pharmaceutical and physiological aspects he sought in a career. Kendall recalls shadowing in an operating room, watching a patient get put to sleep, and thinking: \u201cWow, that\u2019s really cool!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Upon his graduation from the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia (DNP-NA) program in 2021, he received a special note from Leslie Williams \u2014 his kindergarten teacher \u2014 evoking a picture of five-year-old Kendall walking into SSSAS for the very first time. \u201cSeeing that message was a very cool, full-circle moment,\u201d he says, one that reminds him of how far he has come.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, Kendall is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Atrium Health in Charlotte, N.C. He attributes much of his success to lessons gleaned from his Saints education \u2014 chief among them, \u201clearning to be in a community where [we were encouraged] to find commonalities among one another despite our different strengths, interests, and talents.\u201d He has fond memories of hands-on lessons in science classes with Upper School teacher Sam Chan and Middle School teacher Robert Davis, as well as the great leadership shown by Upper School History teacher Bud Garikes, who during Kendall\u2019s time was the Upper School Director. Another name that jumps out while he is reminiscing is Associate Head of School Bob Weiman. \u201cBob, someone I have kept in touch with until this day, is fantastic,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n As for an overall theme taken from his time at SSSAS? \u201cThe discipline of trying to organize and manage a busy schedule while building a full day and interacting with different types of people, while remaining as versatile as possible [in the process].\u201d Kendall cites the sheer number of activities he\u00a0 participated in, from baseball and basketball to band, as helping to shape him. His passion for music persists (he was a DJ while an undergrad, as a way to earn a bit of extra money), and his playlist is packed. \u201cYou\u2019ll find a little bit of everything,\u201d he says, from classical music to hip-hop and R&B (he\u2019s a big Kendrick Lamar fan).<\/span><\/p>\n Further shaping has come from, \u201cthe privilege of having a couple of really great mentors,\u201d Kendall adds, immediately pointing to Dr. Wallena Gould, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship Program. Her organization\u2019s mission \u2014 to inform, empower, and mentor underserved diverse populations as a means of preparing them for a successful career in nurse anesthesia \u2014 has inspired Kendall to pay it forward.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s kind of where my stage is now,\u201d he says. \u201cCreating access to those channels of information that weren\u2019t necessarily accessible to me.\u201d In the world of nurse anesthesia, one Kendall calls \u201ca hidden gem,\u201d men comprise more than 45% of the population (as compared with less than 10% of nurses in general); that said, only 12% of CRNAs are People of Color, with only 3% identifying as African American.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image with Caption” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f3″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n Kendall Smith ’10<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pull Quote” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#536574″ header_3_font_size=”28px” custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#4c9e45″ border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#4c9e45″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n \u200b\u200b<\/span>\u201cWhether or not that is fair, that I might have to meet the challenges of being the only African American person in the room, in the department, in the school \u2014\u00a0<\/b>I can\u2019t necessarily change that for myself but hopefully, by walking through these doors, I will be able to change the dynamic for\u00a0<\/b>those behind me \u201d<\/b><\/p>\n – KENDALL SMITH<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Eventually, Kendall has his eye on joining an academic faculty and working to develop an even greater presence in organizations that promote diversity while increasing exposure to the field. \u201cThe numbers are a fact,\u201d he admits, adding \u201ca lack of healthcare workforce diversity plays out in health disparities, and pairing the two creates a sense of responsibility,\u201d he says, to use his specific skill set and create change for the better \u2014 something that motivates him to show up and be his best self, every single day.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhether or not that is fair, that I might have to meet the challenges of being the only African American person in the room, in the department, in the school \u2014 I can\u2019t necessarily change that for myself but hopefully, by walking through these doors, I will be able to change the dynamic for those behind me,\u201d he says, noting that a shift is already underway. The numbers that exist today are better than those his mentors saw which, to Kendall, is progress but just a start. \u201cI\u2019m striving to push down one more domino…with integrity…while having fun…and while also maintaining my sense of self and representing my community (of which SSSAS is a part) and my family,\u201d which includes a younger brother who, while in a different field, is aligned with Kendall\u2019s overarching goal: to carve a career path in healthcare that positively impacts as many people as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n As a third-year dental student, Kamal Smith ’14 is doing just that. At present, the DDS Candidate at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry is busy seeing patients five days a week in clinical rotations. His inherent interest in healthcare emerged early on. Growing up, Kamal gravitated toward math and science classes and figured the most impactful way to use these strengths was to help others. Following his freshman year at Duke University, he participated in the Summer Medical & Dental Education Program at the Duke University School of Medicine. \u201cThe seminar on dentistry really grabbed my attention for a number of reasons,\u201d remembers Kamal. He was initially struck by the simultaneous dearth of healthcare providers in underserved communities and providers who share demographic similarities with individuals in high-need, minority communities. Kamal was intrigued by the autonomy dentistry provides, namely being poised to shape his practice to reflect his goals and create an impactful environment. Ultimately, he was hooked by the preventive and interactive nature of dentistry. Dentists can stave off the spread of disease to the rest of the body by addressing conditions that present first in the mouth. Kamal was drawn to the ability to develop relationships with patients and whole families throughout their lives. That same summer, when shadowing dentists in the field, Kamal made two additional observations: the dentists he met loved what they did and they had a good work-life balance. \u201cI was intrigued, and I haven\u2019t looked back since!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image with Caption” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3f3f3″ custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n Kamal Smith ’14<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Pull Quote” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#536574″ header_3_font_size=”28px” custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” border_width_top=”2px” border_color_top=”#4c9e45″ border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#4c9e45″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Currently the president elect of the National Dental Association, Kamal Smith says the position has allowed him to \u201cadvance the field and make it more equitable and accessible to all those\u00a0<\/b>who are interested.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n Suffice it to say, he has a keen eye for detail \u2014 something Kamal attributes to his time at SSSAS. \u201cMrs. Geiger, my Upper School math teacher, was so organized. She really encouraged and helped me to come up with a study plan and turn something, that at first was very challenging, into one of my strengths,\u201d he recalls. Kamal participated in football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and track and field and found that preparation leading to success was consistently an underlying spirit of the environment in all the sports he played. This mindset of practicing as if it were the game \u2014 whether presenting a workshop or refining his technique in the skills lab \u2014 is a life lesson Kamal carries with him, one that permeates myriad arenas.<\/span><\/p>\n Chief among his goals at present is making an impact in multiple spaces while still in school. For Kamal, this translates to participating in organizations such as the Student National Dental Association. He joined SNDA at the local level his first year. Last year he got involved on the regional level as a coordinator, and he is currently the president elect on the national level \u2014 a position that has allowed him to \u201cadvance the field and make it more equitable and accessible to all who are interested.\u201d In this vein, he also serves as the executive director of The Visionary Institute, a nonprofit he founded in 2020 to increase educational and career opportunities for underrepresented young men and women who are contemplating college, transitioning into graduate school, or entering the workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n He calls the endeavor, \u201ca mixture of both paying forward the support I received, and being that person for others I wish I would have had through the graduate school process,\u201d he says. Kamal cites programs such as Johns Hopkins CTY Scholars (a four-year scholarship and advising program aimed at helping underrepresented high school students achieve at top levels) coupled with the mentorship of his SSSAS College Counselor Mr. Tim Doyle, who led him directly toward the right resources throughout the college process. Subsequently, an undercurrent that ripples through his advocacy work is educating others about the disparity that exists among programs and resources while working to increase access.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the full plate, Kamal is even-keeled and cognizant of the task at hand: finding balance. \u201cTo bring my full self to my work environment, to be able to provide care for patients, requires me to take time for myself and my passions outside of dentistry,\u201d he underscores. To that tune, Kamal loves to exercise (he goes to the gym pretty regularly) and enjoys watching and playing basketball during his free time. He\u2019s also a huge music lover \u2014 whether listening to live music, attending concerts or looping tracks (Kendall passed all his DJ equipment down to Kamal the summer before he started at Duke). \u201cHe taught me a couple things, and I took it from there,\u201d Kamal says. The four-year difference between the two precluded collaborating \u2014 something he hopes to make space for in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m definitely leaving the door open,\u201d Kamal says of the potential for working together, a sentiment with which Kendall concurs: \u201cI hope to get the chance to work with my brother,\u201d either on dental procedures that require anesthesia or as a consultant. This shared desire is testament to the role family has played in their respective journeys to date. The siblings point to their parents, Maurice and Linda Smith, as teaching them the importance of working hard to achieve their goals.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt took getting up early, it took staying at school late, and that sacrifice still motivates me,\u201d says Kamal, whose parents woke at 5 a.m. to cook breakfast and make the 45-minute drive from Prince George\u2019s County, Md., to drop the boys at school before going on to work. This was the routine, day in and day out, that positioned him \u201cto reach his dreams, to have the best opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Kendall has been focused on goals since graduating from high school; for the moment, he is keen on being present. \u201cI want to help people, and I want to preserve a sense of enjoying the process while I\u2019m going about it,\u201d he says. He notes accomplishments \u2014 such as being awarded the Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in 2020, part of the National Institutes of Health \u2014 as reason to take pause. He\u2019s certain this approach will allow him to remain energized while finding the passionate space he\u2019s best suited for.<\/span><\/p>\n And Kamal? He\u2019s taking things one step at a time lest he get daunted focusing on the final destination. \u201cFocus on laying one brick at a time,\u201d he advises \u2014 no matter what task is at hand. \u201cLet that build, day after day, and you end up getting where you want to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Catch up with Kendall and Kamal Smith, who share their journeys to becoming a nurse anesthetist and a dentist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1726,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1698"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2360,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1698\/revisions\/2360"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sssasmagazine.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/p>\n<\/p>\n