FYI

Black History Month provides an important opportunity to honor, celebrate and learn about the contributions of Black people in the dental field and beyond. We sat down with Dr. Karen Samuels, DDS, to discuss her career in dentistry and explore the significance of Black History Month for her.

Dr. Samuels attended Howard University, where she received her undergraduate degree in Zoology and earned her DDS degree from the Howard University College of Dentistry. After graduating dental school, she completed a General Practice Residency at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, where she decided to specialize in Periodontics. She completed her specialty training in Periodontics at the University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Dentistry. Dr. Samuels practiced periodontics for over 20 years in the Atlanta area, and is currently the Dental Policy Manager for Delta Dental. Read on to learn more about her.
 

What inspired you to pursue dentistry?

I decided to pursue dentistry because I wanted a career in the health professions. I was very much interested in healing, teaching and assisting people with achieving good health outcomes. I considered a career in medicine, but I also wanted a career with an opportunity for work-life balance — one with relatively “normal” hours — so I chose dentistry. 

When I landed in dental school, I really fell in love with periodontics, because it’s one of the areas of dentistry where patient behavior has a significant impact on the success of your treatment. I have absolutely loved teaching patients how to change their behavior to achieve successful outcomes.
 

How did you come to work at Delta Dental?

I started at Delta Dental in the olden days, in 2003. I had two young daughters at the time and was looking for a part-time role. Over the years, my job has evolved, and in 2022 I assumed my current position as Dental Policy Manager.
 

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black History Month, to me, is an opportunity to celebrate the breadth and beauty of the Black Diaspora. I was born in the Caribbean, on the beautiful island of Jamaica, and Black History month is an opportunity to immerse myself in the history and culture of people of African descent — whether those people currently reside in Mother Africa, the Caribbean, South America, North America or Europe.
 

Who and what comes to mind when you think of Black History Month?

The history of Black people is one of struggle, resilience and achievement. I think of Black History Month as an important time to reflect on the struggles and the achievements of individuals across the diaspora.

One of my favorite historical characters is a woman who is a national hero in Jamaica — Queen Nanny, or Nanny of the Maroons. In the mid-1700s, Nanny was a clever freedom fighter who successfully led the Maroons in their fight against the British. This resulted in a peace treaty with the British, land for her people and freedom and self-governance for the Maroons well before slavery ended in Jamaica in 1834. Her story is a remarkable one for women, and for people who have fought against enslavement for their freedom.
 

What can dental professionals like yourself do to celebrate Black History Month?

As a Black professional, I’m very interested in lifting as I climb. Of course, I have more climbing to do, but I believe that I can still grab someone else’s hand and pull them along. My goal is to do this all year long — not just during Black History Month — so I’ve spent my adult life mentoring young people.

I’ve mentored an entire gaggle of Girl Scouts, young women who are now on the cusp of finishing college, and I’m currently engaged in mentoring a young man who is interested in a career in the health professions. Mentoring young adults fills me up!
 

What is your advice to Black students considering a career in dentistry?

Persistence and manage your finances. The road to a career in dentistry is long and expensive. Stick with it, and manage your finances along the way so that any debt you incur does not overwhelm you.
 

How would you describe the value of Black History Month for nonblack people?

It’s an opportunity to learn about the breadth of the Black experience. In the United States, we tend to focus on the history of Enslaved Peoples and the Civil Rights movement — and that’s important ground to cover in a substantial (rather than a superficial) way. However, since the experience of Black people is wide ranging, Black History Month is an opportunity to immerse oneself in the many achievements of the people in the diaspora. I would encourage a look at Dr. Percy Julian and Frederick McKinley Jones, for example.
 

What would your colleagues be most surprised to learn about you?

That I love to do calligraphy. I’m not good at it, but I find it relaxing and beautiful!

Thank you, Dr. Samuels, for your time and your contributions to the dental profession. You’re truly a remarkable example of “lifting as you climb” — a lesson we can all carry with us through Black History Month, and every day after.