Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michal Herman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michal, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Young and intimidated, most of us sat there in that interview stating that we wanted to enter the field of dentistry because we wanted to help people.
By the end of four years of rigorous studies and much stress, most other dental school students envisioned a shiny office that could help pay for the hundreds of thousands of loans that this journey accumulated. Maybe even have Wednesdays off.
A few of us still remembered the children we treated from the community schools, with their rampant decay and a shared family toothbrush, or the homeless man who came in with a tooth in his hand. We were still thinking of public health dentistry, but were afraid to say it.
That was me twenty five years ago. It was a field that was not often discussed and many viewed as inferior.
During my residency this passion grew stronger. Sometimes what you need to find your purpose is a special mentor, who leads you in the right direction and makes you see the world. I was lucky enough to have a General Practice Residency director who listened, guided, and kept that spark ignited.
I had the opportunity to experience various types of public health and community dentistry work through my general practice residency rotations and my first few jobs. I served inmates, homeless people in the cold New York winters, juveniles with addiction disorders, union members, AIDS patients, teen runaways, and school children.
As a young dentist and a new mom, I began to volunteer and later be employed as a dental provider with KinderSmile Foundation in New Jersey. I was lucky enough to find that mentorship once again, and even much stronger than ever before. A mentor who truly inspires me every day. Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes, Founder and CEO of the Foundation, and my true friend, has taught me how to put into words my passion for my profession, my compassion for the children and families, my drive to make access to care equitable for all, and my love for mentorship of others. My purpose as a public health dentist.
The mission of KinderSmile Foundation is to provide underserved children with access to comprehensive dental care and educate underserved children and their families on the importance of dental hygiene, and its vision is a future where every child has access to a dentist, and preventable dental diseases are eradicated. There is so much need in the community we serve. Access to oral health care has not been a priority, and is typically seen as separate from overall health. Through my work as the Chief Operating Officer of KinderSmile Foundation, I see that the mission of the Foundation is carried daily by our team through direct services.
And through mentorship of students to join Public Health Dentistry in their future careers, workforce development initiatives, and advocacy efforts, I help lead the fight to leave a legacy of continued change for our families!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Dr. Michal Herman is the Chief Operating Officer of KinderSmile Foundation, a leading nonprofit organization promoting public health dentistry in New Jersey. Dr. Herman has dedicated her career to bridging the gap in access to oral health care for vulnerable populations, advocacy efforts for policy change through KinderSmile Foundation initiatives, and mentorship of pre-dental students and early career dentists.
Dr. Herman’s commitment to public health dentistry helps ensure that the mission of KinderSmile Foundation – to provide underserved children, perinatal mothers, and families with access to comprehensive dental care and educate underserved children and their families about the importance of dental hygiene – is realized daily by the team. And her continued efforts help KinderSmile Foundation get closer to a vision of a future where every child has access to a dentist and dental diseases are eradicated.
Dr. Herman earned her dental degree from New York University College of Dentistry, and completed her postgraduate General Practice Residency at Coler Goldwater Memorial Hospital, concentrating on long-term care of medically compromised patients.
Dr. Herman serves as the Vice Chair of the New Jersey Dental Foundation Board, and on several advisory councils. In 2024 she became an award winning co-producer of KinderSmile Foundation’s film, Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Care Inequity, which was awarded Best Home Grown Documentary Feature at the Garden State Film Festival, Best Medical Documentary Feature at the Global Nonviolent Film Festival, and Best Feature Length Documentary at the DC After Dark Film Festival. In the same year she was recognized for her exceptional leadership and service, and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, the oldest national honorary organization for dentists, an honor achieved by only 3.5% of US dentists.
With continued dedication and passion for serving the community, providing comprehensive quality dental services to thousands of children, procuring millions of dollars in grants over the years, supporting the KinderSmile Foundation team and village, writing and implementing policies and protocols, advocating for policy change on a state level, and mentoring young professionals, Dr. Herman has never lost sight of why she selected public health dentistry as her profession, regularly emphasizing to students the honor, privilege, and importance of joining the field.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To be a leader in the dental profession, in the nonprofit world, in public health, or in any other profession I learned that you have to have humility, accountability, compassion, and drive. Always stay true to the ethics you know without deviating. Continue to grow in your profession, serve others in order to be fulfilled. And for me personally, mentor young professionals and be that inspiration and support for them. Leave that legacy and spark in others.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
In this country our jobs are very demanding. The number of hours we are required to work sometimes feels unattainable. And usually, for me, when I near the end of my list, seven other requests, reports, programs, phone calls, interviews, or applications are added.
The best advice I have is stay healthy and prioritize. It will all get done. Stay healthy mentally, so that you can function. Take a breath, take a walk, take a break. Ask for help, and know to accept it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kindersmile.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kindersmile_foundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KinderSmileFoundation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kindersmile-foundation/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kindersmilefoundation
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