Introduction 

Dentistry is not a mere profession to me; it is the field that I have devoted my life to. I am a board-certified prosthodontist with over 40 years of experience in dental healthcare. My desire to pass on the knowledge to aspiring professionals drove me to also become an educator. Currently, I serve as the Director of Implants and Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Student Global Engagement for the UNMC College of Dentistry.  

Having spent 26 years in faculty group-practice patient care and academic teaching, I recognized my true calling. I wanted my expertise to have a purpose beyond financial achievements; I wanted to pursue avenues where my experience could serve the greater good. Thus, I became an expert witness and litigation consultant. 

Often, when I reflect on my journey, I remember the incidents where I made a positive impact on someone’s life more vividly than the events that marked my financial milestones. Although I am grateful for the profits I earned with my hard work, I believe it is the satisfaction that comes from serving others that made me steadfast in my journey. This realization is the origin of my mission to give back to society; it introduced me to the philosophy of “merging profit with purpose”.  

My Work as an Expert Witness and Litigation Consultant

The work of an expert witness and a litigation consultant involves analyzing legal cases, testifying in dental malpractice cases, and consulting on complex treatment disputes. In legal matters concerning dental malpractice, it is often challenging to prove a claim without the assistance of a specialized expert. The nuances of patient care and medical protocols sound alien to judges and the jury. At times, a minute technical detail can push an innocent into the arms of injustice. 

In a courtroom, while attorneys try to twist the facts in favor of their clients, an expert witness comes forward to ensure justice. As a dental expert witness, I am called upon to explain dental procedures and protocols in layman terms to all participants of a trial. This clarity acts as a catalyst for the court and results in well-informed judgments.  

Litigation clients view expert witnesses as their last hope in complex cases. There are times when the arguments falter, evidence’s relevance is denied, and witnesses become hostile. In such cases, the expert witness’s report becomes their last resort. The fulfillment that comes from helping victims of dental malpractice or wrongful claims cannot be measured.

Balancing both aspects of my career has given me a unique appreciation for the broader impact of dentistry—both in legal settings and in humanitarian efforts.

Giving Back as a Dentist

Dentistry is not just about implants, tools, and patients on the dentist’s chair. The profession teaches us the value of human life; it trains us to observe the utmost care while treating a person because their life matters as much as our own. It also instilled in me the desire to serve the community. 

Any person can find a purpose in their everyday tasks if they align their personal values with professional goals. For instance, I have always felt indebted to our veterans for their sacrifices. I wanted to serve them in some way and found the solution in my own profession. Since the U.S. Veterans Administration does not provide dental care unless a veteran is completely disabled, I started programs that provide free dental care to all veterans. The satisfaction I received from such programs remains unmatched. 

I have met countless individuals on my dental mission who seemed to have lost hope. Especially in underserved communities, I have met people who accepted pain as part of their lives because they did not have access to medical care. This made them develop complex dental needs that could not be cured with basic dental procedures. These encounters had a profound impact on me. I don’t think I felt the purpose of my existence as strongly as I did in the moments when I restored their lost hope. In those moments, I took pride in my specialization because it could bring them relief. 

One such experience comes from my volunteer work with Kenya Oral Health Initiative (KOHI) in 2024. When I think back to the KOHI camp at PCEA Chogoria Hospital, it feels less like a professional responsibility and more like a reminder of why I chose this path. Watching children receive sincere care from experts, seeing their parents finally relax after hearing of their child’s well-being, and working alongside volunteers who showed up wholeheartedly, grounded me. 

At KOHI, my role was to share my knowledge, guide local dentists, and help them strengthen a clinic that serves those who rarely have access to dental care. This experience stayed with me long after I returned home, and I carry it everywhere, especially to my classroom. 

The philosophy of merging profit with purpose often bleeds into my lectures, as I try to make my students learn about the world around them and the impact they can create with their knowledge. In March 2025, a group of students accompanied me and other professionals to the Dominican Republic, where they provided care to underserved communities. This program had two objectives: to help them develop problem-solving skills in real time and to familiarize them with challenges faced by a different population. 

I view dentistry as a way to honour human dignity, and I believe that if my students carry even a fraction of this purpose into their careers, it would turn the impact of my work into a legacy.

Why Merging Profit with Purpose Matters

• Enhances Professional Satisfaction:

Professional satisfaction strengthens a person’s commitment to their career. The fulfillment that comes from making a tangible difference in people’s lives gives them motivation to continue. As I balance different aspects of my career, I find such fulfillment in witnessing the transformation in my students when they connect with a veteran. It fills me with satisfaction to know that my specialized knowledge can be used to save an innocent person stuck in an unfortunate trial. 

I view the duties I perform as an act of service, and this perception has helped me to reignite my passion for dentistry. 

• Prevents Burnout and Career Fatigue:

I have a diverse profession, which demands manual and emotional investment. Each day at work requires me to maintain composure and practice empathy with everyone I interact with. Such requirements can take a toll on a person and cause emotional exhaustion. 

However, my choice to perceive my profession as service-oriented work keeps me refreshed and energized. It allows me to reconnect with my core motivation and approach every new day with a zeal to make a difference. 

I have consciously practiced altruism in my 40-year career. From that experience, I can confidently say that the feeling of “giving back” reduces occupational stress and increases job satisfaction. 

• Strengthening the Dental and Legal Communities:

As a professor and a mentor to my students, I deem it my responsibility to shape them into ethical professionals. I ingrain in them the philosophy of merging profit with purpose to ensure that they keep up the standards of nobleness in the dental field. 

I nourished my principles of fairness, ethical practice, and patient safety through pro bono work and expert testimony. While pro bono tasks taught me to perform my service diligently regardless of rewards, expert witness work sharpened my understanding of fairness & ethics. 

Through years of advocacy, expert contribution, and support for professional development initiatives, I have built a legacy in the dental and legal community. And, I feel that such a legacy ought to be passed on to the next in line. 

The patients and clients that I helped remember me more than the people who’ve cut cheques for my service. I have had a successful career and an esteemed reputation in dentistry, but I have gotten a deeper sense of purpose from social impact. 

Giving back has shown me that true fulfillment comes not only from professional success but also from making a meaningful difference in the lives of those you serve. Even when hands-on service was not feasible for me, I found that aligning with the right organization, such as Girl Power USA, still carried that feeling forward, allowing me to contribute beyond my practice. 

Based on my own experience, I strongly encourage my fellow dental professionals to find ways to contribute beyond the practice because, ultimately, the smiles we create are the greatest legacy we leave behind.