Undaunted Trailblazers II
Undaunted Trailblazers II
Contemporary Men of Color Shaping Oral Health
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Keith A. Mays | Todd V. Ester | Leo E. Rouse
A collection of 33 inspiring stories of triumph and achievement.
Discover real stories of inspiration, endurance and resilience from trailblazers in oral health education. Despite challenges and rejections, the men of color featured in this book achieved monumental dreams and reached historic milestones, forging a path for the generations behind them.
“I had wanted to write a book for years, and the combination of the emotions from the gap in my family tree and a new conviction to ensure that the stories of the marginalized be told birthed the desire to chronicle stories of leaders of color in oral health. This led to separate conversations with Drs. Leo E. Rouse and Jeanne C. Sinkford, both of whom were excited and encouraging. Dr. Sinkford shared information from her collaborative work with Drs. Sheila S. Price and Marilyn P. Woolfolk on ‘Undaunted Trailblazers: Minority Women Leaders for Oral Health.’ She offered insights, gave advice and periodically asked where I was in completing the book. In 2021, their book was published, and the question that began to surface, was ‘What about the men?’”
— Keith A. Mays, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D.
From the introduction in “Undaunted Trailblazers II: Contemporary Men of Color Shaping Oral Health"
“These pioneers lived life undaunted, turning passion into purpose, overcoming barriers with perseverance and transforming their professions with leadership and vision. This is more than a tribute to oral health care success—it’s a call to mentor, to lead and to rise.”
— Karen P. West, D.M.D., M.P.H.
President and CEO, American Dental Education Association
Gain real-life insights from those who shared stories of vision, motivation and triumph…
“I have had a life and career that I could never have imagined. I have been able to travel the world, meet and work with talented people, be involved with exciting and influential projects and transform institutions with my work.”
“By the time I was twelve, I was keenly aware that the lack of proper oral health care was apparent in my community. People would miss school or work because of oral health–related situations. I saw people in pain, some with improper nourishment and others not getting the jobs for which they were qualified, all because of unhealthy and missing teeth. I saw that as a deficit for both the community and the individuals. These images motivated me to pursue a career in dentistry.”
“The daunting statistics about the degree to which children and adults from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds suffer from poorer oral health and face challenges when seeking oral health care in the United States motivated me and keep motivating me every day to engage in active mentoring of future dental care providers.”
“I urge the young generation of leaders to explore their passions in each academic goal and to remember who will be affected by their actions. As my mother used to say, look deep inside of yourself for your vocation and think about each step in your leadership path. Sometimes, during your journey, it is necessary to stop in order to learn.”
“Looking back, I can see the important role that my family and my community played in preparing me to become who I am today. Listening to mentors such as my family dentist, who pointed me toward a career in dentistry when I was in third grade, set me on the first step of my professional life. But listening to other mentors and role models over the course of my life influenced me and supported my professional journey.”
Questions
For publication questions that include, but are not limited to:
- ADEA Official Guide to Dental School
- ADEA Journal of Dental Education
- ADEA Trends
Please contact Publications@adea.org.