Meet Dr. Christiane Francisco-Drake | General Dentist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Christiane Francisco-Drake and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Christiane, how do you define success?
Success to me means fulfilling your God-given purpose in life. And I don’t believe it’s always tied to a profession, money, or accolades. What did God plant in you? What did you do with it? Were you obedient and committed to that calling? My desire is to walk in the fullness of all of my gifts, leaving no stone unturned along the way. Serving God and serving others in whatever capacity that looks like for you. Leaving a legacy. I believe that’s the place where you’ll find true fulfillment in life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a general dentist who has been working in public health for the past 5 years. I’ve always had a heart for service. A goal that I had prior to entering dental school was that I’d like to work in public health for an extended of period of time. Because I come from an inner city background where I witnessed my hardworking mother struggle, I’ve always had a deep compassion for the underserved and those who maybe weren’t dealt the best cards.

Prior to entering the workforce, I received extensive training working with both HIV/AIDs patients at Grady’s Infectious Disease dental clinic and low income patients at Ben Massell Dental Clinic and the Healing Community Center. I can say that these experiences prepared me for my current role as the Dental Director at Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, a Christian clinic that serves the low income and uninsured population in the most diverse county in all of southeast United States. Restoring smiles for a population in need is truly gratifying and I’m blessed to be able to do meaningful work in a career that I love.

The journey to becoming a dentist was not at all smooth. I didn’t get accepted into dental school the first time I applied which was very discouraging as I didn’t have a plan B. Even after being admitted into my dream school (University of Maryland), the program itself was very challenging because of the intensity and course load. Never placing limitations on what was possible and having a great support system both in and out of school were major keys to achieving my dream.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A trip to Atlanta is not the same without a visit to the MLK monument. Going to the museum, his birth home, Ebenezer all hold so much history and tell one of the best stories of the significance of Atlanta and of course Martin Luther King’s contributions to society. I’ve also been wanting to check out the National Center for Civil and Human Rights so this could be a great time to do so.

We love to laugh so if there’s a comedy show happening at the Fox Theatre, we’d definitely need to make time for that.

The beltline is also starting to become one of my favorite destinations. Starting at Ponce City market we can walk or rent scooters and explore all the activity there is to see and do there. We could also visit the rooftop of the market or The Painted Duck if we’re looking to be more active.

We’re big foodies so dining would more than likely be the highlight of our trip. A must visit restaurant is Slim and Husky’s for pizza. I love the hip-hop environment, the food, and that it’s black owned. Another must is either getting garlic soy wings from Choong Man Chicken or lemon pepper from JR Crickets to go with our pizza!

For brunch we’re either going to Gosha’s or Breakfast at Barney’s. Some other must stop restaurants are Southern Gentleman, Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint and Cami Cakes to curb our sweet tooth.

And of course it wouldn’t be a true girls trip if we didn’t have a movie night in and I cooked them dinner with a homemade dessert. Cooking and baking is my love language 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s impossible to choose one person because so many people have been instrumental in my life.

My grandparents both had a strong hand in my upbringing. My grandmother instilled in me the love of Christ not only in word but in deed- always walking in kindness and generosity- and Poppy always repeated the phrase that “a mind is a terrible thing to waste”. Since I was a young girl he always told me I would become a doctor; so much so that not seeing any black doctors in my environment did not deter me because I already believed what was possible for me. The same man who dropped out of high school at 16 to join the military (and would later earn his GED) knew the importance of an education and instilled that in me growing up.

Being raised by a single mother, I learned the importance of hardwork – nothing is given, everything is earned- and to keep going when life tries to knock you down. My father, a rural Louisiana native turned Computer Programmer, was always a phone call or flight away to give guidance when needed. Both of my parents have always been supportive of my journey and gave me the space to grow into the woman that I am today.

My spouse has been with me for a significant period of time and has encouraged me through many of my lowest valleys and continues to inspire me to reach higher than what many would believe is already the pinnacle of success.

So many individuals have planted seeds to propel me forward however ultimately without God’s hand over my life, I wouldn’t have overcome the obstacles that were set before me. I’m just a woman attempting to follow God’s plan for my life and stay on the path He’s placed me on. Any accomplishments or accolades that come as a result of that are a reflection of His glory and goodness.

 x

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