Meet LaKisha Malcom | Expanded Duty Dental Assistant & Owner of Still Moments Photography

We had the good fortune of connecting with LaKisha Malcom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LaKisha, how do you think about risk?
The biggest risk in life is not taking a risk. Nothing is guaranteed but death…. Everything else in life that you want you have to take a risk to make it happen. I never dreamed when I was young that Dental and Aesthics would be my career or even passion, however I met one Doctor who believed in me and I changed my entire career path in the blink of an eye and now I can’t imagine my self doing anything else.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s simple when people ask what I do I answer with one sentence, I create Smiles. Dentistry kind of just landed in my lap. It was never my desire to enter the dental field growing up . I actually wanted to become a midwife, but then I met a dentist and it just seemed so easy and rewarding. There is nothing greater than handing a patient a mirror after you’ve given them a smile they are confident in and watch their eyes begin to water. It’s instant gratification. People have been scared of the dentist forever not one of my patients has walked in the first time we’ve met and said I”M SO GLAD TO BE HERE. However when they leave it’s always I’m so glad I met you.. You can’t visit any persons business who doesn’t have a passion or desire to be in that industry. It take passion, heart and empathy to be in healthcare. I connect with my patients in a way that I can’t explain, they may come in feeling as if they are just my patient but within moments they feel like they are in the company of an old friend. It’s my goal to make every person I come in contact with to make dentistry fun comfortable and ok. I go to work and every day try to be the change I want and need to see in my industry. I was voted one of the top 10 Dental Assistant by the ADAA for 2021 and and working to make the list again this year.

Nothing is every easy in a career where you make up only 7.8 % of the field.. So everyday I push myself to be the best person I know to be, Never stop learning and be better than everyone else in my position. I let the doubts drive me . I’ve had Doctors tell me early in my career that Dentistry wasn’t what I should be doing. Imagine when they hired me to come train their employees how they felt having to eat those words. I am the best at what I do because I would do it even if i had to do it for free. people don’t understand that , It’s an immediate I’m never going to work for free and I respond well you’re in the wrong career. Find a career you would still do if you had to do it for free. If you had to volunteer once a week would you still enjoy going to work ? If not find a different career

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Everyone who knows me knows My life revolves around football. There is nothing greater than driving 45 minutes north east of Atlanta and watching UGA between the hedges. But if we’ve got a week so we going to historic Mary Mac’s tea room, The civil rights museum, tasting 100 s of flavors at the world of coke and diving with sharks at the aquarium. You should need a passport to visit Atlanta lol

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The very first Dentist that I ever worked for taught me to love what I do. However I wouldn’t be where I’m at in my career without Dr.Scott Allman of Gallery 32 Dental Arts & TMJ Treatment Atlanta. He pushes me to be better everyday. To have someone in your career that constantly encourages and pushes you to be beyond your best is without words and there will never be enough gratitude I can express for the chances I’m given in my career

Website: www.gallery32dental.com

Instagram: LaKishaNicole45

Linkedin: LaKisha Malcom

Twitter: Lakisha091

Facebook: Gallery 32 Dental Arts