FROM BURNOUT TO PURPOSE: HOW MENTORSHIP REKINDLED MY LOVE FOR DENTISTRY

By Dr. Laila Hishaw

I knew I was sick—I had cancer. But the real wake-up call wasn’t the diagnosis; it was the moment I actually looked forward to my bilateral mastectomy, just so I could finally rest. That’s when I realized just how deep my burnout had sunk.

Dentistry is hard. Add the weight of running three practices, raising three young kids, and running on empty, and you’ve got the perfect storm for exhaustion. I wasn’t just tired—I was disconnected. I dreaded going to work, snapped at my team, grew impatient with the parents in my pediatric dental practice, and avoided my charts as skillfully as my tween patients avoided flossing. The passion that once fueled me had flickered out, leaving behind only stress and resentment.

I had lost my purpose.

And then, on one of those late nights of mindless Facebook scrolling—just trying to numb the overwhelm— something unexpected happened. Something that would change everything.

In 2018, I came across data from the ADA Health Policy Institute revealing that only 3.8% of all dentists in the U.S. are Black, only 5.2% are Hispanic, and a mere 1.1% are American Indian, Alaska Native, or Pacific Islander. I was shocked. Nearly two decades had passed since I graduated from dental school, where I was one of only four Black students and among just a handful of students of color in my class. Had nothing changed? I felt compelled to act.

I posted the statistics on my personal Facebook page in bold letters and wrote: “According to the American Dental

Association, only 3.8% of all dentists are Black. We need to raise that number! Whose kid may I mentor?”

The response was overwhelming. Friends, colleagues, and even strangers began commenting, sharing, and tagging others. Comments poured in: “Can you mentor my niece?” “Can you speak to my granddaughter?” “My son is interested in medicine—do you think dentistry would be right for him?” It was a turning point.

Maybe it was the mother in me or my deep commitment to serving children as a pediatric dentist, but I knew that if we truly wanted to increase diversity in dentistry, we had to reach students early. That realization sparked an idea— to create a Facebook community where parents, teachers, school counselors, and colleagues could connect, share resources, and mentor aspiring dentists.

I named it Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships (DIDM) with the tagline: “I D.I.D. It—So Can You!” As more mentors across the country joined this movement, the tagline evolved into: “We D.I.D. It.” Because this mission isn’t just about representation—it’s about health equity and expanding access to care. Mentors inspire, guide, and champion those coming behind them. They help others imagine a future they once dreamed of for themselves. And for me, mentorship didn’t just ignite a movement—it rekindled my own love for dentistry.

What surprised me most about mentorship was how much it gave back to me. By investing in others, I began to heal from my own burnout. Guiding mentees through their struggles reminded me of my own journey—the resilience it took to get where I am today. Each success story— whether it was a mentee acing the Dental Admissions

Test (DAT) or overcoming academic challenges—felt like a shared victory. Through mentorship, I reconnected with the core values of dentistry: compassion, service, and human connection. I started to see my young patients in a new light, approaching each interaction with the same enthusiasm and patience I brought to mentoring. The act of giving back had reignited my love for the profession.

One of the most powerful moments I’ve experienced was when a pre-dental mentee, now a third-year dental student, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the encouragement that kept her from giving up on her dreams. She shared how having someone who believed in her, who took the time to guide her, share experiences, and open doors to shadowing opportunities, made all the difference. Today, she’s not only thriving in dental school but also serving as an officer on our Board, paying it forward by mentoring the next generation of pre-dental students.

This is the ripple effect of mentorship—one act of guidance can transform a life, spark confidence, and unlock leadership potential. Through the many mentorship connections our nonprofit has fostered, countless stories like hers continue to unfold—a testament to the power of investing in others.

After two years of growth, I took DIDM to the next level, assembling a Board of Directors and incorporating it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. I wanted to introduce a cornerstone initiative that would bring middle and high school students to dental schools, allowing them to meet dental students, gain hands-on experience in the simulation lab, and see themselves in the future of dentistry.

In 2021, we hosted our very first Diversify Dentistry

Youth Summit™, and since then, we have presented eight Summits, with eight more slated this year—thanks to a generous grant from the Delta Dental Institute’s Oral Health Diversity Fund. By the end of 2025, we will have directly impacted over 800 teens and countless more lives indirectly.

It’s an incredible sight when students step off the school bus and walk into the dental school, their eyes lighting up with curiosity and excitement. Once gathered in the auditorium, I stand before them and ask: “Raise your hand if you’ve ever seen a dentist who looks like you.” I watch as only three or four hands hesitantly lift into the air. Knowing the lack of representation in the dental workforce, I am never surprised. But after the Summit, that all changed.

Students get a crash course in dental anatomy and cariology, drill and fill on typodonts, take impressions, learn to suture on a banana, and are mesmerized by the latest advancements in digital dentistry. And then—the day culminates in a White Coat Ceremony, a traditional rite of passage for dental students, symbolizing their entrance into the profession. For these young minds, it plants a seed of possibility—a powerful, visual reminder of what they can achieve.

I am busier than ever—balancing full-time private practice, Youth Summit planning meetings over lunch, evening mentoring sessions, fundraising, managing social media, and traveling nationwide for Summits and speaking engagements. Through it all, I am striving to be the best mother, wife, and daughter I can be.

I’ve learned that I can’t do it alone. In the whirlwind of busyness, I must lean on my village, stay grounded in my values, and be lifted to my purpose. We are more than our titles. We are teachers, mentors, and role models. Sharing our gifts with others matters—they were never meant to be ours alone.

When we embrace our gifts, values, and passion, we find our purpose.

What is yours?

About the author:

Dr. Laila Hishaw is a board-certified pediatric dentist, speaker, best-selling author, and thought leader in dentistry. She founded Diversity in Dentistry Mentorships, Inc. to enhance representation in the profession. Through her nonprofit work, lectures, and consulting, she advocates for mentorship and belonging in the workplace. As a leadership coach, she empowers healthcare professionals to lead with confidence and purpose. Dr. Hishaw lives in Tucson, Arizona with her family and rescue pets. Discover more at DrLailaHishaw.com.