LIVING LEGEND (MEDICINE & PHILANTHROPY) Arlene S. Barnett, DDS

Dr. Arlene Slade Barnett is a native of Newark, New Jersey. She graduated with honors from Weequahic High School. She attended Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended summer research programs at Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and the Medical College of Georgia. Focused on a career in dentistry, Arlene applied and received early acceptance to Howard University College of Dentistry at age 20. She was active in the HU Student National Dental Association and Howard's community "Helping Hands" initiatives and worked nights as a residential counselor at a state-assisted home for displaced children for three years.

Arlene Barnett graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Howard University in 1977. She completed her Northeast Regional Boards in August 1977 and began practicing dentistry at the Butler Pediatric Dental Clinic in Washington, DC. While at Howard Dental, Arlene met and married Dr. John L Barnett Jr. in 1976. They are the proud parents of three children; all are graduates of Historically Black Colleges. She hopes the same for her three grandchildren.

The Drs. Barnett moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1979 and co-founded the Barnett Dental Group.

Dr. Barnett served six years in the United States Navy Reserve as Captain. She was the first Female Chief Dental Officer at the New Orleans Naval Base and the First African American Female Dental Officer to be dual assigned to the U.S. Airforce Elite Dental Unit at Barksdale Airforce Base in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was also the first African American Female Director of the Shreveport Cooper Road Medical/Dental Community Health Care Clinic.

Dr. Arlene Barnett served as President of the New Orleans Dental Society, V.P. Pelican (LA) State Dental Society, National Dental Association Board of Trustees, and National Dental Association Membership Chair. Served on Louisiana's first Children's Health Insurance Plan Task Force (CHIPs), traveled on international medical/dental missions and served on the New Orleans Symphony Board. She began fundraising for the United Negro College Fund and Howard University College of Dentistry.

They transitioned to Fort Worth after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. She Co-Founded Kids Stop Dental of Fort Worth and continued her involvement in civic and community service organizations. She is a Life Member of the NAACP, a Past President of the Crescent City (LA) Chapter, and a Past President of the Fort Worth (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She successfully Graduated with three "Legacies" in Jack & Jill of America at New Orleans (LA) and Fort Worth (TX) Chapters. A member of the MOLES and CHUMS social organizations. Dr. Barnett is Chair of the Ambassador's Council of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. She is a Board member of the Multicultural Alliance and the Fund Development Committee member of the FW African American Museum & Cultural Center. She worked to establish the United Negro College Fund Scholarship Endowment for Tarrant County Students. She is a Co-Founder of the Tarrant County Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) scholarship and arts in education organization.