DR. TOM BLAKE

By Hillary Knipstein | Photo by Eva Toscos

Dr. Tom Blake is creating a legacy of smiles on two continents. In high school, he realized that he loved chemistry and started contemplating careers that incorporated chemistry and appealed to his extroverted personality and desire to work independently. Encouraged by his own dentist and mentor, Dr. Kaufman, he decided to pursue dentistry.

After graduating from dental school, Dr. Blake completed a fellowship in Implantology and General Dentistry. In the early 80’s, he returned to Fort Wayne. His mentor told him about a dental practice for sale in the Waynedale area, and he eventually purchased this practice, where he still treats patients today.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Blake is one of the few dentists in Indiana to have graduated from the Kois Center in Seattle Washington. He also sought additional education on the business side of dentistry.

In addition to serving his routine dental patients, he serves other dental professionals and the community at large. He serves as a board member and as the dental committee chair for the Matthew 25 clinic. He is also the president of the Indiana Dentistry Association and has served as a mentor for the young dentists committee.

“I have a lot of dental babies,” Dr. Blake said, referring to other dentists he has mentored. He also led the effort to create the website for the local dental society, which has a public portal to help educate the community about oral health.

Dr. Blake encourages young professionals to find a mentor in the area to help them understand the industry, think through challenges, and identify opportunities.

While Dr. Blake’s Fort Wayne practice has thrived, he is also building a legacy in Honduras. In 2000, he answered a call for dentists to accompany a Lion’s Club trip to Honduras. During his first day in the field, the need was so great that his team continued to work past midnight. He enjoyed the mission-like work, so he returned on future trips with larger crews of dental professionals to serve more patients. He continued to build connections and friendships in the communities he served.

In 2009, Dr. Blake co-founded a nonprofit organization called Sonrisas Siempre, which translates to “Smile Always.” Sonrisas Siempre provides dental care and education primarily to orphans in Honduras. It has grown to send groups of 30 to 35 dental professionals annually to Honduras to perform what Dr. Blake calls “a lot of dentistry.” Notably, Sonrisas Siempre has sent specialists, like pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, and an endontists to provide a sophisticated range of services in underserved communities. On these trips, half of the volunteers serve patients in the clinic, while the other half travels to nearby communities to provide services in nearby communities. The organization has grown in both volunteers and mission reach primarily through word of mouth.

“It’s way more than I ever thought it would be,” Dr. Blake said. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself.” a