College of Dental Medicine Lasting Impressions Magazine

28 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY She’s known around the College of Dental Medicine as “the lady in red.” That’s because for the last 15 years, Rashondia Gaines , D.D.S., has worn her red scrubs every day she is in the clinic. “If I don’t have them on, no one recognizes me, or if they do, they ask where my red scrubs are,” Gaines said. But the “lady in red” is known for so much more than the color of her scrubs. In addition to her scrubs, Gaines wears a number of hats: assistant professor, director of faculty practice, director of the evening clinic, team leader for the predoc clinic, community volunteer, mentor, mission leader, and mom to two busy children. With more than 18 years at the CDM, Gaines is recognized today not only for all she does, but also for her passion for inspiring others inside and outside the classroom. For Gaines, the reward has been watching her students grow, blossom, and succeed over the years. “I’ve had students shadow me, then when I see them go on to dental school and graduate, I feel like a proud mom,” she said. In a way, Gaines, who was born and raised in Fort Pierce, Florida, has come full circle since she started shadowing an oral surgeon in tenth grade. While her father hoped she would follow in his footsteps and pursue a career as an attorney, Gaines knew from an early age she was much more fascinated with teeth than with the law. When she con- vinced her father she was serious about dentistry, he asked an oral surgeon friend if his daughter could shadow him. The oral surgeon wound up hiring Gaines as an assistant. “On my first day there, I was holding the head of a patient, standing very still with my knees locked. You know, it’s your first day, and you’re trying not to mess up. All of the sudden, the room started to get dark, and I passed out,” recalled Gaines with a laugh. “It wasn’t because of the blood, though. I hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning. They took me into the recovery room, I ate something, and that afternoon I was good to go. I’ve never had a problem since.” In fact, Gaines continued to work with that oral surgeon through her third year in dental school, spending her college summers and holidays in his office. It solidified her path to becoming a dentist. “I thoroughly enjoyed the patient interaction and getting to do so many procedures. I thought I would go into oral surgery since that was what I was exposed to, but once I Positive Influence APPROACH IMPACTS STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY BY ELLEN WOLFSON VALLADARES FACULTY IMPRESSIONS