College of Dental Medicine Lasting Impressions Magazine

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 31 five when we first started coming, grow up. I look forward to seeing them every year. I enjoy that aspect,” she said. Closer to home, Gaines also mentors at-risk teens in the Women of Tomorrow program at McArthur High School in Hollywood, Florida. She meets with a group of young women monthly, leading discussions and bringing in guest speakers to talk about professions and life experiences. She also participates in an annual holiday event called Meet the Doctors where people in the community gather for a mixer to meet doctors from various fields and donate toys to nonprofit organizations. She is also devoted to her children—15-year-old daughter Nyree, an all-star competitive cheerleader who attends NSU’s University School, and 11-year-old son Aiden, who dives competitively for the Plantation Dive Team and attends McNicol Middle School. For fun, Gaines is passionate about the Miami Dolphins and traveling. She even combined the two last year by traveling to London to watch the Dolphins play there. “I made a promise to myself last year to do more of the things I love to do, and that included a lot of traveling,” she said. In 2017, she kept that promise, traveling almost every month to some place new, such as Aruba, Cuba, Jamaica, Las Vegas, and Nicaragua. She has more plans for 2018, too, including a trip to the Greek Isles and a Mediterra- nean cruise. She also plays tennis and is learning to speak Spanish. As Gaines has come full circle, enjoying a fulfilling life and career, she loves watching her students do the same. “I had a student, Deisy, who shadowed me for years and then got into the dental school and was assigned to my team. I had the honor of hooding her at graduation recently. That was so cool. I loved that.” Gaines hopes to continue advancing in her academic career and focusing on her patients and students. “I just want to be the best clinician and instructor I can be, and hopefully continue to impact the students and foster their passion for dentistry,” she said. u Rashondia Gaines’(second row, in red pants) first trip to the islands to provide dental care included only 2 students and 1 colleague.More than 36 students and colleagues participated in the trip to Jamaica last summer.