Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 33 Ardalan also has a list of professional accomplishments as long as that yellow balloon, from chief resident at a Miami hospital to being honored as one of NSU’s Distinguished Alumni in 2008. To his colleagues, Ardalan is the complete package, and then some. “He’s very genuine, very enthusiastic,” said Manav Malik, D.M.D., a Sarasota pediatric dentist who has worked with Ardalan for several years in the Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, of which Ardalan has served two terms as president. “He always puts others before himself. He volunteers because he is committed. He’s very hardworking and very funny as well. He can juggle a dental practice with a lot of other things.” Ardalan, whose energy is boundless, jokes about being the old fogy at alumni events. His class of 2002 was the second full class to graduate from NSU’s College of Dental Medicine. “I will always remember the amazing people who became the class of 2002 and the variety of experiences that NSU gave me both in and out of the classroom,” he said. While at the CDM, Ardalan was student body president and earned the Outstanding Senior Award from both the American Society of Dentistry for Children and the Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Pierre Fauchard Aca- demy Award, the NSU-CDM Student of the Year Award, the Excellence in Student Leadership Award, and the NSU Chancellor’s Award, among many others. Ardalan continued his pediatric training at NSU and at Miami Children’s Hospital, where he served as chief resident. He continues to be active in the CDM Alumni Society, currently serving as the alumni chair for pediatric dentistry. CDM professors he fondly remembers include Marvin Goldberg, D.D.S., “who taught me the importance of professionalism and a good shave;” Marshall Berger, D.D.S., “who always addressed us as ‘doctor’ and kept telling me that I was ‘dynamite;’” and Robert Uchin, D.D.S., former dean at the CDM, “who taught me the value of organized dentistry and told us early on to ‘stop and smell the roses.’ ” Ardalan also mentioned Jose C. Larumbe, D.D.S., “who always put the students first and could make a space main- tainer out of anything. I can’t forget Mark Webman, D.D.S., and the late Ed Nacht, D.D.S,” he added. “They showed me that no matter how successful you are in private practice, you can always find time to help enrich the lives of the students.” Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1975, Ardalan was 5 years old when his family moved to the United States. He has lived all over the United States, settling in Port St. Lucie with his wife, Kimberly, who is the chief financial officer of the practice; their son, Aidan, 8; their daughters, Layla, 6, Reza Ardalan and his staff are known for regularly wearing zany costumes—including Star Wars and Ninja Turtles characters— and inviting patients and their parents to do the same.The festive atmosphere puts the children at ease.