Lasting Impressions | Summer 2017

NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 35 The toothbrushes are just extending the territory of his pro bono dental work. For more than a decade, he has headed up the Treasure Coast version of Give Kids A Smile, providing dental care to children from low-income families. Some children in the program have never visited a dentist and have cavities or mouth pain. Some even need root canal work. The ambience at Ardalan’s office is so lighthearted that a visitor might not notice there is serious dentistry occurring. Throughout the day, he sees a steady stream of young kids and teens. Even the freshly minted college freshmen allow their names to be added to the no-cavities board of honor. They’ve been seeing him most of their lives, and tradition must be continued. Ardalan also sees a number of patients with disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum. If necessary, they go into quieter rooms, away from the bustle of the main office, where the lights can be turned off for a more serene experience. Others are happy to be in the big checkup room with four comfortable couches and personal video screens. All afternoon, Ardalan is a blur of motion in a red T-shirt, jeans, and silver running shoes, coordinating via throat microphone with his staff. None of that motion is wasted. A longtime fan of mixed martial arts, he practices Brazilian jujitsu. “I find it a great way to relieve stress and keep my body in shape, with all the contorting I have to do in the office,” he said. The obvious question is, how does he do it all? In Ardalan’s office is a stack of business and leadership books he somehow finds time to read. Above the books is a sheet of paper that says, “Be a laser!” “My good friend and motivational speaker Morris Morrison gave me that tip so I remember to be focused,” Ardalan said. “He is high energy; he motivates everybody around him by his energy,” said Michael Roseff, D.M.D. (’04), who was two years behind Ardalan at the CDM. Roseff was president of his class when Ardalan was student body president. “He loves what he does, and he believes in what he does in his office and with the community. When I opened my office in Boynton Beach, Florida, he was the first one to help me handle every part of it. He’s always been a mentor for me and others.” According to Malik, Ardalan is a vital asset to a number of organizations. “When leadership is needed in an organi- zation—the Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, for example—he was instrumental in pulling people together and almost single-handedly keeping the organization afloat and growing the organization,” Malik said. “Now it’s one of the largest in the Southeast.” Malik added, “He volunteers a lot of his time and energy. He’s one of the iconic figures in the organization, making the Florida Academy of Pediatric Dentistry what it is today. Much of his technique was grassroots, meeting members one-on-one and getting a commitment and support from the individual. He led from the trenches. He could rally people. He really brought the vision of the organization alive. He’s a visionary leader.” u Reza Ardalan established himself as a leader at the CDM, and continues to be active in the CDM alumni society, serving as the alumni chair for Pediatric Dentistry.