Dr. Venitress Bryant grew up in the projects of Detroit. However, determination, work ethic and family support enabled her to succeed while cementing her desire to give back as much as possible.
Dr. Venitress Bryant (formerly Carrington) knew she could do big things, even as a little girl. How could she not, having been raised by a single mother who worked full-time as a secretary while attending college full-time and putting her daughters through private school?
“We lived in public housing, but my mom always gave to others,” Bryant said, her eyes welling with tears. “She made our clothes. She made our bread because we couldn’t afford to buy it. I know how to bake because that’s what we ate.”
Bryant was an excellent student, especially in science and math. She knew she wanted to be a doctor after hearing the inspirational story of Dr. Ben Carson, but she was unsure if she wanted to undergo lengthy residency requirements. After narrowing down the specialties that would enable her to maintain a good work-life balance, she further reduced it to three possibilities: an eye doctor, dermatologist or dentist.
“I thought, being an eye doctor might be boring,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to deal with skin conditions all day, either, so I decided to go find an internship that would pay me while I was going through undergrad to determine what was a good fit.”
“We’re all more alike than we’re different. We all have needs—physical, emotional, spiritual. We have to keep that in mind.”
Dr. Venitress Bryant
Two dentists, Dr. Darnell Kaigler and Dr. Richard Blanding, offered Bryant externships in dental assisting. Soon, she discovered she loved the discipline of being a chairside assistant and knew she was destined to become a dentist. One of Bryant’s first actions after graduating from dental school was to go on a mission trip to Kenya with her mother, Dr. Helen Bryant, and her sister, Dr. Sharona Bryant. The trip was organized by Operation ReachBack, a nonprofit affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist church.
“I took a suitcase full of toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental supplies and donated my time and services at a dental clinic in Nairobi,” Bryant said. “My mother has a doctorate in special education leadership and development, so she set up the curricula for a special ed private school. My sister, an emergency medicine physician, provided medical care to Maasai warriors.” Bryant remembers returning home with empty suitcases but a full heart. She gave away nearly everything she brought, including her own clothing, and admits the trip taught her many lessons in humanity and humility. “It amazed me how people so impoverished could still have so much joy,” she said. “I wish we had that level of appreciation in America. We are often guilty of being ungrateful and entitled.”
Over a decade passed before Bryant went on another overseas mission trip. This time, she volunteered in the Dominican Republic with the American Dental Implant Association.
“In three days,” she said, “three doctors did 1.5 million dollars’ worth of dental implant surgeries for people in need.” Bryant has been in practice for 27 years and at her current location in Covington since August 2015. She has never lost her love of learning, as she always stays on top of the newest trends in dentistry. “Like any skill set, it’s polished and fine-tuned by practicing,” Bryant said. “I do a lot of continuing education courses. There have been many times I’m required to take 20 hours of classes, but I’ll take 120 hours.”
She calls her mother her inspiration for education, as the elder Bryant graduated from Andrews University in 2007 with a PhD and was a special education teacher with the Detroit Public School System for 32 years. She even came out of retirement to raise over $50,000 for local schools and help private schools create new programs to benefit students. Dr. Helen Bryant also serves as her daughter’s mentor for compassionate philanthropy.
“Mom always taught us the importance of giving back,” she said. “She has been my role model for how to work with churches and organizations, and if I could even give half of what she’s given, I’ll be proud.”
While volunteering overseas was meaningful for her family, Bryant wants people to understand that it is not necessary to travel the world to make a difference. There are ample opportunities to help others in our neighborhoods and cities.
“Most of my charity work now is in Georgia, doing community health fairs and working on the free dentistry vans,” she said. “The important thing is to do what you feel led to do, but you have to give back. I don’t care what you believe in, God, the universe, karma or gravity. What goes up must come down, and life must be in constant motion. [Sir Isaac] Newton had it right: Energy is never lost.”
Bryant believes we all find purpose in meeting the needs of others.
“We’re all more alike than we’re different. We all have needs—physical, emotional, spiritual. We have to keep that in mind,” she said. Whether giving an encouraging word, offering help or delivering dentistry, Bryant loves making people smile. “My favorite thing is creating smiles beautifully,” she said. “As we say on our office phone, ‘How can we help you smile today?’”
Click here to read more stories by Kari Apted.
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