Over its 25 year history, the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship, along with California Endowment Scholars program and Joseph Henry Oral Health Fellowship, has a proven track record of creating physician/other health professional leaders; the Alumni Spotlight interviews showcase the expertise and dedication to care for vulnerable populations as a testament of that success. Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Christina Rosenthal, DDS, MPH (JHOHF '15)
Executive Director, Determined to be a Doctor Someday (DDS)
Founder, 516 Foundation
Q. Please describe your current role in your organization and your journey to that role.
A. I'm currently the executive director of the Determined to be a Doctor Someday program, a signature program of the 516 Foundation that I founded. What led me into that role is really burnout from clinical dentistry. I was in a space where I had two practices, and one was failing miserably. There was an opportunity. to participate in the American Dental Association's Institute for Diversity and Leadership; I took the plunge. I wanted to create something that would benefit my community. I always wanted to give back to youth with similar backgrounds and stories as my own. Determined to be a doctor someday was born and the foundation was birthed after the initiative was formed. I did realize that the DDS acronym is for those going to be a doctor one day, and I thought that was awesome. Most people misconstrued the acronym because they believe it's for a dentist only, but it's really for students who want to go into health care. It was my way of paying homage to my profession of dentistry and keeping it from the heart.
Q. Could you describe your leadership style, and can you share any difficult situations that you've had to make as a leader?
A. A servant leader. What I mean by that is: I'm never afraid; I'm always willing to jump in and work alongside my team. I believe being a leader means you empower others to lead. That means you can allow them to flourish where they execute well. An example of that would be what I do every day in clinical dentistry with my assistants. If we get behind schedule they can find me breaking down rooms, cleaning instruments. I'll let them go to lunch; I'll do a working lunch so they can have their full lunch break. Within my nonprofit, my leadership style is the same with my teams. I teach them lessons I wish I had learned. I also hold their hand as they execute those lessons in real practice during some of our sessions. I'm definitely a servant leader.
Q. What are the biggest barriers that you see for advancing health equity and leaders trying to advance it?
A. Okay. To be completely transparent, vulnerable and honest… definitely the political climate, yes. That's the biggest hurdle. Right now, especially. Yeah
Q. Have you been in a situation where stakeholders did not share the same values, and how have you been able to move the needle and seek the outcomes you're after?
A. It was very frustrating because I had a very long-standing, long-term relationship with an organization here in my city, and the administration changed. The administration change brought a different set of values that, I feel, did not value diversity, equity, and inclusion. So, I was given a reason for them being unable to support my work, which I felt was a very invalid reason. But it was okay. I was able to push the needle forward; I tapped into every resource, I called other community partners. I've been given space to host our events. We're still in the period of transition, but I welcome this period because it's more important to me to have stakeholders who are committed to the vision - very committed to the mission - and the work, than to have someone who just wants it for reasons that I don't think are really beneficial to the participants in the program. Also this is quite recent, happening right now because of the political climate. I was told it was another reason. But I know, I'm in Tennessee.
Q. How have your personal narrative and past experiences influenced your career and what role, if any, have mentors played in your journey?
A. What role has my past experiences played? Everything. I strongly believe that everything we go through in our lives serves a purpose and it's not for ourselves. A lot of times we get so engulfed in self-pity - just wanting to be validated or wanting to be affirmed. Every life experience from growing up - from single mother to being a mother to living in an under-resourced community. All of that has led to the work that I'm doing right now. And that is why my program and efforts are to reach students to those who come from similar backgrounds. To let them know that, “Hey, becoming a doctor is probably for you.” What was the second part of your question?
(“The second part was: What role, if any, have mentors played in your journey?”)
Oh, everything. In every single way possible. I always like to tell the story of when I was 16 years old, I took on a program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. And there was this African American woman named Regina Dow who was there. When I first stepped on the campus, I felt out of place because I felt like I didn't speak the language. I felt like I spoke Ebonics, and my English was very broken. Even the way I looked, physically, wasn't befitting for a professional. That was the environment I was walking into. But she assured me that it wasn't about being a doctor. It was about my intelligence and what I could contribute with my work. She bought me my very first white coat, and she also opened my very first bank account. That is why, in my nonprofit work, I give my students a white coat.
It's a branch of the seed that she planted in me. Mentors are so huge. I didn't have too many positive role models in my life. But when I got them, I gleaned every single word that they said to me, and I held them dear and near to my heart, and I acted upon them. I even honored some of them in a children's book that I wrote. I put their likeness in the book, as characters within the book, because they were just critical to my development.
Q. What is the name of the book?
A. It's called You Can Become a Doctor. That's my entire mission, just letting kids see possibilities within themselves.
Q. Can we go back to the white coat? It must have been great when you received your first white coat.
A. I felt so official. It was like this tangible reminder to me: this dream was possible. I tell my students, even to this day, I can't even count how many white coats I've given. (I can get the number for you, if you need it.) I tell them: I want this to serve as a reminder when times get tough, because they will. I want you to stay determined. I want you to never forget that you have what it takes. I think her giving me that white coat did that for me.
Q. If you’re offering, that would be a fun fact - if you could provide it (the number of white coats.) What is the best piece of leadership advice that you've received?
A. Best piece of leadership advice?
Q. From all those great mentors or elsewhere...
A. I'm not saying this just because this is a Harvard interview, but: Dr Reede. I'm not saying this because I know she'll see this. But this is true.
Yeah, she told us collectively. I remember when I went to Harvard, I felt like I had to know everything. And I just remember her saying it so gracefully: You don't have to know everything; just be able to ask the right questions. That was an “aha!” moment for me because, as a leader, you're hit with so much at once. You feel this sense of a burden: I'm supposed to know every aspect of everything. But it's humanly impossible. When she said that, I felt so liberated and free. There's Google, there's YouTube, there's all these other smart people who I can tap into if I don't know the answers. Dr. Reede said, “Just be able to ask the right questions.”
Q. That sounds like wonderful advice. Is there anything else you'd like to add to the discussion?
A. No. I'll get that data for you - the number of students who receive white coats.
Q. I do appreciate that. That sounds wonderful. You started in 2010. How many students do you get each year? Maybe we could do the math, quickly.
A. Sure. We have two separate events: A one-day symposium, like a preview cursory event. On average, we see between 75 to 125 students. Then for our program, which runs from January to June, we have about 40 students. We also have about 30 toddlers now, starting in 2019. Oh, those kids, Milton… Those kids are amazing. They come in, all apprehensive. They want to hug their parents. But by the end of the session, they're leaving their parents and running to me. My little babies! I ran into them around town. I feel bad because I don't remember them, but they remember me. So, it's hugs, all over again. Then they speak so truthfully. Sometimes it hurts, but at least it's entertaining.
Q. It's great that they recognize you and they know you. Thank you so much for your time.
A. I'm happy we were able to connect. Thank you so much.
Interview Date: May 2025
