Dr. Zerita C. Buchanan is a fourth-generation dentist and a proud HBCU graduate. Her commitment to health equity led her to be recognized as a “Healthcare Hero” by her alma mater Spelman College. As the first African-American woman appointed to the Board of Fellows at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, she has become a powerful voice for progress and a catalyst for systemic change in oral health leadership.

With a dynamic career spanning both public and private sectors, Dr. Buchanan is celebrated for her expertise in health policy, workforce innovation, and corporate social impact. She utilizes her influential social media platform to address oral health inequities and to mentor the next generation of culturally competent dentists.

Dr. Buchanan received her DDS from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry and her MPH in Health Policy from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her public health research is focused on the enduring impact racism has on the American healthcare system and how it relates to current-day oral health disparities.

Dr. Buchanan’s private practice, Dental Dreams, LLC, doubles as a vocational training center and innovation hub for students pursuing dental careers. In 2022, she launched the “Dental Dreams, LLC – Dental Assisting School” to help combat the dental workforce shortage. Since its inception, the program has trained 50 pre-dental providing hands-on clinical experience, national certification, and a direct pathway to employment. Her leadership in addressing the dental workforce shortage earned her the 2024 American Dental Association 10 Under 10 Award, one of the ADA’s highest honors for early-career dentists.

Building on this track record, Dr. Buchanan is now opening Imagine Medical & Dental Group (IMDG), a technology-forward, multi-specialty practice in Atlanta, GA designed to expand access to dental, orthodontic, and gynecological care. IMDG will integrate advanced technology and artificial intelligence across all specialties to enhance early disease detection, reduce errors, and ensure every patient receives high-quality care.

Dr. Buchanan serves as an adjunct professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in the Department of Medical Education and sits on the board of Georgians for a Healthy Future, where she advocates for health policies that advance equity and access across the state. She also serves as the Assistant Director of the IDID Pipeline Program, a 501(c)(3) organization that mentors over 1,000 pre-dental students nationwide.