by Shannan Herbert, Chief Executive Officer of Wacif
Today, we’re honored to spotlight Dr. Nekia Staley, a shining example of Black excellence in entrepreneurship and healthcare. A native Washingtonian and graduate of Howard University, Dr. Staley has established a thriving dental practice while passionately dedicating herself to community service and inclusive care. Through her active involvement in health fairs, dental events, and community outreach programs, she ensures that underserved populations receive essential attention and services.
Dr. Staley’s journey from a pre-med student at Spelman College to a respected dentist and DECOD Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she specialized in treating and accommodating mentally and physically challenged individuals, exemplifies the resilience and compassion that drive many Black small business owners. Join us as we delve into Dr. Staley’s inspiring path, her unwavering commitment to serving diverse communities, and the unique challenges and triumphs she has encountered as a Black woman in dentistry.
Shannan Herbert: Thank you for joining us, Dr. Nekia. I’m really impressed by your journey and the work you do to bring healthcare to our communities. What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
Dr. Nekia Staley: Looking back, I’ve always had a passion for caring for others. I remember being the one to give my grandparents their medicine, including insulin, when my grandmother became diabetic. This early experience fueled my desire to care for my family and others. In middle high school, I began volunteering at a hospital for sick children, where I developed a strong connection to the special needs community. This experience has been a guiding force throughout my career and life. Interestingly, I later discovered that my great grandfather was a dentist in Denmark, South Carolina, traveling to barbershops to perform extractions. It’s fascinating to see how this family legacy has influenced my path.
Shannan Herbert: An interesting data point I found is that Black dentists make up 3.8% of US dentists. You’re part of this 3.8%. What does that mean to you?
Dr. Nekia Staley: It just means that other Black children haven’t had the experience I had growing up. That’s why I encourage young people early on, welcoming interns and anyone interested in dentistry to my practice. I want them to see that it’s possible but also understand the challenges. There are two aspects: becoming a provider and running a business. I want to show both the opportunity and the reality of the work involved.
Shannan Herbert: That’s a good point because you’re both a medical professional and a small business owner. How do you balance the two?
Dr. Nekia Staley: Over 20 years, I’ve learned to separate my roles as provider and business leader. I’ve created a team to handle business matters while I focus on patient care. I know when I’m in meetings, when we’re discussing quarterly plans, and when I’m working as a doctor. It allows me to allocate time for both being a business owner and a healthcare provider.
Shannan Herbert: As a doctor active in the community, you’ve likely seen significant health disparities in low-wealth and Black and Brown communities. How have you positioned your business to be a solution to those disparities?
Dr. Nekia Staley: We stay engaged in the community through health fairs and events, always emphasizing oral health. I testify at government levels about integrating oral health into overall healthcare – they shouldn’t be separate. My office accepts Medicaid, which I’ve done for 20 years. While it’s not profitable, it’s my service to the community and helps me understand their needs. There is no reason children in this country should die from lack of dental care, like DeMonte Driver who died from dental infection. It’s our reasonable service to address these issues.
Shannan Herbert: You’re also a University of Washington DECOD Fellow, providing dental professionals with training to treat patients with special needs. How has this fellowship influenced your approach to inclusive dentistry?
Dr. Nekia Staley: I was introduced to special needs early in my life, which allowed me to expand into an underserved community. Few dental professionals are trained to treat this population or are willing to see them in their offices. Through my training, I’ve learned how to be mobile and treat patients bedside, particularly those with conditions like cerebral palsy, and create strategies for treating patients with autism.
This experience led me to create the Special Care for Special Needs Dentistry Foundation to raise awareness and encourage more providers to work with this underserved population. Additionally, I’ve noticed a lack of attention to caregivers. We now offer training classes for caregivers on how to care for their loved ones’ oral health. I’ve seen firsthand the importance of giving caregivers a break, even if it’s just for 30 minutes while we care for their child. Our organization now pays attention to the needs of caregivers as well.
Shannan Herbert: What a wonderful way to show up for families in your care. I’d like to switch gears and talk about the future. Technology is increasingly transforming oral healthcare. Where have you integrated advanced technology in your practice? Do you believe this technology can enhance healthcare accessibility and inclusion?
Dr. Nekia Staley: Yes, absolutely. We’re excited about integrating AI into our practice. It’s been instrumental in analyzing x-rays and scans, catching issues preventively that might otherwise go unnoticed until later visits. AI also automates our note-taking process, saving us hours of work and allowing us to focus more on patient care. During COVID, we adopted teledentistry, providing care remotely and prescribing medication when patients couldn’t visit in person. These technologies not only enhance our efficiency but also improve the quality and accessibility of care we provide.
It’s a fantastic educational tool. Previously, patients might not understand what they see in an x-ray. AI changes that by presenting clear, understandable visuals. Now, patients can diagnose alongside me, which enhances clarity and eliminates doubts about conditions like cavities or abscesses. This visual approach, familiar from social media and other tech, improves patient education and treatment acceptance significantly.
Shannan Herbert: That’s amazing. How do you plan to enhance dental care access in under-resourced communities?
Dr. Nekia Staley: One plan is to expand mobile dentistry, reaching people where they are, if necessary. Despite numerous dental offices in our immediate area, there are still areas in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. where access isn’t as available as it should be. Expanding teledentistry services is crucial. I will continue to advocate for oral health, likely returning to the Senate and House this year. One particular area of advocacy is for children in Maryland to undergo dental exams as part of school registration, similar to the requirement in D.C. So, I really would like to see that happen in Maryland for our children as well.
Shannan Herbert: What resources do you wish you had when building your business and balancing motherhood? What would have been helpful to you during that time?
Dr. Nekia Staley: Probably a mentor—another woman with similar experiences who could offer advice and suggestions. That’s why I created The Other White Coats. It’s a space where women like us come together to share experiences. In my group, I learn from others about navigating business, especially areas like social media where I struggle. It’s a safe space to discuss unique challenges we face as primary caregivers and business leaders, supporting each other transparently toward our goals.
Shannan Herbert: When you have conversations with small business owners, what’s the dialogue around access to capital and small business support? We are particularly interested in understanding the challenges they face in accessing capital.
Dr. Nekia Staley: Well, I am so glad you asked Shannan. Access to capital is one of the biggest challenges we face in running our businesses. It’s clear that there’s a disparity; our counterparts often have easier access. Personally, after 20 years in business, I’ve seen others able to start with significant investments right out of dental school, while for us, it’s different. We still face obstacles as Black women entrepreneurs. Operating without sufficient cash flow is stressful; we often wait on insurance or patient accounts. Equipment costs are high hundreds of thousands for things like CBCT scans and scanners. This affects our ability to invest in our practices and our teams. Providing benefits for our employees, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and retaining staff are difficult for small businesses. These challenges stem directly from limited access to capital.
Shannan Herbert: It’s unfortunate because the work you’re doing goes beyond patient care and serving under-resourced communities—it also represents the future of Black dentists. Increasing representation from 3.8% to 5% or even 10% requires resources to sustain and showcase your efforts. Finding the right financing packages and programs is crucial. Addressing challenges like extended payment waiting periods with tailored financial products can ensure businesses like yours continue their impactful work without financial barriers hindering progress.
Dr. Nekia Staley: When you mentioned providing resources, I’ve seen firsthand in my colleagues’ practices during COVID that many couldn’t access PPP funds due to financial readiness. It’s concerning because dental school doesn’t teach business management; most of us become business owners by default. Courses in practice management are crucial even for practices like mine, much smaller than others. These resources in business ownership and setting up properly are vital in our business community.
Shannan Herbert: We hear the same from participants in our cohorts and Accelerator programs—they often need guidance on where to begin. They have ideas, skills, and talents but may not have a business background or financial acumen. This doesn’t diminish the viability of their skills or products; they simply need help organizing on the backend.
Dr. Nekia Staley: Yes, being able to produce a P&L, which I experienced this week means having an accountant on call who maintains your records. Many of us cannot simply pick up the phone and request a P&L.
Shannan Herbert: It’s important to highlight that. It’s about offering support to ensure small business owners can effectively manage financing while simultaneously helping the business thrive.
Dr. Nekia Staley: Being ready when the opportunity presents itself.
Shannan Herbert: That is right! Thank you, Dr. Nekia, for sharing your inspiring journey and insights with us today. Her story underscores the importance of accessible, inclusive dental care and the positive impact it can have on communities. Together, we can continue to break down barriers and build a future where quality dental care is available to all.
I am honored to introduce myself as the new Chief Executive Officer of Wacif. As we embark on this journey together, I am filled with a deep sense of purpose and commitment to our mission of inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development.
As we look ahead, I am dedicated to building upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors. Wacif has been a source of empowerment in our community, and I will continue that tradition by leading with empathy, integrity, and innovation. We will continue to amplify the voices of small business owners and create pathways to prosperity for all members of our community.
In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to connecting with members of our community and finding creative ways to bring new stories to our readers. Together we will inspire and uplift one another and write the next chapter in our organization’s story.
Established in 1987, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund’s mission is to increase equity and economic opportunity in underserved communities in the Washington, DC area by investing knowledge, social, and financial capital in low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. Our mission is driven by three strategic pillars: inclusive entrepreneurship, community wealth building, and equitable economic development, and is fulfilled by providing access to capital products and services, and capacity building technical assistance to low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs. Wacif has been continuously certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) since 1996, making the organization one of the nation’s first CDFIs.
