Laila B. Hishaw, DDS, FACD, FICD, FPFA

Biography

Dr. Laila B. Hishaw serves as Chair of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and an Edward P. Nelson Endowed Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. A board-certified pediatric dentist, author, speaker, and nationally recognized leader in mentorship, she brings more than 25 years of clinical, organizational, and community leadership experience to academic dentistry.

Dr. Hishaw earned her D.D.S. degree from the UMKC School of Dentistry in 2000 and her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2002. Before returning to UMKC, she spent two decades building and leading a successful pediatric dental practice in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Hishaw is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, and Pierre Fauchard Academy. Her honors include the UMKC School of Dentistry Alumni Achievement Award, the National Dental Association’s Phenomenal Woman of Excellence and Architects of Change President’s Award, and the Arizona Dental Association Mentor of the Year Award.  Her expertise has been featured on the Discovery Health Channel and in ADA News, Dentistry Today, Black Enterprise, and the Journal of Dental Education. She currently serves on the ADA Advisory Committee on Equity, Inclusion, and Interpersonal Relationships.

She is the bestselling author of CAVITY FREE KIDS and founder of Mentorships in Dentistry, Inc. (MIND), a national nonprofit creating exposure, mentorship, and pathways into dentistry for students with limited access to the profession.

Dr. Hishaw is committed to developing future dentists, supporting faculty, expanding opportunity, and strengthening connections between dental education and the communities it serves.