Name: Dr. Kareem J. Merrick
Profession: Dentist
Age: 33
One Word That Describes You: Ambitious
Tradition for us within the African and African American community is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation. We are the original griots of the world and we are sincerely connected in a way that resonates through millennia. In the case of Dr. Kareem J. Merrick, his choice of profession and way of live stem from his family’s tradition.
The now-33-year-old Director of the dental department at Harlem United in New York City continues his family’s practice after receiving his dental degrees from Howard University. The son of a doctor and a nurse, it is interesting when you learn that initially Dr. Merrick wanted to take his significant intelligence and talents into the world of government and politics. Seeing that his life could serve the community on the ground — and suffering a chipped tooth — Kareem decided that his love was really with the art of dentistry and he decided to pursue the career professionally.
“I was in awe of the artistry, the architecture, and service associated with the way dentistry improved the quality of life, sustained health and even enhanced the self-esteem in patients in need,” Merrick told BE Modern Man exclusively. “I became interested in dentistry at about 16-years-old when I chipped my tooth playing basketball. I did not want to smile or socialize. As a result, I asked my dentist, who happened to be a black man, a million questions regarding how he was going to restore my smile. As much of a nuisance as I must have been, my dentist had no idea that he was molding me into a future dentist.”
With alumni parents from Howard University, Merrick and his brother both were influenced to attend the educational institution. “We realized that there was never a reason to idolize strangers on television and magazines when the most inspirational people we knew lived under the same roof as we did,” he says. When asked what were some key tenets to success that black men traditionally carry in their DNA, says: “I think tenacity, resiliency, and innovation are constant staples that reside in successful black men. These are traits that I, myself, admire and emulate.”
The director of the community-based organization affiliated with New York’s Columbia University worked hard at his residency in the tough neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, to take care of those in need of medical attention at Interfaith Medical Center. Defying all the stereotypes that come with being exceptionally tall, athletic, and black, Merrick knows a thing or three about strong role models and the impression they can make among peers. “There must be a greater effort to meet the black youth where they are in this society,” he tells us. “We didn’t have to get ahead to give back and character was worth more than reputation.
We just have to bring the youth back to the forefront, no matter who is watching or how different the society they exist in differs from the one we remember to break through the static and make an impact.”
On the next page, Dr. Kareem J. Merrick offers our readers advice on how to collaborate with others…
A man who also enjoys volunteering his free time to those in need, Merrick wanted to offer our readers some sound advice when it comes to collaborating or participating in big groups. “Be a great listener,” he says. “[A listener] full with the purpose of listening to understand; not just to respond. Know that perspective is powerful, and the more perspective you have, the more informed your contributions toward a resolution can be.” This coming from an instructor of clinical dental medicine at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is sound advice, especially from someone who believes in patient advocacy.
Traditionally, adversity has never been kind or a friend to those of African or African American descendants in the United States. Despite all of the obstacles placed in our path, nothing has stopped us from succeeding and keeping the memories of our comrades and families alive to accompany us on that journey to success. We asked Merrick about one of his most challenging moments and what he took away from the situation. “I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and
refused to take any medication that would help me to focus,” he told us. “I managed to overcome my inability to concentrate, but it was very difficult for me. In order for me to succeed, I had to literally re-write and draw out diagrams from all of my textbooks to keep all of my senses stimulated in order to intimately understand concepts. So, when I finally got around to patient treatment it made me happy, as I was so elated to be able to use my hands every day.”Outside of Black Enterprise, you won’t see Merrick, his brother, or parents mentioned in the mainstream press. Why aren’t there other in-depth interviews done to chronicle the Merrick family history and champion their impact? “Music, sports, and entertainment were the biggest and broadest of all national stages—even when black men were not allowed to engage [in them],” Merrick tells us. “Black music and entertainment became unavoidable, as well as irresistible, as long as you had ears. Today, we still believe, much like the generations that came before us that these industries reflect our greatest talents— and that is simply not true.”
By taking time out of his hectic schedule to facilitate inspiration and knowledge to the next generation, Dr. Merrick sees his own narrative enabling others to break free from the instituted stereotypes placed on ourselves. “Our community will only subscribe to the stereotypes of the media if that is the only
reality available to reflect the potential of people that look like us,” Kareem says. “Sometimes all it takes is witnessing someone in the same environment, with the same tools, accomplishing something you never knew possible to make waves that will resonate beyond what the eyes can see.”As a man of fortitude and strength, Merrick is a BE Modern Man that you can believe in—and also have extract your molars. “In these tumultuous times, where the news can be saturated with the victimization and negative stereotypes of the black man in America, being a BE Modern Man means to exemplify a tangible symbol of accomplishment and awareness in a society that needs the truth from all sides.”
His academic accomplishments have rewarded a community with better health and self-esteem, and he bolstered his reputation through rigorous study and dedicated community awareness. From becoming a Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholar to even serving on Howard University’s Board of Trustees—Merrick represents the traditions of a people who take their trades seriously and use them to affect others—thus proving that our normal is extraordinary.
We at Black Enterprise salute you, Dr. Kareem J. Merrick, for contributing positive images of our culture to the masses. Your mission of patient advocacy and passion for dentistry frames us in an enthusiastic light, and is meant to be celebrated and appreciated.
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