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. With a successful career spanning both the public and private sectors, Dr. Zerita is highly regarded for her expertise in workforce diversity, health policy, and healthcare innovation. A Harvard trained healthcare executive, she has established herself as an accomplished cosmetic dentist, public health expert, and top oral health thought leader. Dr. Zerita utilizes her influential platform to address oral health inequities and to mentor the next generation of culturally competent and diverse dentists. She is a sought-after speaker & consultant, offering valuable insights on health justice, HBCU pipeline development, and diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives.

She 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 launched the “Dental Dreams, LLC – Dental Assisting School” to further diversify the dental workforce. The school’s mission is to increase diversity within the dental profession and provide students at HBCUs with the economic means to pursue their dreams of entering dental school. Dr. Buchanan also serves as the Assistant Director of The Increasing Diversity in Dentistry (IDID) pipeline program. IDID is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides a solution to the racial disparity in the dental workforce by cultivating, nurturing, and mentoring underrepresented minority pre-dental students. In 2023 Dr. Zerita, formalized a groundbreaking national partnership with Listerine aimed at diversifying the dental workforce.

She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and The Dogwood City (GA) Chapter of The Links, Inc. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Morehouse School of Medicine in the Department of Medical Education.