“When we forget our past, we forget who we are and lose the only identity that makes us unique and successful.”
That’s why Dr. Richard Ansong – a prosthodontist who practices as an independent contractor in the Seattle area – celebrates Black History Month. But for him, the celebration of his past and his unique identity lasts longer than the short 28 days in February.
“Black History Month – and every day for that matter – is a good time to not forget who we are, our unique identity, our strengths and weaknesses, our unique history…it should be celebrated and remembered.”
Growing up in Ghana, West Africa in a family of 6 boys, Dr. Ansong’s identity is nothing if not unique.
“I come from a humble family of 8 – Mom, Dad, and 6 boys. We grew up in Ghana, West Africa until after high school when we moved to the United States and settled in New York. We didn’t have much, so we all immersed ourselves in school not knowing what’s to come of it.”
It was there, amid the chaos of taxi cabs, the bustle of city streets, and beneath the skyscrapers glinting in the northeastern sun, that he found his calling.
“I have always been intrigued by the anatomy of the human body, how things work in sync to keep the human “machine” functioning,” he explains. “I decided to be a dentist as a third year in college when I had the opportunity to participate in the then “Summer Medical Education Program” at Columbia. Ms. Maureen Pierce Anyan, from the university’s diversity office, made me apply for the program.”
That push, as he tells it, was all he needed to make “one of the best decisions of my life. I fell in love with dentistry after that experience and I am grateful for it.”
But Dr. Ansong never forgot about his unique identity and says that that’s part of who he is to this day.
“What makes me who I am is my selfless upbringing; to treat other as I’d like to be treated; staying humble and yet strong and composed when the going gets tough.”
In fact, treating others the way he’d like to be treated is part and parcel to his outlook on the future of dentistry among students of diverse backgrounds.
“I am of the opinion that we model what we see – good or bad – without even knowing its influence on us,” he says. “For that reason, exposing students of more diverse ethnicities and backgrounds to others like them who work in the profession will have an innately powerful influence on those who feel called to do so.”
Outside of the dental office, Dr. Ansong enjoys playing sports, listening to music, travelling, and getting back to nature. “It reminds me of how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of creation, keeps me humble but puts a huge smile on my face.”
Dr. Richard Ansong is a member of the American College of Prosthodontics and the American Dental Association. He was named Seattle Met's "Top Dentist" in 2019 and 2021.
