Conversations with Tenecia Hall

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenecia Hall.

Hi Tenecia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Pine Bluff Arkansas, a product of HBCU love. I moved to Atlanta at 11 years old. I attended Fayette Middle and High school in Fayetteville, Georgia. During that time, I met an amazing orthodontist in my teenage years who inspired my love for dentistry. The way he transformed my smile made me want to be able to help others in a similar way. My grandmother has been edentulous my whole life and her telling me her horror stories with the dentist was inspiration as well. My mother is an RN so healthcare is in my blood. I went to Middle Georgia College at 16 and got an Associate degree in Business Administration. I transferred to THE Fort Valley State University (the #1 public HBCU in Georgia ) on a Presidential Scholarship and received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. From there I went to Medical College of Georgia for my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. In dental school, I had the opportunity to do several mission trips which allowed me to see how much need there is for serving the underserved. I realized there is a need right here in Atlanta when I did rotations in low access to care areas. I have been practicing for 10 years mostly in underserved areas. I never want to forget where I came from. I want to be able to give back to those who are often overlooked. I am married to a wonderful man that I met at Fort Valley State University with 3 beautiful children.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road was tough. Many sleepless nights and tears. The amount of credit hours and expectations required took perseverance. I had to lean on God and my support system to get me through. Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 were my go-to scriptures and I still recite them daily. 8 years of college and then learning my flow while growing up has been a whirlwind but the journey has made me into the compassionate person I am today. My struggles are mostly imposter syndrome. Graduating with my doctorate at such a young age and going straight into a professional career was overwhelming. I was blessed with a great mentor at my first job and she helped me develop into the professional I am today. A few of the lessons that I have learned are how important a work/life balance is and that confidence is the key to success. Each and everyday it is essential to believe in. yourself and know that you are worthy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am honored. Aside from Dentistry, I recently got a Master of Public Health degree and I am working on pivoting into public health. I want to serve in many different ways. I have done a few talks with groups about overall oral health and looking to do more. I want to make sure everyone knows how to take care of their oral health and how it connects to your systemic health.

In my free time, I am a micro-influencer. I love working with small brands especially black owned brands. I have worked with many brands and I am excited to work with more. I want small businesses to succeed. I also recently got into photography as a hobby and want to use that to help small businesses with content.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can be found on LinkedIn and I’d love to connect. I check my messages there daily. www.linkedin.com/in/tenecia-hall-dmd-mph-808b91196

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tenecia-hall-dmd-mph-808b91196

Image Credits
Bernice Ciera Photography