Nicole Cheek, DDS
Dr. Cheek graduated from the prestigious Howard University College of Dentistry (HUCD) in 2014. She earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Howard University, as well. As an undergraduate, she was awarded a Gubernatorial Commendation from the Governor of the state of Maryland for her role as a student member of the award-winning Deamonte Driver Dental Project, a regional school-based mobile health project in Prince George’s County Maryland. Dr. Cheek practices General Dentistry full-time in the Washington, DC area.
While matriculating to HUCD, Dr. Cheek served on the Student National Dental Association (SNDA) Executive Committee serving in leadership roles such as the SNDA Event Coordinator, Oral Cancer Walk Chair, and Community Service Chair. She received several departmental awards during her time at HUCD including the Pathology Department Award, the Orthodontic Department Award, and the Community Dentistry Department Award. Dr. Cheek was selected by the dean as one of two students to represent the College of Dentistry on the 2012 Haiti-Alternative Spring Break mission trip, where she provided much needed dental services for children. In addition, she created the “Two Rivers Dental Day”, a half-day program at Two Rivers Middle School geared toward engaging middle school students in instruction and discussion about oral hygiene and oral health, focusing on targeted teen issues, such as, smoking, oral piercings, and STDs.
Dr. Cheek has always had strong passion for serving the community. Upon graduating, her passion for community service naturally led her to join the National Dental Association (NDA), where she helped coordinate programs for NDA-HEALTH NOW®, the signature program of the NDA (HEALTH NOW is an acronym which stands for Health, Access, Literacy, Technology, and Hope. National Outreach on Wheels). She became the Special Projects Assistant for NDA-HEALTH NOW® and worked to conduct community outreach events and support events all over the U.S., and in several countries. She played a key role in maintaining accountability in data collection and reporting for the NDA’s many grant funded projects. She has also served on numerous Planning Committees for Interprofessional Education programs and has conducted training courses in many cities. Dr. Cheek has also produced web-based children’s educational programs and traveled to Alaska as a RAM (Remote Area Medical) volunteer. A staunch advocate for Oral Health for the underserved, she has made several Congressional visits to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the Maryland State Legislature.
In 2024, she became one of the youngest leaders to serve as President of the National Dental Association. Dr. Cheek has participated in many scientific oral health studies and is a published author in the American Journal of Public Health and the Morehouse publication, Oral Health in America: Removing the Stain of Disparity. She is the recipient of several awards, including the NDA Presidential Special Recognition Award (2019), the Colgate New Dentist Leadership Award (2020), the NDA 40 Under 40 Award (2022) and the NDA Women’s Health Symposium Trailblazer Award (2023). She is a graduate of the ADA Institute for Diversity in Leadership program (2022). She has served on the Executive Committee for the Robert T. Freeman Dental Society and the Howard University College of Dentistry Alumni Association. Currently, Dr. Cheek is a Board member of Hear to HEAL, Inc. , Chair of the NDA Past President’s Council, a member of the Jamaica Dental Society and the Links, Incorporated.
