While some of you may have been introduced to her on the reality show Married to Medicine, Dr. Jarrett Manning has been a star in real life since her days at Xavier University. A member of the exemplary sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., her practice JLM Studios, is among the most renowned in the country. During this interview, Dr. Jarrett shares her rise from a small town in Mississippi, the importance of reaching back, and how being truly herself, a one of one, was the key to her success.
Can you tell us more about your journey as a dentist and how you became one of the country’s most well-known and respected professionals in the field?
I am just a small-town girl from Mississippi who just has this dream. I thought about being a doctor growing up and once I approached middle school; I went to a summer program at Xavier University. Xavier University is known for placing African American students in medical and dental schools. I think that was the deciding factor for me. I knew I had to go to Xavier because they had the keys and the tools to help me become a dentist. I received my undergraduate degree from Xavier, I later received my Master’s degree, and from there I went on to dental school in Memphis.
I moved to Atlanta—really for love—not really thinking this where everything was going to pop off for me, but it did! I got my feet wet; I got experience and gained knowledge and expertise. At the same time, I married my husband, became a wife and mom, and made connections with a lot of different individuals in Atlanta in the medical arena and outside of that. That’s how it all started for me. I opened my practice up 14 years ago—14 years ago yesterday, actually. What makes my practice unique and successful is that I bring elements of who I am.
Could you share some insights into the work you do as the owner and “smile creator” at JLM Dentistry in Atlanta?
Yes, I am the owner and “Smile Creator” at JLM Studios. I like to call myself the Picasso of Dentistry. Dentistry is truly an art form because no two smiles are alike. We are truly about painting a picture. Smiles speak volumes. A beautiful smile can get you a job, get you that new boo, or get you married. A smile says a lot about a person. It increases your confidence when you have a beautiful smile. I, as a dentist, am in the business of increasing confidence, health, and beauty at the same time, all at once. It takes time to create a masterpiece. Our vision at JLM Studios is to take care of patients and treat them right. We envision promoting health. That’s at the forefront of everything we do. We treat our patients with dignity. We communicate well. And we have compassion and empathy for our patients. All of this is done with respect, integrity, and professionalism.
What inspired you to become a business and life coach, and how do you balance this role with your work as a dentist, author, wife, and mother?
I think what has inspired me to become a business and life coach is going through this thing called life while having a career. When I started out, I didn’t really have mentors to help mold me and coach me through things. I learned a lot on my own, kind of like on-the-job training. What I have done is try my best to mentor and help others who have chosen to follow the same path I have. I try to mentor and coach other dentists so that they can avoid some things I went through. I think teaching someone the things that worked for me will make their path a lot easier.
As far as creating balance, the word “balance” is tricky. I try my best to always put family first. That is of the utmost importance. To put things into perspective, I like to use the word “wholeness” instead of balance because I don’t think you ever really find balance. I think wholeness is most important. During a given week, one or two things may get more of my attention than they will the following week. I try to sit down every weekend and map out what’s more important to the next five or six days and those are things I dedicate my time, energy, and space to. And maybe that means some things get pushed off to the following week. I think wholeness is the better word for me because when I put my all into the things that are more important to me, I feel whole and that drives the balance.
How has being a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and an alumna of Xavier University in Louisiana influenced your career and life path?
I don’t know how to quantify an answer (laughing). I can’t put into words how much Delta and Xavier mean to me, respectively. When I think about the path that I have taken in life, there is so much that I owe to Delta and Xavier. These two entities have molded and shaped me into becoming the woman I am today. I just think about all the things that I have in life and all the things that I have achieved. I can say that Delta and Xavier have been behind it all. Even me finding my husband, I met him through a friend at Xavier. There is so much I owe to my university and my sorority. I have lifelong friendships… They are in my heart forever. Excellence has always been the standard with Delta and at Xavier, and I’m just trying to continue to live up to that.
Tell us about your nonprofit organization, Beyond Her Smile, and its mission to advance positivity among young girls and introduce them to dentistry and medicine.
Beyond Her Smile is an organization that I started because everything popped off when I was a little girl. The light switch turned on and I realized that I needed to get serious about what I wanted to do as a career. I have been exposed to phenomenal women in my community and through Delta, my mom, and my aunts—women took me under their wings at that age and showed me the possibilities of what I could become. To whom much is given, much is required. I am literally reaching back and doing the same on a different scale for minority middle school girls who look like me… I want to expose them to STEM fields and dentistry because there is a strong need for minority dentists. I want to be a force of change and show these young girls that being a dentist is fun. It is an amazing career and an amazing field to go into. I want to expose them to STEM fields, so they know that with hard work, dedication, and determination, anything is possible.
As a published author, could you share more about your books and the messages you aim to convey to your readers?
My books are all centered around dentistry and medicine. My main book focuses on giving dentists the tools to open their own practices. A lot of times, going into entrepreneurship, there is not a mentor in front of you. It was important for me to give that blueprint to other dentists to make the load easier for them and let them know the steps they would need to take to get them to that point. That is one of the reasons why I wrote the book. I give them a guide towards achieving their goals.
What advice would you give to aspiring dentists looking to make a name for themselves in the field, given your own remarkable success?
I think the number one thing is to be true to yourself. I look at a lot of my colleagues who are thriving out here like myself, and I think the common denominators are that they are unique and true to who they are. I think that alone will get you so much further in life. There are always going to be people out there that resonate with you and your story. The biggest advice is just to be true to yourself. People can read you. They can tell who you are and whether you’re being genuine, especially women. We have discernment abilities that are not like any other. People can tell if you’re being fake or phony.
In what ways have you been called upon by the media to speak about your expertise in dentistry, and what do you find most fulfilling about sharing your knowledge with a wider audience?
I have been called upon in several ways, whether through magazines, speaking engagements, and interviews. It’s been in so many different ways and I’m grateful and appreciative. There are so many aspects of dentistry. There are so many things that people need to know and understand about oral health. I think my job is to communicate the message and set the record straight on what is the true standard of care in oral health and beauty. There are some unrealistic and unnatural perceptions that are being glorified. I don’t allow those perceptions to influence my artistry when my knowledge and experience say otherwise. I only wanted to deal with people, patients, and clients who understand my expertise is more advanced and better than what the media says is what’s hot.
Be’n Original
