From displacement to dental leadership: an inspirational journey for dentists and their teams
Choosing a career is rarely a straight path especially for young students stepping into an unfamiliar world, filled with uncertainty and high expectations. For many, it’s not just about finding a job; it’s about finding a purpose.
FDI’s Career Management project was created to guide dental students and oral health professionals as they navigate these crossroads, helping them discover the many possibilities that lie within the world of dentistry. But beyond guidance, what often fuels dreams is inspiration.
In this powerful personal story, Dr Nyachio James Johnstone offers exactly that as he takes us from the tea farms of Kenya to the global stage of dental leadership. His journey is a reminder that no matter where we start, it’s where we choose to go and how fiercely we pursue it that defines our path.
From displacement to dental leadership: Dr Nyachio James Johnstone shares his story of resilience and purpose
I was born in the heart of Kenya’s Great North Rift, raised on a multinational tea estate by my late single mother, a humble tea plucker who taught us the power of education. Despite the hardships surrounding us, I excelled in school, earning a scholarship to the prestigious Kabianga High School — one of the nation’s top schools — and proudly stood among Kenya’s brightest students. But life has a way of testing resilience.
In 2007–2008, during the post-election tribal clashes and widespread violence, my family was displaced, forced to become internal refugees in our own country. We survived by sheer luck, determination, and my mother’s ingenuity, escaping the jaws of death. The violence shattered our community; childhood friends and neighbours were lost, and the trauma of displacement interrupted my education. My scholarship was discontinued because my mother, displaced, struggling and later succumbed to health reasons, could no longer serve in her job.
My sister (Agnes Gesare Kamau) and my nephew (Kaisa Anthony). This was our house, and those are some of the household items we lost in post-election violence. This photo is the only photo I have of our family because our things were stolen. It is the photo that gives me a lot of memories of our home and life before.
Yet even in the face of loss — of friends, home, stability, and eventually my mother herself — I held fast to one truth: education was the only lifeline forward.
I fought my way back, gaining readmission to school after the violence subsided, and emerged as one of the top students nationwide. With a government scholarship, I entered Moi University to study a subject I had long admired: dental surgery. But when grief caught up with me after my mother’s death, I struggled academically, eventually facing discontinuation in my third year.
My mother is in the yellow wrap
For many, this could have been the end of the story. But I refused to surrender.
I appealed, I adapted, and though my initial appeal failed, I pivoted — studying law for a year while still passionately yearning to return to dentistry. I volunteered with a German-led organization during my law school break and through that opportunity, secured a scholarship that allowed me to transfer my credits to the University of Rwanda. There, I finally completed my Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry.
Today, I am a proud registered dental officer, with aspirations to pursue a Master’s in Oral Population Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Presently, I am pursuing a Master Degree in Public Health in Applied Epidemiology at Amref International University (AMIU) with a keen interest in understanding how to reduce carbon footprint in dental practices especially around Nairobi through the Mastercard Foundation Learning for Life Scholarship.
I actively contribute as an ex-officio member of AfroDSA, participate in focus groups like Tabasamu Health and the Deroune Centre of Oral Health (University of Washington), and advocate globally for sustainability in dentistry — including as a past presenter at COP27 in Glasgow on oral health sustainability in Africa.
Why this story matters to our profession?
My journey is not just my own. It is a testament to the thousands of dental professionals who fight silent battles: against poverty, war, displacement, grief, systemic barriers, or personal setbacks.
As oral health professionals, we are more than clinicians. We are smile soldiers.
We carry the power to transform communities, not only through the care we provide but through the example we set — of resilience, compassion, and a commitment to sustainability. Oral health is not just about clean teeth; it’s about public health, dignity, and human rights.
If we can extend kindness and care to our patients, why not to each other? Why not lift up those within our profession who are fighting to rise above hardship?
I encourage every dental student, hygienist, therapist, dentist, and researcher reading this to never give up. If you are struggling today, remember: You are not alone.
You belong to a global community of professionals who understand resilience. Your journey — however difficult — can inspire and transform others.
Let us build a profession where we advocate not only for patient care but also for sustainability, access, education, and compassion within our own ranks. Together, we can shape a future where oral health is a powerful force for public health, social justice, and human dignity.
After all, if we are smile soldiers — let’s make sure those smiles radiate not just in our patients, but across our profession and our communities.
- Dr Nyachio James Johnstone
Explore more with FDI’s Career’s Management project
Dr Johnstone’s journey highlights the many directions a dental career can take, often shaped by resilience, purpose, and a willingness to explore the unknown.
FDI’s Career Management project supports dental students and oral health professionals in navigating these pathways, offering guidance and insight into the diverse opportunities within the profession. The brochure Beyond the chair: exploring diverse dental careers features more stories like Dr Johnstone’s – real experiences that reflect the breadth and impact of careers in dentistry.
Editor’s note: this article was submitted by an external party and has been edited according to FDI’s editorial guidelines. The views expressed are those of the original author.