Living Up to Her Motto

Growing up in Newark, Baseemah J. Marshall often felt self-conscious about her smile, hiding her yellow, misaligned teeth behind her hands. But everything changed after braces and whitening treatments.

“I knew then how powerful a smile could be,” she recalls. “That moment of transformation stayed with me.”

At the time, she was a college junior considering a career in obstetrics. But after shadowing an OB-GYN, she realized constantly being on call wasn't the right fit. With graduation approaching and no clear path, her dentist suggested his own profession. That advice led her to Rutgers School of Dental Medicine's (RSDM) Gateway to Dentistry program, a five-day immersive experience for college students, which laid the foundation for her to help change others’ lives by restoring their smiles.

She saw the Gateway program as a chance to return to her hometown, Newark, and reconnect with family. “Gateway bridged the gap between undergrad and dental school. We got hands-on experience, like drilling and exploring dental anatomy,” she said, “and it gave me the academic and emotional confidence to say, ‘Yes, this is for me.’” It also confirmed her decision to attend RSDM for her dental degree, where she made life-long connections with faculty and served as the president of the Student National Dental Association.

After graduation, she completed a general practice residency and pivoted into public health to work at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Perth Amboy and later in Edison. Though not actively seeking a new role, she learned of an opening at the Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center and joined it two years ago as its dental director.

“I returned to Newark because I felt called to give back to the community that raised me,” she said. “These neighborhoods made me who I am.”

Under her leadership, the center reduced referrals and expanded in-house services. “We started out with a team of three, and now there are 15 of us, and we used to do only cleanings, fillings, and x-rays, but now we do root canals, dentures, … and oral surgery,” she said. “Between 2024 and 2025, the center saw a 57% increase in patient volume.” She recently launched a dental mobile unit to serve schools, shelters, and senior homes throughout Newark. “We’re reaching people where they are. Oral health is essential to overall health—it’s not a luxury.”

Marshall also organized Mahoney’s first Give Kids a Smile Day in partnership with RSDM student volunteers. "We appreciated the partnership," she said. "The students did an amazing job." Beyond the day, she tries to set an example to local children. “Many of our young patients are seeing a provider who looks like them, comes from where they come from, and truly understands their experiences,” she said, adding that she engages in community events, speaks at local schools, and participates in career days. “I believe representation and early exposure can plant powerful seeds of confidence and possibility.”

A career in public health has become a fulfilling path.

"My mantra is 'we are changing lives one smile at a time,'" she said. "We influence our patients' mental health when we fix their teeth; we influence their overall health because, without teeth, you can't chew or digest properly; we restore patients’ confidence. And I feel proud that my team and I can offer that to our community."