Daniel Chertoff, DDS, has been teaching at NJDS for 43 years. A graduate of the second class of the dental school, he continues to "get a big bang out of being with young people, sharing my knowledge and practicing dentistry. I've just loved dentistry, my patients and the academic environment. I remember getting a call from my mentor, Dr. Frank Frates, who had made me promise to come back to teach. I knew I wanted to be a dentist by the time I was 15 and helping in my uncle's practice after school, but what did I know about teaching? This was a real responsibility. So I called my dad, who was a math teacher for 48 years, for advice. He told me to show them what you do, explain what you're doing, why you're doing it and how to get the end result. What I've learned is that you've got to do all this from your heart." Though Chertoff intends to end his private practice in Pompton Plains sometime in the future, he won't give up teaching. "Dentistry is in every cell of my body. Giving back is so important and these students are our legacy. They come in here knowing very little. Four years later, they graduate as capable dentists."

A concert violinist who has performed at Carnegie, Avery Fisher and Alice Tully halls, a DJ at hip Manhattan nightclubs, and a digital dance music composer with a degree from the Mannes College of Music in New York City as well as a bachelor's in biology from Brooklyn College, this 2006 graduate of New Jersey Dental School admits, "Music is a big part of my life." Yet, he was also born into a family of dentists back in Haifa, Israel. Both of his grandmothers, his grandfathers, his father and uncle are all in dentistry. For the past four years, classmates, teachers, and administrators were beneficiaries of the boundless energy he poured into the school.

My Degree: Doctor of Dental Medicine from New Jersey Dental School, Class of 2006.

Awards/Activities: Oh, I did a lot of things in dental school. At graduation, I received the Student Leadership Award for service and outstanding leadership…president of the Student Government Association (SGA), vice-president of my class, on the Executive Council, in Gamma Pi Delta (the prosthodontic honor society), a fund-raiser/legislative liaison for the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) — which took me to Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington, DC, Buffalo and Texas to lobby on behalf of dental schools. I was also a tour guide for incoming students, tutor for prosthodontics, and ran events like our Happy Hours and “Chill & Drill.”

My Music: My entire family is very musically oriented. In fact, we came to Brooklyn from Israel in 1989 so my two sisters and I could attend Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan. I’m a violinist and played in the Inter-School Orchestra in New York City, where I performed in Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall. But I’m really into the dance scene and have been composing music for it digitally. These days, I only play the violin for myself, not professionally. It’s my down time. My relaxation. My sister, Libi Lebel, is the music brain of the family and is now the conductor for Doctors’ Orchestra of Houston.

Chosen Profession: I’m the third generation of dentists so I must be doing something right. Both my grandmothers and grandfathers were dentists in Israel where my dad was their dental technician. My grandparents are all in their 80s, not practicing anymore. When we came to the U.S., my father went back to school at New York University for his dental degree, and my mother is the business manager of his practice. I grew up in dentistry, was always their little guinea pig, and never had anyone but a family member work on my teeth or fill my cavities.

Most Memorable Patient: A denture patient who just wanted to smile again for his wife. After treating him, I got a call from him that night. His wife had cried when she saw him smile. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Biggest Challenge: What lies ahead. Dental school is the foundation. The rest of the house is yet to be built. I’m doing a residency this year at the Veterans’ Affairs Hospital in California, but I plan to come back and work with my dad for awhile. With 20 years in this dental business, he’s the guy who can teach me a lot. My long-term goals include setting up a private practice, and teaching part-time.

 My story. Our university.