Featured Warhawk February 2021: Monica Neshat Cunningham

With dinner cleared and the sweet sounds of an energetic Nintendo game in the background, Monica sat down with us to tell us about her life after her Warhawk days, career and Valentine's. Day advice.

With her husband, Brian and three kids, Abby, Bradley and Charlie (and a pandemic puppy named Duke), her days are filled with school and after-school activities, and trying to find meals that everyone will actually eat. (Tonight’s attempt was burgers and fries.) And oh yeah, Monica is also a dentist who owns her own practice, Reston Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

First, tell us about your family!

Brian is so supportive with everything I do. And, he’s a super dad. Growing up as an only child, my world has been so rocked with three kids. I freak out when they fight because I didn’t see that or do that with anyone. I tell them having a brother or sister is a treasure - you should not be fighting ever.

Speaking of growing up, any memories to share from your days as a Warhawk at JMHS?

I always had a really hard time with history, and my teacher, Mr. Michael Oliver, always encouraged me to learn and look at it as a story - or reading a story - rather than looking at it as an academic. He could tell I was struggling with history and made it better.

Where did life take you after graduating from high school?

GW University where I graduated with a bachelors in biology and a minor in psychology. From there I decided Richmond (VCU) was my destination. I did a one-year graduate program in histology (study of cells) and then went to dental school for four years. Then I moved back home to Nova where I spent time with old friends, joined a group dental practice, met my husband and started a family.

What inspired you to start your own dental practice?

I was the only female and youngest of five dentists in my group practice. I honestly didn’t feel I was taken very seriously, so after two years at the practice, I decided to take the plunge and start my own.

How did you manage starting your own business?

With the love and support of my parents who encouraged me and told me I could do it and succeed. They told me to just be good to people and it will come. My mom especially has been a strong influence. I hope to be as brave and strong and smart as she is one day - and selfless. She’s my role model.

What's it like being a woman business owner and leader?

I try to hire like-minded people. I read articles about hiring and one criteria is ‘only hire someone you would want to grab a drink with’ or ‘someone you would actually want to be friends with.’ Helps me to build a strong team that shares a vision and avoids the struggles. I create my schedule so I can get the kids off to school and be there when they get home. I’m really happy that I have been able to build a structure with work and home life that works for us. And if it wasn’t for my great team, including my associate, there’s no way I could make a work life balance between being a mom and a business owner.

So, any secrets to work-life balance?

I don’t drink caffeine. When I’m at home I don’t think about work and vs versa. Wherever I am I give it 100%. That’s my balance and also my sanity because I think it’s easy to take work home or family issues to work with you. So I make a concerted effort to not do that.

Any overall dental wisdom to share?

I’ve seen a lot of carbonated water drinking, but it is very acidic to your teeth and all the bones in your body - can actually deplete calcium from your bones. So as much as you may love them, avoid carbonated water or soda - anything with carbonation in it!

Anything we can learn from dentistry and the pandemic?

Get a night guard. The ADA put a statement out saying there are a lot of people cracking their teeth due to stress-related teeth grinding and / or clenching.

As we head into Valentine's Day, we couldn't let you go without asking our very own dentist - is candy ok?

Candy is ok, but I would prefer people to eat chocolate that melts versus sticky, chewy things. But we’re all human, and I just put a piece of chocolate in my mouth. Cadbury Dairy Milk. (Yum!)