Zach Powell, a first-generation dentist and Medical College of Georgia alumnus, will deliver the keynote address at Augusta University’s Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony on December 10 at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Powell, who graduated in 1999 from what is now the Dental College of Georgia, credits his early exposure to patients during dental school as pivotal in shaping his career.
“What is great about the Medical College of Georgia’s School of Dentistry, which is now the Dental College of Georgia, is that students see patients very early in their academic career, and I was hooked because I love people,” said Powell. “Seeing patients early on helped me really buy into dental school and know that it was the career for me.
“I quickly learned you could be self-employed, you could be immersed in science, you could help people, and you could be entrepreneurial,” he added. “All that, for me, made the perfect profession. But it really is all about the people.”
Powell serves as CEO and chief dental clinician of The Georgia Smile Group. Over two decades, this organization has managed 18 practices across Georgia. He emphasizes patient advocacy for seniors and children and supports rural health care initiatives. As president of the Georgia Dental Association in 2022, Powell continued his efforts to improve access to dental care.
He and his wife Elizabeth established the Zachary J. Powell Scholarship Endowment at DCG to encourage first-generation dentists to serve in rural or underserved areas. “When my wife and I started out in 1999 with our own practice, we always wanted to give back, and we were always committed to doing just as much pro bono dentistry as we could,” Powell said. “For us, that all started in Augusta. We got married during my first year of dental school. We started our marriage in Augusta, so we wanted to start a scholarship for students who were perhaps first-generation dentists that wanted to go back and serve in a rural community.”
Powell points out a significant shortage of dentists throughout rural Georgia: “Many folks don’t realize that more than 20 counties in Georgia do not have a single dentist. We have another 20 counties that have just one dentist,” he explained.
The Georgia Smile Group operates several offices serving around ten counties in Southeast Georgia; some locations are the only dental providers within their county boundaries.
“Our philosophy is that we stay patient-centered to where, whether you’re on the Georgia coast or you’re on a blueberry farm, we treat everybody the same,” said Powell. “When you provide dentistry in a rural community, you’re part of the community. And when you’re part of the community, you have a responsibility. As part of the adjunct faculty at the dental school, I always urge young people to at least give an underserved area a try because once you go there, you won’t leave.”
Powell’s family has also been involved in dentistry; both children worked at their family practice while growing up. His son Zach is currently applying to dental school with hopes of attending DCG like his father.
“He finds out on Dec.15. I encouraged him to apply to several schools, but he only wanted to apply to one school, and that’s the Dental College of Georgia – to follow in my footsteps,” said Powell.
Addressing upcoming graduates this fall, Powell offered advice focused on service: “Life is a journey about service,” he said. “When you make your profession about serving and helping people, success will follow. It just will.
“I always tell people that service is the difference between having a job and being in a profession,” Powell added. “I always wanted to be in a profession because it’s about a greater good, about serving others. It seems like the more you give, blessings chase you.”
