More Than a Scholarship: Connecting Harsh Chheda with Midmark
In Summer 2026, the DTA Foundation awarded 16 scholarships to 3rd and 4th year dental students, totaling $120k this year alone. One of these scholarship recipients really impressed both the DTA Foundation and the donor that provided his scholarship, Midmark. We’re pleased to introduce you all to Harsh Chheda, a 4th year dental student at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.
In a recent meeting with DTA Foundation Managing Director, Jackie Michaels, Harsh and Midmark Vice President of Sales, Ted Kehagias, shared insights from both the industry and clinical sides of the dental world.
Dentistry is something that Harsh was drawn to since childhood, inspired by his grandparents’ experiences in India. Explaining why he decided to pursue dentistry as a career path, Harsh shared a conversation that impacted him greatly.
” ‘Harsh, just apply some salt and haldi on your finger. That is how we usually brush.’ My grandparents’ advice has stayed with me ever since. Having grown up in a rural village in India, they did not have access to proper oral hygiene products and often depended on home remedies for their dental care. Their experiences gave me an early understanding of how deeply oral health is influenced by access and education,” explained Harsh.
Haldi, the Hindi word for turmeric, has been used to help reduce gum inflammation and plaque, but cannot replace professional dental healthcare that is sadly out of reach for many.
Harsh went on to tell us that, “Their limited access to dental care made me recognize that oral health is shaped not only by what happens in the operatory, but also by whether people have the resources, education, and opportunity to care for their oral health in the first place. That realization connected my interest in the hands-on nature of dentistry with a larger sense of purpose. I was drawn to a profession where I could work carefully with my hands, solve problems thoughtfully, and directly improve both health and quality of life.”
As Harsh went back to India over the years, he’s taken an interest in supporting dental education efforts in his grandparents’ village on his return trips. He’s currently planning his next visit after he’s passed his licensing exam, so he can get more hands-on with his volunteer work this time, providing free and affordable dental care to this community, and return back on an annual basis to continue making an impact.
Finishing up his last year of dental school and planning for graduation in Spring 2027, Harsh is also making plans for his next step: an orthodontics residency! We’re keeping our fingers crossed for him as he’s interviewing with some of his top picks. We can’t wait to see where he ends up and how his skills develop. Hearing Harsh’s plans, Ted shared, “I always tell aspiring dental professionals that orthodontics is an exciting and rewarding specialty. The field has advanced tremendously in recent years, making this an especially dynamic time to pursue a career in orthodontics.”
As a student preparing for life after graduation, Harsh had questions about getting dental and orthodontic practices up and running, and Ted was happy to share his wisdom from his more than 18 years of experience. Questions like “What products do you see being in high demand for dental offices” which spurred a conversation about the integration of AI into dental, especially orthodontics, in recent years and “How do I find out what my options are” turned to a discussion about distributors and manufacturers – and what they do at Midmark specifically – in the dental industry and how to build a team of subject matter experts to support your practice. There was certainly mutual admiration, with Ted saying, “It’s great to see all you’re doing as a young dental student. I wish I had your business mind and insight at your age.”
On his feelings about being selected for a scholarship, Harsh shared, “I’m honored to receive this scholarship, I love dentistry, mainly because of my parents and grandparents – they inspired me to do more. It’s been great going through dental school, being in the field, and learning so much.”
Our scholarships are more than financial support – they’re a connection to the industry that is so intertwined with the profession. Ted invited Harsh to reach out anytime. “We want you to be successful; your success is our success. If we can help you become a better provider, we can help you create better outcomes for your patients. Please let me know if there’s ever anything I can do to help. We have a whole network of dental companies at the DTA that are rooting for you,” Ted emphasized.
“Ted, I am incredibly grateful to you and everyone at Midmark for generously funding this scholarship. This support means so much to me as I continue working toward a career in dentistry focused on service, prevention, and expanding access to oral health care for underserved communities,” Harsh shared.
Learn more about how you can help students like Harsh through a DTA Foundation scholarship: https://dtafoundation.org/apply/