Dr. Benjamin W. Nero Sr. was the first African American graduate of the University of Kentucky’s College of Dentistry and has been a practicing orthodontist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and surro...view moreDr. Benjamin W. Nero Sr. was the first African American graduate of the University of Kentucky’s College of Dentistry and has been a practicing orthodontist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas for over forty-five years. A native of Greenwood, he has achieved remarkable accomplishments despite his humble beginnings, growing up on his father’s farm in the Mississippi Delta. In December of 2009, Dr. Nero was honored by the University of Kentucky’s College of Dentistry with the establishment of the Benjamin W. Nero and Robert H. Biggerstaff Diversity Scholarship Fund. This scholarship has been established to support the educational goals of minority students and encourage diversity within the dental profession.
During his career, Dr. Nero served as the second president of the New Era Dental Society of Philadelphia and has had a long history of mentoring students and young dentists, even going back to speak with students in his hometown of Greenwood, Mississippi. A member of the United States Dental Golf Association, Dr. Nero enjoys golf and traveling, once taking advantage of an opportunity to go to Haiti to provide dental care to residents as a church mission volunteer. Now semiretired, Dr. Nero still practices in southern New Jersey but is focusing on speaking with the youth in and around the Philadelphia area. Dr. Benjamin W. Nero Sr. is the proud father of his favorite golfing companion, Benjamin W. Nero Jr.view less