Brandi Gervais
Brandi Gervais is a Major in the United States Army Dental Corps, currently serving as Chief Dental Officer for the 44th Medical Brigade. An experienced comprehensive and operational dentist, she supports expeditionary and deployment-focused dental operations that are critical to Soldier readiness. In her role, Brandi blends hands-on clinical dentistry with strategic leadership, overseeing complex dental missions while ensuring safe, effective care in austere and time-constrained environments.
Raised in a military family and driven by a desire to serve, Brandi has spent nearly a decade in uniform and has deployed twice in support of global operations. Throughout her career, she has held numerous leadership positions, including Officer-in-Charge of multiple large dental clinics, Brigade Dental Surgeon, Interim Executive Officer during the COVID-19 response, and Cultural Support Team Officer-in-Charge while deployed to Afghanistan. Known as a servant-leader, she prioritizes empathy, listening, and the professional development of her subordinates while maintaining high standards of patient safety and operational excellence.
Brandi earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, graduating summa cum laude, and completed both one- and two-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry residencies. She is also an accomplished researcher, earning first place in the 2025 Bernier Research Competition for her work exploring dental pulp stem cells in military regenerative medicine. Beyond her clinical and leadership roles, Brandi is deeply committed to mentorship and service, volunteering as a virtual mentor for students and providing free dental care through Mission of Mercy, while continuing to inspire the next generation of leaders in military medicine.
• Expert Field Medical Badge
• Top Secret Security Clearance
• Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) - 9F Designator
• Basic Parachutist Badge
• Texas Dental License
• University of Maryland, Baltimore - D.D.S.
• Uniformed Services University
• Towson University- B.S.
• University of Maryland Global Campus- Master's
• Uniformed Services University- M.S.
• Suma Cum Laude
• First- Place Research Award
• Omicron Kappa Upsilon
• OMFS Interest Society
• Tau Sigma Chi Chapter
• Oral Diagnosis Study Club
• P.A.W.S.
• Academy of General Dentistry
• Association of the United States Army
• Mission of Mercy Maryland / Pennsylvania
• UStrive
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being raised in a military family and being inspired at a young age by the example of a military dentist, which motivated me to pursue a career of service, leadership, and excellence.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received was to choose impact over comfort. A mentor once told me that growth happens when you step into roles that stretch you, challenge you, and force you to develop new strengths. That mindset has shaped every major decision in my career — from leading clinics overseas, to deploying twice, to taking on research and academic roles that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. It taught me that influence isn’t about titles; it’s about saying yes to the work that matters, showing up with purpose, and using every opportunity to elevate others along the way.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to seek out mentors, prepare thoughtfully for applications and interviews, and take every opportunity to learn from those who have navigated the path before you.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in dentistry and healthcare right now is learning how to deliver high‑quality care in environments that are changing faster than our systems were designed for. We’re navigating workforce shortages, rising patient complexity, and the need to provide safe, efficient care with fewer resources. But that challenge is also an incredible opportunity. It’s pushing us to rethink how we train clinicians, modernize our workflows, and integrate new technologies in ways that actually improve access and outcomes. At the same time, advances in exposure science, digital health, and regenerative medicine are opening doors that didn’t exist a decade ago. If we embrace them thoughtfully, we can build a more resilient, patient‑centered model of care that truly meets people where they are.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are integrity, service, and growth. Integrity is the foundation — doing what’s right when no one is watching and holding myself to a standard that doesn’t shift with convenience. Service keeps me grounded in purpose; whether I’m caring for patients, mentoring junior officers, or supporting my community, I believe leadership is measured by the people you lift along the way. And growth is what keeps me moving forward. I try to choose the path that stretches me, challenges me, and expands my capacity to contribute. Those three values shape how I show up at work, at home, and in every relationship I care about.