Hayley Harvey was 7 years old when her mom came home one day in a taxi, climbed the stairs up to the family’s Detroit apartment and, without saying a word, went to her bedroom to lie down — something she never did in the middle of the day. “Your mom had all her teeth out today,” Harvey’s dad told her. 
That unnerving experience sparked an interest and the courage for Harvey to ask a local female dentist if she could observe a dental procedure when she was a senior in high school, and that helped put her on a path to a career in dentistry. 
Harvey said that choosing the University of Iowa College of Dentistry was “the best decision of my life.” After returning to Michigan to serve as a dentist in the Army National Guard and then practice at a federal qualified health care center, she moved to Des Moines to practice at Broadlawns. For the past 20 years, she has been the section chief of the Broadlawns Dental Clinic and also leads the dental education program.   
“She believes in the mission, and has worked tirelessly to improve the dental health of our underserved community,” wrote Anthony Coleman, president and CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center, in a nomination letter. “Dr. Harvey uses her passion to make a difference in our community every day, and she wholeheartedly believes that high quality oral health should be delivered with compassion, dedication and humility.”
Recognizing the need for improved facilities and dental care at Broadlawns, Harvey was instrumental in securing $3 million in funding and raising an additional $1 million for a new dental clinic that opened in 2017 as part of a new medical plaza at Broadlawns. She recruited several more dentists, added an endodontics program (for procedures inside the tooth, such as root canals), and nearly tripled the number of dental operatories from eight to 22, Coleman noted. 
The added specialty dental services were virtually unattainable previously for those without private insurance or significant financial resources, wrote Janet Metcalf, a member of Broadlawns’ board of trustees and a 2014 Woman of Influence. “Dr. Harvey’s work has leveled the playing field for all members of our community to have healthy smiles,” Metcalf stated. 
As one of very few Black dentists in Iowa, Harvey is both a role model and trusted health adviser, wrote Izaah Knox, executive director of Urban Dreams in Des Moines. “Dr. Harvey is the epitome of Black Girl Magic,” he said. “She is an icon in the Black community and beyond.”  
Knox added that Harvey “takes her leadership role seriously by showing up at community events, volunteering her time and giving of her knowledge to help improve the oral health and overall health of those in need.”  
Harvey said it has only been recently that she realized her mother has been mentoring her all of her life. 
“She gave me some fundamental life skills that I have used throughout my personal and professional journey,” Harvey said. Among those skills are using the power of prayer, daring to fight back, always striving to do your best and serving others, she said. ν

Education Bachelor of Science in biology, Michigan State University (’88), doctorate in dentistry, University of Iowa (’94) and master’s in dental public health, University of Iowa (’96)
Hometown Detroit
Family Husband Matthew Harvey; daughters Hannah, 20, and Hadley, 15 Hobbies Scrapbooking, walking and knickknack shopping

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WORDS TO LIVE BY
“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.” — Martin Luther King Jr. 

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Three areas of influence

1. Under Harvey’s leadership, community access to dental services has more than doubled at Broadlawns in the past several years, and last year the Broadlawns Dental Clinic served more than 8,000 patients. 
2. In addition to her patient care responsibilities, she works with the University of Iowa Dental School to provide oversight of dental student clinical rotations at Broadlawns. She received the Dental Alumni Service Recognition of the Year Award in 2019, the University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award for Service in 2020 and was named to the University of Iowa Alumni Leadership Council in 2021.
3. She started population health programs in the community that focus on improving the lives of vulnerable individuals, and was integral in recruitment and mentoring of at-risk area youths and adults for Broadlawns’ Teach-Tech job training program, which provides paid health care apprenticeships.

Watch video of Dr. Hayley Harvey

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