Most dentists spend years building a successful private practice. Few choose to leave one behind. But that's exactly what Dr. Danny Wong did. After more than a decade practicing dentistry alongside his wife, Dr. Cynthia Reyes, in Northern California, Wong made an unexpected decision.
Wanting to specialize in periodontics, he closed one chapter of his career and joined the U.S. Air Force, knowing it was the primary path to the residency program he wanted. That turned into 20-year military career that took his family around the world and eventually brought him to Las Vegas, where he now teaches at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine and continues to care for active-duty service members at Nellis Air Force Base.
Wong initially planned to complete his specialty training, fulfill his military commitment and return to civilian dentistry. But after three years stationed in Japan, an opportunity to serve in Italy changed those plans. With his wife's support, he accepted another overseas assignment, beginning a series of leadership and teaching opportunities that would shape the rest of his military career.
Over the next two decades, Wong served in Japan, Italy, California, Ohio, Texas, and Nevada, eventually commanding dental clinics and training military dentists. His career also took an unexpected turn during one of the nation's most significant public health emergencies.
In February 2021, President Joe Biden visited the federally supported COVID-19 vaccination center at Houston's NRG Stadium, where he personally greeted U.S. Air Force Col. Wong. At the time, Wong was commander of the 64th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, helping lead the military medical response alongside airmen, soldiers and civilian partners. The team administered vaccinations to hundreds of thousands of people.
For a dentist who had originally joined the Air Force to pursue additional education, the moment reflected how far his career had taken him. What began as a desire to become a better clinician evolved into opportunities to lead people, manage complex operations and serve communities on a much larger scale. The military, he explained, expected its dentists to become both excellent clinicians and capable leaders.
"I want them to be the best, and I want them to learn, and understand what they're doing," he said.
That same expectation guides his work with dental students and residents today.
When Wong retired from the Air Force in December 2022, he joined the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. The transition was a natural one. During his military career, Wong spent nine years teaching general dentists and periodontal residents, developing an appreciation for the role educators play in building clinical skills and professional confidence.
His military experience gives him a connection with UNLV students preparing for careers in the armed forces. Having navigated similar decisions and opportunities, Wong enjoys mentoring military scholarship recipients and helping them understand what lies ahead.
"It's been nice to pay it forward with the students," he said.
For Wong, the rewards of teaching extend beyond the classroom. He hopes his students will carry those lessons forward, become excellent clinicians and eventually mentor others, just as his own instructors once mentored him.
Today, Wong divides his time between educating future dentists at UNLV and caring for active-duty service members at Nellis Air Force Base. Both roles reflect the same commitment to service that has guided his career for decades. Whether mentoring dental students, advising future Air Force dentists or treating patients, Wong continues to put into practice the values he embraced throughout his military career: integrity, service before self and excellence in all he does. His uniform may change when he enters UNLV's Shadow Lane Campus, but his commitment to helping others succeed remains.
