When Kimberly Bolden was growing up in Chicago, Illinois she learned early on the importance of giving back to the community.  During the holiday season each child in her family would stuff food bags for underprivileged children.  Her younger brother involved the family in a Chicago soup kitchen where they would volunteer after Thanksgiving each year.  “My mother volunteered and instilled in us a real sense of community,” Dr. Bolden remembers.

Today Kimberly continues that family tradition by assisting several benevolent causes in the Chicago area.  In addition to her own private dental practice, Dr. Bolden runs the HIV Dental Clinic at Cook County Hospital.  “I always wanted to do something besides private practice," remembers Dr. Bolden.  She has been involved with the program for seven years.  Dr. Bolden also serves on the Women’s Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo where she is on call to deal with animals with dental problems, is active in the Junior League of Chicago, a national organization that deals with Women’s issues, and is a new member to the Parkways Foundation which seeks funding to rehabilitate park areas in Chicago.

Dr. Bolden chose Curry College while on a New England college tour in high school.  “Curry was just the right fit.” She recalls.  She remembers Drs. Tramondozzi, Touger, and Kaufman and Professor John Hill as being major influences.  “I remember taking organic chemistry which was very difficult for me.  My professors gave the coursework and the students a lot of attention and because of that, when I got to Dental School, everything just fell into place.  They really worked with me.”

After graduating from Curry with a degree in biology, Dr. Bolden attended Tufts for two years of sciences.  She chose dental school over veterinary medicine and attended Howard Dental School before serving her residency at Harlem Hospital.  After returning to her native Chicago, Dr. Bolden worked for someone else for a few months before taking a part-time assignment at Cook County Jail.  She began renting space from a woman with a downtown practice and opened her own practice two years after that.

“The College supported me when I needed it.  That’s why it’s important to support the College now.  It was a small place and I knew many, many people and all of my professors.  It worked for me and because of what I got out of it, I contribute physically and financially so that someone else can be helped as I was.  It’s amazing what President Quigley has accomplished in ten years.  I enjoy being a part of it.”

Thanks to Dr. Kimberly Bolden for all her support and continuing to be a valuable part of the Curry College community.