COMMENCEMENT 2025

More Than Just a Provider

Inspired by his nurse parents who prioritized service to others, Peter Kalu DDS ’25 finds growth and purpose through dentistry.

BY YASMINE GRIMBLE MCG ’16

FOR PETER KALU DDS ’25, dentistry isn’t just a profession — it’s a calling, shaped by family, culture and an instilled desire to serve.

Born in Washington, D.C., as the eldest of three boys, Kalu is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Nigeria to build a life rooted in service. His mother, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and his father, now a retired nurse, instilled the importance of empathy and caring for others at an early age.

“I remember listening to them talk about patient cases — not just treating symptoms but treating the whole individual,” Kalu recalls. “Their deep compassion inspired my path in health care.”

Winding Road to Dentistry

Kalu’s journey took shape in unexpected ways. Initially a nursing major on a pre-med track during his undergraduate years at Howard University, Kalu found clarity during his master’s in public health at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. There, conversations with dental students sparked a new curiosity.

“The more I learned, the more I saw that dentistry was this powerful blend of art, science and service,” he says. “Shadowing confirmed it. I saw how one procedure could relieve pain and restore confidence instantly.”

After graduating from Howard and Meharry, two historically black institutions that shaped his values and sense of purpose, Kalu sought to continue his growth in a new environment. He chose USC for the unique opportunity to expand his perspective in a city as diverse and dynamic as Los Angeles.

“I wanted to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone,” he says. “Los Angeles is incredibly diverse, and USC is the premier institution here. I saw this as a chance to build on the strong foundation my HBCU education gave me while continuing to grow personally and professionally.”

Finding His ‘Why’

At Ostrow, Kalu found fulfillment through community outreach, rigorous clinical and academic training and exposure to new cultural perspectives. He credits the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), the USC chapter of which he served as president and vice president, for helping him foster a sense of belonging.

“SNDA gave me a platform to lead, decompress and advocate,” he says. “It became an anchor for me and a space to uplift others through mentorship and collaboration.”

Energized by service, Kalu also tutored K–12 students in STEM and oral health, served as an Ostrow ambassador, volunteered at the Union Rescue Mission and remained active in professional organizations, including the American Student Dental Association and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

But it was off-campus that he renewed his sense of purpose and confidence in his decision to pursue dentistry.

In August 2024, Kalu participated in a mission trip to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, providing essential care to hundreds of underserved patients.

“Watching someone who’d been in unbearable pain for days, weeks or even months finally experience relief — and seeing the gratitude in their eyes — reminded me why I chose this path,” he says, reflecting on the full-circle moment when he first shadowed dental students at Meharry Medical College.

Keep Showing Up

After graduation, Kalu plans to practice general dentistry and hopes to contribute beyond the clinical setting through mentorship and community engagement to help support and encourage future leaders in dentistry.

“I want to be more than just a provider,” he says. “I want to inspire others the way I was inspired — to lead with curiosity, compassion and a commitment to growth.”

Reflecting on his own experiences, Kalu offers advice to those following a similar journey.

“Find your ‘why,’ and embrace the growth that comes from challenge,” he says. “The lessons come from everywhere — patients, classmates, even your toughest days in the clinic. Just keep showing up.”