Why She Was Nominated:

Dr. Jolly’s first year in the industry was frenzied—she graduated from dental school, got married, became a mother and opened a new practice all in 12 months. The first female dentist in her hometown and the first to employ an all-female staff, she also was the first (we’re sensing a trend here) to offer an annual free dental day for the community. She’s active in Give Back a Smile, which connects adult survivors of domestic and sexual abuse to cosmetic dentists, has served on the governing board of Southern Tennessee Regional Health System for six years and was a 2019 Lucy Hobbs Project Humanitarian Award honoree.

Biggest Challenge:

“I became a practice owner just a few months after graduation, when the dentist I worked with died unexpectedly. The challenges of updating an older practice and maintaining excellent business management was daunting so early in my career—but things are going well.”