Donald Hermansen, DDS ’73 : Showing Up – A Lifetime of Service and Connection

Rooted Where He Grew Up

For nearly 50 years, Donald Hermansen has practiced dentistry eight miles from where he grew up. Born in San Francisco and raised in San Mateo, he built his life — and his practice — in the same neighborhoods that shaped him. For some families, he has treated grandparents, children, and great-grandchildren. That instinct to stay and invest deeply defines his career. Since 1976, Hermansen has provided prevention-focused, relationship-centered care. He learned alongside his late wife, Holly, a UCSF dental hygiene graduate who worked with him for decades, that dentistry is never just about procedures. It is about conversations, continuity, and helping patients become advocates for their own health. “Holly’s favorite part was knowing our patients and becoming friends with them.”

Leadership Across the Field

Hermansen’s commitment extends far beyond his office. He served 35 consecutive years on the UCSF Dental Alumni Association executive council, eventually becoming president and leading reunion efforts that personally connected him with generations of graduates. In San Mateo County, he compiled the dental society’s 50-year history, earned its Board of Directors Award, and later served for six years on the California Dental Association Council on Peer Review, helping resolve complex cases with care and fairness. He volunteers at health fairs and school screenings. He mentors early-career dentists. He ushers every Sunday at the church he has attended since childhood. Belonging, for Hermansen, is not passive. It is something you earn by staying.

A Lifetime of Connection

By his own description, Hermansen began his career shy and introverted. Dentistry — and the communities around it — drew him out. “I really enjoy people,” he says. “And that’s what life is all about — your relationships with people.” Over decades, he became a connector: introducing 50-year alumni classes, mentoring associates, and encouraging the next generation of dentists. He’s built his legacy by showing up as a steady presence in a world that prizes movement. “For me, being part of a community is important. It gives me a sense of belonging.”