Dentist is an enthusiastic collector of black-bear art and accessories
By: Storme Smith
Dr. Usama “Uzi” Kamal, owner of Black Bear Dental in Hendersonville, has embraced a locally inspired look for his practice. The office is adorned with a thoroughly realized black-bear motif, reflecting Dr. Kamal’s connection to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the surrounding community.
Author and wildlife tracker Linda Jo Hunter once said, “Bears not only make the habitat rich, but they also enrich us just by being.” Maybe that’s why black bears have become synonymous with North Carolina and are often used to symbolize the Southern mountains.
Black bears tend to be timid, protective, and loyal. They’re also beautiful and charismatic. Two of the most famous bears in media, Winnie-the-Pooh — named after an American black bear in the London Zoo — and iconic U.S. Forest Service mascot Smokey the Bear (originally “Smokey Bear”), are based directly on the species. While they make their homes all over the Eastern seaboard, they are well represented in the Carolinas.
Hikers and homeowners in the area often encounter the typically docile omnivores as they seek out their daily sustenance, either in their natural wooded habitat or in suburban neighborhoods, using their notoriously keen sense of smell to explore unsecured trashcans. So it’s not unexpected that one might develop a fascination with this commonly seen symbol of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky mountains.
The last place one might expect to find them, though, is in the dentist’s office. But even at Black Bear Dental, they don’t bite.
Dr. Kamal’s many hobbies include soccer, hiking, rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and, of course, collecting black-bear décor. His love of the animal — and by extension the region — is evident in his eclectic collection, which includes stuffed animals, colorful art, wildlife posters, and smaller accessories.
Originally from Canada, Dr. Kamal served six years as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy. He then received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis before opening his practice in Hendersonville. He’s also made mission trips to countries such as Lebanon to treat refugees — and plans to make more.
Since he speaks French, Spanish, and Arabic, one might even call him a man of the world. But his carefully curated office shows a depth of inspiration coming directly from the Appalachian landscape.
When Dr. Kamal took over the practice, he felt his office needed a theme. The previous owner, Dr. Young, had a Florida motif with pastel colors, but Dr. Kamal wanted something more fitting for the area. He says his staff helped him choose black bears.
“A lot of dentists name their business after themselves, but I didn’t think I was that special as a new dentist,” he says, “so I asked the staff. I told them I wanted to change the name, and they agreed. We came up with some choices, and everyone picked black bear.”
The office walls are beautifully adorned with renderings of black bears — much of them by local artists — that hang seamlessly next to the latest dental technology. The dentist recently installed a 3-D X-ray machine, which produces the lowest possible radiation and is equipped to remove mercury fillings.
Some of the bears are put to work, as well. “We’ve got weighted teddy bears for the kids that help calm them down, and we even have some of the adults that like to hold the teddy bears,” says Dr. Kamal.
Among his favorite pieces are the expressive, close-range photos of bears by well-known local wildlife portraitist April Johnson. But the item that gets the most comments isn’t a piece of fine art — it’s the toilet-paper holder, which appears to have two black bear paws holding the roll. Even the bathroom walls are decorated with wildlife posters from local parks that share information and fun facts: for example, bears have 42 teeth, compared to humans who have 32.
Other features include black-bear woodcuts, light fixtures, door and wall ornaments, lamps, a pair of outdoor statues, and a bear bench by the sidewalk for passersby to rest their legs. The vividly textured bear paintings by Marion Rose are also quite noticeable, brightening the wooden walls and highlighting the rustically trendy sliding-barn doors dividing each room.
Like any collector, Dr. Kamal admits his hobby got a bit out of hand at one point, and he had to put a few items in storage. And while the theme has done its job to brand Black Bear Dental, the dentist credits a dedicated staff, not décor, for the success of his business.
“I’ve got the best team in the country. The staff makes me look good. We’ve just got a great culture here — we take good care of one another. I’m very proud of them.”
Black Bear Dental, 728 5th Ave. West, Hendersonville, blackbeardentalnc.com, 828-693-8416.