For Dr. Joseph Cucolo, the most rewarding part of dentistry is helping a nervous patient relax. He knows how much anxiety people carry into the dental office, and he sees it as his job to guide them through it. “There is nothing better,” he says, “than seeing someone who was once afraid develop comfort at the dental office.”

Dr. Cucolo’s path to pediatric dentistry began in a classroom. He first came to Hawaiʻi through Teach for America, teaching high school science and earning a Master of Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa—and it was there that he discovered how much he loved working with children. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery, with honors, from New York University, completed a general practice residency at The Queen’s Medical Center, and practiced at Hawaii Family Dental before returning to school for his specialty. As Chief Resident of the NYU Langone Pediatric Dental Residency Program, he trained fully in the care of children, and he now rejoins the Hawaii Family Dental team as a kids’ dentist.

Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Cucolo now makes his home in Hawaiʻi. Outside the office, you’ll most often find him on a trail with his dog, Kolo. He aims for a balanced life and a chance to help others—he’d like to volunteer at a community health center down the road—and he finds his joy in staying productive and spending time with family.