Gary C. Sherman

Dr. Gary C. Sherman, D.M.D., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, enjoyed thirty-six productive and fulfilling years as a highly regarded general and cosmetic dentist in New York City and Long Island. After an arduous battle with congestive heart failure due to a congenital heart defect, Dr. Sherman is currently a heart transplant candidate. As he awaits the day that he is graced with a new heart, Dr. Sherman now triumphs, living live to the fullest with HEARTMATE 3 – a left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) which is an electromechanical pump that is attached to his heart and helps his heart’s left ventricle deliver oxygenated blood to all parts of his body.

Dr. Sherman’s astonishing journey through the healthcare system as both a healthcare provider AND a heart failure patient has given him a most unique perspective on how today’s health practitioner must relate to and understand his or her patients. More specifically, Dr. Sherman has accrued a wealth of knowledge about disease conditions of the heart and how dental disease and treatment influence and are influenced by those conditions.

Join Dr. Sherman as he takes you on his journey and shares his incredible life experiences with carefully researched studies, captivating images and emotional stories, while he interlaces new and vital information about heart disease and contemporary approaches to treatment. He will guide attendees in learning how we as dentists can join the elite members of the dental community by having an excellent working knowledge of the conditions of our patients’ hearts and allow our compassion and understanding to lead the way as we become known as “the one to see” for dental treatment in our communities.

In addition to his career in dentistry, currently Dr. Sherman is a Team Supervisor for the New York State Contact Tracing Initiative for COVID-19.  He has also been the president of Pursuits Professional Business Consultants, where he was a formally trained expert in business valuation, with a special interest in valuation approaches for dental and medical practices. Dr. Sherman has lectured extensively on the business side of running a dental or medical practice, and has provided expert witness testimony for equitable partnership dissolution and divorce proceedings.

Dr. Sherman is a member of the American Dental Association. He is also currently serving as an LVAD Patient Ambassador for Abbott Biomedical whereby he visits with cardiologists to expand their knowledge and awareness of the left ventricular assist device, and with patients and their caregivers to inform, encourage and inspire them as they proceed through the complete experience of congestive heart failure and LVAD and heart transplantation surgeries and recovery. Dr. Sherman is also an Ambassador for the American Heart Association, whereby he participates in patient and caregiver support and fund-raising efforts in the tristate New York City region. Dr. Sherman is an active associate member of the National Speaker’s Association – NYC Chapter, and a graduate of the National Speaker’s Association’s Speaker University.

Memberships

• American Heart Association – Ambassador
• American Dental Association
• National Speakers Association/NYC
• Abbott Biomedical - Ambassador
• C-Suite Network - Contributor

• Lincoln Hospital
• Litchfield Dental Society Study Group
• Long Island Dental Meeting
• New York Dental Convention
• North Shore University Hospital
• Northwell Heart Failure Therapies Conference - Hofstra
• University Medical School
• Yale University

“To watch Dr. Gary Sherman speak is awe inspiring!! To see how far Dr. Sherman has come as a heart failure patient is a remarkable and humbling experience. His presentation was insightful and well presented. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about his topics. Dr. Sherman sharing his experience with being a LVAD (Left Ventricular Device) patient evoked and emotional component in his presentation that is rare to find. His ability to incite such lively group participation speaks to his tremendous character and kind nature. Whenever I get the opportunity to see Dr. Gary Sherman present, I will take it in a Heartbeat!!” — Kathleen Fanelli, RN, BSN

“Gary, thank you so much for speaking at the Patient Support Group at Northwell’s North Shore University Hospital! I know there were many more people in the audience than was expected, but I really enjoyed the way you were able to communicate all the information to everyone. You were very knowledgeable about the topic and your passion came through. I could see that the audience was very engaged with the discussion, and it was nice to see that they had so many questions for you and that you were able to answer them in such a detailed manner. I’m looking forward to the next time that you will be able to speak at our events.” — Freddy Gomez, Market Development Manager, Abbott Biomedical

“I am so fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to be a guest at Dr. Sherman’s Presentation, “Why People Choose Not to Donate Their Organs.” With a professional yet unique personal touch, Dr. Sherman was able to captivate his audience and to showcase the importance of organ donation for our present and future patients alike. Throughout his presentation, Dr. Sherman drove these points home by delicately weaving factual, statistical data along with his own personal story. He so eloquently spoke to aspects such as living with a left ventricular assist device, criteria for transplant listing, and awaiting “the call.” One of the strongest and perhaps the most gripping pieces of his presentation centered on the urgency to educate non-donors in order to allow them to see the “big picture” and the importance of donating life.” — Katelyn Cozzolino, BSN, RN, CVRN-BC

“I recently attended Dr. Sherman’s presentation on “Why People Choose Not to Donate Their Organs” and love how engaging and inspiring he is! He is truly a magnificent patient and a real ambassador for our heart transplant program. We are so proud of his accomplishments so far and we look forward to continuing this journey with him!” — Kathryn Malhame, NP, Heart Transplant Coordinator

"I would like to say a few words regarding Dr. Sherman’s presentation at the Northwell Heart Failure Symposium on March 3, 2020. Dr. Sherman did an exceptional job in describing the patient’s experience while staying at cardio thoracic Intensive Care Unit at North Shore University Hospital and the Left Ventricular Assist Device surgery and postoperative care and recovery experience. These incorporated not just the physical experience (pain, procedures, etc.) but also his emotional side (what motivated him to recover, the impact on his family and his career and business while being sick). It was memorable talk, and I was lucky to be a member of the team that helped him progress to where he is now. I am soooo.. proud of Dr. Sherman’s outcome. Keep it up, Dr. Sherman, and spread encouraging words to other patients and family members who are going through difficult times!"— Valerie Demekhin, Pharm.D., BCCCP, BCPS, Clinical Pharmacy Coordinator, North Shore University Hospital

“I met Gary at the Northwell Heart Failure Therapies Conference, where he lectured about his journey of heart failure, to living his life with the support of an LVAD, a Left Ventricular Assist Device to compensate for his heart’s inability to optimally pump his blood.

As a cardiac ICU nurse who has observed and been a part of many people’s cardiac life stories, I was moved to tears during Gary’s presentation. Gary has not only survived life events that may have been insurmountable for some, he now is grabbing life (and his golf clubs) by storm and living and appreciating every molecule of every day. Gary is a beam of positivity, and his lectures teach us to take care of our body and enjoy the ride of life. Gary is living proof that you can thrive, despite having heart failure." — Mary Yuter, BA, RN, CCRN