Dr. Howard Fraiman comes from a long history of dentists. In 1991, he became one of six practitioners in his family. Watching his father, uncle, and cousin at work indirectly inspired him.

Through firsthand involvement, he recognized dentistry as a people profession – dentists weren’t at desks all the time, they were interacting with people.

That concept — working with people every day — drew him to the field.

Dr. Fraiman, who practices at Amsterdam Dental Group, with locations in center city Philadelphia and suburban Paoli, was selected in 2010 as one of “The Best Dentists in America” and voted by his peers in 2014, 2012 and 2010 to be featured among “Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Dentists”.

At the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his certificates in Periodontics and Periodontal Prosthesis (Fixed Prosthodontics), he become the youngest person ever to complete this specialty training. Years later, he shares the most rewarding aspect of dentistry:

“It’s all about being around people and learning about people — getting to meet many people, interacting with patients, and being able to work with a team – which is my office and staff. “

Today, as Director of the Prosthesis Program at The University of Pennsylvania, he dedicates a lot of his time to teaching.

What’s to love about dental education? A lot.

“Watching the students develop their skills and being able to participate in that,” says Dr. Fraiman.

An accomplished speaker, Dr. Fraiman lectures on the topics of Periodontal Prosthesis, Implant Prosthodontics, Advanced Restorative Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry. His favorite topic: creating the environment for anterior prosthetic dentistry.

He shares the most challenging part about working in his field: balancing everything in a daily routine. “Between practicing, teaching at Penn, and family, time management is a challenge,” he says.

Improving quality of life for children, families

In memory of their eldest daughter Ashley, who died in November, 2000 after a lifelong incurable neurological disease, Dr. Fraiman and his wife, Dr. Kara Fraiman, founded Ashley’s Angels in 2001, a foundation benefiting children. Its logo is bright pink – Ashley’s favorite color.

“Ashley’s Angels is for special needs children and Pediatric Palliative care. It’s in memory of Ashley. We did it to help raise awareness and funds to help kids in that same type of need.”

Their major fundraisers have brought together hundreds of members of the dental community for a series of lectures sponsored by several corporations.

When the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia decided to formally recognize Palliative care, Dr. Fraiman said he realized Ashley’s Angels was making an impact.

Read more about Ashley’s Angels here.