I was told by my counselor Kirk that I was not college material, so I went to LACC and became a Dental Technician. Then to CSULA as a Biology major. Then got into Dental school at UC San Francisco. Graduated in 1985. I taught at USC for 5 years. I have taught at the East Los Angeles Occupational Center, and at Pasadena City College. I opened my practice in North Hollywood in 1989. In 1997 I was involved with the famous North Hollywood Bank Of America Shootout. I stopped the bleeding and gave first aid to two wounded LAPD officers shot during the robbery. My van had 28 bullet holes where one officer was hiding and was shot several times. I was awarded Citizen of the Year by Mayor Riordan. I made the custom mouthpieces for Oscar De La Hoya for all his fights from Chavez to Pacquiao, and many pro fighters, like Victor Ortiz. I started a non-profit organization to do free dentistry for the veterans of WWII, Korean War and the Viet Nam War. It is called OSUM for Operation Smiles Uplifting Military. Go to www.ThisIsOSUM.org to find out more. My wife Teresa Romero Montes is also a Dentist. I have one daughter, Veronica Sofia, 27years old, and she graduated from LMU in Accounting. We live in Glendale and we just celebrated my mom's 90th birthday, and still lives in the same house in El Sereno.