Dr. Ernest Cholakis builds community through care

Across his work as a dentist, educator, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Cholakis [DMD/82] is guided by this sense of civic responsibility: to use what he has learned in service of something larger.

“Every day is an opportunity to use your knowledge and skill set to do more,” Cholakis says.

That challenge has guided Cholakis through a career shaped by patient care, student mentorship and community leadership.

Since founding Cholakis Dental Group in 1984, Cholakis has built one of Manitoba’s largest interdisciplinary dental care groups, serving tens of thousands of patients across Winnipeg. Though, as he clarifies, “Our goal was never scale, but capacity. And what I mean by capacity is the provisioning of the highest possible quality patient care.”

Cholakis describes the dental group’s growth as being the result of professional collaboration, motivated by this underlying commitment to patient care.

“To build a network where you’re caring for over 40,000 patients, you’re not doing it by yourself,” he says. “You’re doing it with a team of people that share a vision of improving the lives of the patients.”

Over time, this shared vision of serving patients helped the group expand its capacity throughout the city.

His connection to UM has been just as defining. Cholakis arrived as a student to the university with uncertainty about his ability to succeed.
 

“The university changed my life,” he says. “It gave me confidence, it gave me friendship, mentors and opportunities that truly enabled everything that followed.”

That relationship continued long after graduation. Over the years, Cholakis has returned to UM as a teacher, mentor and advisor.

“The university invested in me,” Cholakis says. “And so, in return, giving back, has felt like both a privilege and an obligation.”

In his role as assistant professor and co-director of practice management studies, he helps dental students think beyond clinical skills to the broader responsibilities of the profession.

That commitment to giving back also extends to access to care. Through the Kids Dental Outreach Program, Cholakis has helped support dental care for thousands of children in communities where access can be limited and oral health education is not readily available. 
 

“It’s very important to care for those who are underserved by the profession,” he says. “It is so important, not just in word, but indeed, to provide care for those most in need.”

Cholakis has also given significant volunteer leadership to Manitoba’s arts and cultural scene, including his role as Chairman of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Board of Directors and Chair of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. For him, that work is another expression of community-building. 

After decades of building practices, supporting students, serving patients and strengthening community institutions, Cholakis continues to understand his responsibility as a part of a larger civic compact.

“I’ve been the beneficiary of this community,” he says. “The community has made me a better person. My hope is to return that due.”

For now, Cholakis continues to volunteer his time on the CancerCare Manitoba board, helping to consider project and grant proposals.