Kimberly Harms, DDS

Death Doula • Grief Guide • Civil Mediator • Legacy Builder • Life Coach

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Kimberly Harms, DDS

30 Years of Dental, Grief, Conflict and Transition Management Experience

Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life – several times. 




She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a clinical dentist with her late husband Jim in Farmington MN, a school board Chair, President of an international women’s organization,  Vice Chair of the Union Gospel Mission Board, the first woman President of the Minnesota Dental Association, and a National Spokesperson for the American Dental Association (21 years).

After 30 years in clinical practice, Dr. Harms lost her ability to practice dentistry due to nerve damage in her “drilling fingers”.

This event prompted an unexpected pivot in her career path. She recalibrated. Then she became a grief counselor, a civil mediator, a death doula, a life coach, an award-winning, best-selling author, and international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict, and legacy planning.

 Dr. Harms has appeared on national media platforms including The Today Show, CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and NPR. Her insights have also been featured in outlets such as BuzzFeed, USA Today, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and The Latin Post.  
 
Having also experienced devastating personal losses—including the suicides of both her beautiful mother and brilliant son, followed by the death of her beloved husband from a broken heart—Kim now devotes her life to walking alongside others in pain. She leads faith-based widow support groups and coaches Baby Boomers through the rocky terrain of life’s fourth quarter, guiding them toward healing, hope, meaning, and purpose. Her passion is helping others overcome heartache, change, and build a life worth living—a life of laughter, legacy, and love.

Dr. Harms honors the life of her book-loving son, Eric, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, by co-founding 65 Eric Harms Memorial Libraries through Books for Africa, spreading knowledge and hope across Rwanda. These libraries—found in primary schools, secondary schools, churches, universities, national institutions, medical and dental schools, and even four complete new law libraries—stand as a testament to Eric’s passion for learning and love for the rule of law. In the process, she formed lifelong friendships and often says she has learned a great deal about resilience from her Rwandan friends, calling them “the best grief counselors in the world.”

Dr. Harms holds many titles, but the ones closest to her heart are “Mom” to her two remarkable daughters and “Grandma” to her six precious, delightful grandchildren. Splitting her time between Kansas City and Minneapolis, she embraces every opportunity to savor the laughter, love, and unforgettable moments with all six of them—because, in the end, it’s family that defines her richest legacy. 


Dr. Harms is a former grief counselor and currently is a "Qualified Neutral" (Civil Mediator) in the state of Minnesota where she manages patient complaint intake for the MDA's Peer Review program.

Major life events (such as death, divorce, and job loss) and even conflict can create feelings of shock, grief and leave us struggling to cope. These events have a significant effect on the dental team and our patients.

VIEW BIO (PDF)
Dr Kim Harms

With 30-years in clinical dentistry and 21 years as a National Spokesperson for the American Dental Association, Kimberly Harms D.D.S. has seen the importance of positive communication, management of conflict and relationship building firsthand. Her goal is to help untangle problems and support those with grief issues by sharing that accumulated knowledge with seminar attendees.

Dr. Harms practiced dentistry as an enlisted officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, as a dental associate, and for most of her career as co-owner of a private practice in Farmington, MN. She developed a pilot project for the State of Minnesota to deliver care to developmentally disabled patients living in group homes which is still going strong 28 years later.

Dr. Harms was honored to serve as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the areas of operative and hospital dentistry at Loyola University Medical Center and School of Dentistry. Dr. Harms was the first woman president of the Minnesota Dental Association and served on the American Dental Association's Council on Governmental Affairs representing the 10th District. She was also Chair of the American Dental Association's Council on Communications. Dr. Harms has lectured internationally and has worked with dental schools in Mongolia and Rwanda and women's groups in Georgia and Armenia.

As National Spokesperson and Consumer Advisor for the American Dental Association, Dr Harms has appeared on their behalf on the Today Show, CNN, Fox News, National Public Radio and network affiliates such as CBS, NBC, and ABC. In addition, she has been quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Consumer's Digest, Buzz Feed, Shape Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and numerous other print and internet publications. Her article Keeping out of Harms’ Way: Pearls, Pitfalls and Lurking Perils of a Life in Dentistry received the International College of Dentists Leadership in Journalism Award for 2016.


Kimberly Harms speaking at Smiles at Sea
Dr Kimberly Harms speaking at Jumpstart Conference

Top Requested Seminars and Workshops


  • Are You Ready?  How to Build a Legacy to Die For
  • Escape From the Valley of the Scammed
  • How to Get Along With Your Adult Children Without Really Trying
  • Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
  • I’m Still Here: Redefining Your Purpose After the Loss of a Spouse
  • Unwrapping Hope For the Holidays
  • RethinkingDeath.Life (Keynote with Kathy Dempsey)
  • The Clock is Ticking?  Are You Ready (Keynote with Kathy Dempsey)

Awards:


  • University of Rwanda First Friend Award
  • Shale Newspaper's African Founder's Award
  • International College of Dentists Leadership in Journalism Award
  • American Student Dental Association Advocate of Excellence Award
  • American Dental Association Access to Care Award
  • Books for Africa Kilimanjaro Society Award
  • Minnesota Dental Association's Distinguished Service Award
  • Pacific Book Awards Best Inspirational Book of 2024
  • Independent Press Awards: Best Death and Dying book 2024
  • San Francisco Book Awards Best Wildcard Book 2024
  •  American Writers Award:  Best Death and Dying Book 2025
  • Outstanding Creator Award Champion, Best Non-Fiction 2024
  • Literary Global Book Award: Best Parent/Family Motivational Book 2025
  • Book of Excellence: Best Death and Dying 2025

Numerous other honors, including those from the Los Angeles Book Festival, Readers Choice, Chanticleer, Global, International, New York Book Festival, Hollywood Book Festival, Literary Titan, Southern California Book Festival, Penn Craft, and NYC Big Book Awards.


Author of:


  • RethinkingDeath.Life
  • Are You Ready? How to Build a Legacy to Die For
  • Naomi and the Widow’s Club (with Naomi Rhode)
  • Naomi and the Widow’s Club Workbook (with Naomi Rhode)
  • Rebirth: Stories of Unyielding Courage (contributor)
  • Emotional Emergency Handbook
  • Neutralize Your Nightmares: Promote Office Harmony through Structured Conflict Management
  • Tenacious Leadership
  • Living Your Strengths: A Grievers Guide to Life After Loss
  • Overcoming Fear and the Battle in Our Brains
  • The Secret Life of Grief
  • Keeping out of Harm’s Way
Kimberly Harms speaking at Smiles at Sea
Dr Kimberly Harms speaking at Jumpstart Conference
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PROFESSIONAL HONORS / LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE


  • Minnesota Dental Association; Past President
  • American Dental Association's Council on Communications; Past Chair
  • American Dental Association's Council on Government Affairs; 10th District Representative (2006 – 2009)
  • American College of Dentists, Upper Midwest District; Fellow and Past President
  • International College of Dentists; Fellow
  • American Dental Association Access to Care Award
  • American Student Dental Association Advocate of Excellence Award
  • Books for Africa Kilimanjaro Society Award
  • International College of Dentists Leadership in Journalism Award
  • Firebird Book Award
  • 2024 Pacific Book Awards for  Best Inspirational Book, Winner
  • 2023 International Book Awards Long List
  • Chanticleer Book Awards Long List
  • Amazon and Barnes and Nobles Best Seller List
  • First Friend: University of Rwanda
  • Minnesota Dental Association's Distinguished Service Award
  • Mshale Newspaper's African Founders Award

COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE


  • Delegation for Friendship Among Women; President
  • Farmington School Board; Past Chair (Elected Board Member 1986-2000)
  • Union Gospel Mission Board; Past Vice-Chair
  • Women of Tomorrow (Country of Georgia)
  • Books for Africa; Ambassador and Container Captain
  • Eric Harms Memorial Libraries (320,000 books to 65 libraries in Rwanda so far)