Dentist overcame adversity to find success

Chinese parents divorced when Rex Liu was 3

By GINGER MIKKELSEN
VIEW STAFF WRITER

At age 37, Dr. Rex Liu usually concentrates on the future and not his past. But the Las Vegas dentist admits the challenges of his past, a childhood scarred by abuse and time spent in foster care, have served to make him the man he is.

"When you move on with your life, you don't really hold onto certain things that happen. You just sort of move forward," he said.

The second generation American was 3 years old when his Chinese-born parents divorced. When he turned 5, his father remarried. The new step-mother began beating the young boy. The abuse continued for four years until the attacks became so severe Liu was hospitalized with cuts along his face and body.

His step-mother was arrested and Liu was taken from his father and placed in the California foster-care system. For more than a year, Liu stayed with two foster families while his father and his mother fought for custody. From her new home in Las Vegas, Liu's mother eventually won.

The situation at his mother's house was improved, but not perfect. Liu's step-father was an alcoholic. Eventually his mother divorced the man and she and her son struggled to survive on their own.

In spite of all the challenges he faced, Liu excelled in school. The senior class at Chaparral High School named the future dentist most scholastic and most spirited and dedicated.

He was named Mr. Future Business Leader of America for the state of Nevada, he received a Century Three leadership award and then he won scholarships from the Elks Club, the Rotary Club and the Steve Wynn Foundation.

"You can do well. You don't have to be a victim. You can endure," Liu said. "If you're a single mother, if you're a victim of abuse, if you have immigrant parents, if you have what you think are a lot of odds against you, that doesn't mean the odds have to be against you."

Even with scholarships to back him up, Liu's college experience at the University of Southern California was challenging. Working as a residence hall adviser the student earned just enough money to get by.

"I literally made it through college and dental school on $200 a month. That was it. I used to tell people my major was financial aid. How else are you going to do it?" he asked. "I ate Thanksgiving dinner at Fat Burger and I didn't have a car until I was 24. I guess that's the reason I drive the way I drive."

Liu earned a bachelor's degree in psycho-biology from USC. Then he went to the university's dental school through a Western Interstate Alliance for High Education program.

Since Nevada had no dental school at the time, the program provided funds for select students to travel to other states for schooling. Grant recipients were asked to make a commitment to return to practice in Nevada. Liu said that commitment wasn't hard for him to make.

"I'm practicing just blocks away from where I went to high school. There's a real family atmosphere because of the connection to the neighborhood," he said.

The dentist frequently serves his childhood neighbors or his high school and junior high school teachers. But old friends are just a part of the practice. Local dancers, singers, gymnasts and musicians fill both Liu's schedule and his walls.

"It's sort of my hall of fame," he explained as he pointed out the performer photos along the walls. "People whose smiles are their livelihood are finding their way into my practice. They realize I understand how important it is for them to have the best smile possible. I think they sense I care."

Liu recently expanded his practice, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, in a new location at 2850 E. Desert Inn Road. This is the third expansion the practice has undergone and the dentist is pleased with the results.

The new offices are inside the former Southwest Dermatology Building. But rather than take what he was given, Liu had the whole place remodeled. Treatment room windows looking out on a garden were added. Walls were moved and added to provide more treatment space and more privacy.

The dentist said the spacious patient areas provide space for guests to watch treatments performed on family members. Nitrous gas systems were put in every room. The new offices use bottled, not city water for treatments. The waiting area was redesigned by Stephen-Paul Associates of Beverly Hills.

"I wanted it to feel more like an upscale bed and breakfast," Liu said.

Patients seem to like the feel of the place. Brian Bill doesn't mind driving from Summerlin to see Liu.

"Yes, this is the far side of town for me, but I've been coming to Dr. Liu for 10 years now. I just like his manner," Bill said.

Julie Taus is also a 10-year patient.

"I keep telling everybody what a wonderful dentist he is. He's so painless I fell asleep," Taus said.

"He's a wonderful boss and the patients love him," office employee Lorena Aguilar said of Liu. "He's a good guy."

For more information, call 454-0858.

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Dentist overcame adversity to find success

Chinese parents divorced when Rex Liu was 3