When Blake Higgins, DDS ’15, reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 23, 2025, he joined an elite group of fewer than 900 Americans who have stood on the world’s highest peak. The pediatric dentist from Vail, Colorado, faced harsh winds and freezing temperatures, but also found moments of clarity and calmness. In this Q&A, Higgins shares how his journey to Everest began, what the experience taught him and the surprising parallels between climbing mountains and caring for patients.