Unsung Heroes: Dr. Harry Shleifer

A trip to the dentist is usually dreaded, but there's one local dentist who has taken the sting out of some of his patients' dental bills if they don't have insurance.

July's unsung hero is Dr. Harry Shleifer, who's a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan and has a big heart.

"He's in the medical profession for what it seems to me for the real reasons, like to take care of people," said Lou DeLeon. "He's not in it as a business."

DeLeon is a dental hygienist in Shleifer's office in Fountain Hill, Lehigh Co. Looking at people's charts, he said he started noticing the discounts.

"Some people touch my heart," explained Shleifer. "Their children touch my heart, so I just say, you know, either reduce or eliminate their fees."

Most of his patients, Shleifer said, have dental insurance and don't need help, but around the holidays, he regularly reviews balances.

"We'll go through and we'll just zip off their balances or reduce it by 50%," said Shleifer.

Why does he do it?

"I think the people who have, I think it is incumbent upon us to help the have nots," said Shleifer.

"Most patients here love him, and they say it right to his face," said DeLeon.

Shleifer doesn't consider himself a hero.

"I consider myself just trying to be a good person," said Shleifer. "Just trying to do what's right."

"I've never heard a hero say they were a hero. That's why he'll deny it," said DeLeon. "But he's definitely unsung, that's for sure. He keeps a low profile, doesn't look for any attention. He's just an all around good guy. Good to people."

He's a dentist who's extracted lots of appreciation.

"We need more people like him," said DeLeon.