DR . SUJATHA SIVARAMAN ( FRONT ROW CENTER ) WITH STAFF AT FAMILY HEALTH CENTER , MO ( PHOTO PRE-COVID .)*
Sujatha Sivaraman , BDS , DMD , MPH 2012 Pediatric Dentistry , Holyoke Health Center , Chicopee , MA
Pediatric Dental Director at Compass Health Network and Associate Director , NYU Langone Dental Medicine Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry Program in Columbia , MO
“ In 2002 , I moved to the United States to Columbia , MO . As I was applying to dental schools , I realized the University of Missouri , Columbia , had several training programs in medicine and engineering but none in dentistry . Columbia had a children ’ s hospital , but no pediatric dentist on staff . I immediately knew the city needed a dental program , but had no idea how to make that happen . As a pediatric dentistry resident at Holyoke Health Center , I strengthened my desire to care for the underserved . I was able to see how residents play a major role in increasing access to care . My first year program director , Dr . Silvia Perez , shared her mission of opening new sites in areas where there was a need for access to oral healthcare . I approached her about opening a site in Columbia , MO . She said that she would consider it , if I did well as a resident and if there was a need in the community .
In 2012 , I joined the Compass Health Network as their first pediatric dentist . The health center provides specialist care for the underserved in a 200-mile radius . Soon , the health center realized they were unable to meet the demand for access and needed to hire more providers . With the support of my health center leadership team , I approached current NYU Langone Dental Medicine Pediatric Dentistry Program leaders and once again asked them to consider opening a site in Columbia , MO . As the first resident of a new site at Holyoke Health Center , I gained experience about how to develop a new program . I knew the reputation and support system at NYU Langone Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Programs was strong . Seventeen years after my initial move to Columbia , MO , my desire for teaching and helping the underserved population became a reality when the newest pediatric dentistry training site opened in Columbia . My faculty mentors in the same program that trained me as a pediatric dentist helped one of my dreams come true .”
Arya Dadashzadeh , DDS
2019 AEGD , El Rio Community Health Center , Tucson , AZ
AEGD attending and staff dentist at the Gary & Mary West Senior Dental Centers , San Diego , CA
“ I gained a tremendous amount of clinical experience and personal growth under the guidance of wonderful NYU Langone Dental Medicine attendings during my residency and felt that I could pass that along to incoming residents .”
ADVICE : “ Residency is truly what you make of it . Show enthusiasm , practice wisely and kindly with your entire dental team and patients . Enjoy the process !”
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ADVICE : “ I strongly believe it ’ s an honor and a great responsibility to have someone to trust us with their children . It is a serious responsibility and so important that residents use these two years to learn all they can . Residency is the best place to learn , make mistakes and ask dumb questions . So please , work hard , take the program seriously , and do not hesitate to put in extra hours . All the efforts will help you shine in the real world and take care of our precious children in the community .”
ISSUE 11 JOURNAL 1 NOVEMBER 2020
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