Her Story

I chose to balance life by moving to a foreign country as a newlywed, all without knowing how this would impact my professional pathway. This one decision led to incredible opportunities that would not have been possible had I not moved. I used each professional encounter to learn and grow, at times serendipitously, yet I was able to expand my network both abroad and at home in the United States. On return, having a daughter helped me learn how fragile and vulnerable one can be, which strengthened my resolve to support her with fierce determination; in effect, moving me to support others whenever possible. My experiences have helped me live what it means to be flexible. Building resilience enables me to accept disappointment, process events to redirect my energy and focus in order to move forward.

Her Story

I chose to balance life by pursuing my natural love of variety and everything new. The birth of my children clarified that experiences other than work are enriching and make us who we are, yet I love what I do and I continue to struggle to take time away from work. I have postponed retirement for that reason. I believe that work has not been boring or overly stressful for me because I have found variety in my work. I went from being a faculty member into academic administration, returned to teaching and research, and still later pursued training in executive coaching and began another career in leadership development. I also plan intentionally to include variety in my life. In the last couple of years, this has involved hiking in three to four countries every year and pursuing classes in improvisational theater. Discovering new things keeps us young—and balanced.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by moving my focus from clinical dentistry to dental public health-focused research. I carved a professional pathway of collaborative research, making partners along the way who have provided mentorship, life coaching and leadership skills. I expanded my networks within the United States and across continents, which led to incredible opportunities for research and dissemination. My research has enabled me to meet new people, experience new cultures and travel to several places that have helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I wove my passion for women’s issues into my leadership work, which has enabled me to increase the visibility of women in dental research. Overall, my experiences have helped to build resilience, develop strategies for work-life balance and, most of all, enjoy my work!

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by holding on to lessons learned from lived experiences of my past, stretching out toward my future with joyful anticipation, and continually reminding myself to take time daily to sit in stillness and awe as I appreciate my present. I did not have the gift of a mentor to help guide me professionally through my college years and beyond. However, I had an inner compass that served me well. I learned to trust my intuition. I watched quietly and intently, making mental notes of the qualities in others that I admired or disliked. I learned that:

• Before I could lead, I had to follow;
• By willingly doing more than expected and doing it well, I earned trust and respect;
• Though each of us is but one drop of water, together we ARE the ocean; and
• It was possible to bloom where I was planted.

Her Story

All through my formative years, I planned everything I wanted to become and reach in my career, following into the exact footsteps of my role model and mentor, until I graduated from dental school. Early on, I realized that sometimes dreams and plans can change unexpectedly and without forewarning, yet came to realize that when life closes one door it opens many others, and open mindedness and accepting change is key to success in life. After I established my private practice, I realized that I can still get to achieve and balance my all-time ambition of being involved in teaching and professional organizational work along with a career in private practice. Every day is a learning experience, and every person you meet, whether a student, a patient, or a colleague, has a story. If one listens carefully, these stories can enrich and inspire you and help define the path you take in career and life.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by seizing every opportunity to explore outside of my comfort zone professionally, while raising my children in the most stable and comforting way I could offer them. Early in my academic career, when I made the exciting decision to move and teach in a foreign country, I learned so much about resilience and flexibility by watching my children adapt to a totally new environment. These lessons convinced me to take new risks and accept new challenges, such as administrative responsibilities, and led me to surpass myself and find unsuspected strengths. Caring for my family has taught me to put things into perspective and to stay focused on core values in all my professional decisions. My experiences showed me the importance of listening, working as a team, and identifying the potential in everyone and working on enabling it to grow.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life as a clinician-scientist by fueling my passions for research and mentoring. As I strove for excellence in conservative institutions, my journey was fraught with many betrayals. The miracle of family and the counsel of mentors (women and men) helped build the tenacity and resilience I needed to stay true to course, enjoy academic successes and serve as a role model. Women dental professionals still face tensions at work while carrying heavier burdens in balancing family and career. The lack of inclusion of women in decision-making venues and the failure of women supporting other women pose threats. By de-personalizing hurtful situations and using multiple frames of reference, these barriers can be overcome. I envision a future where gender-based discussions are irrelevant and women step forward with courage and a commitment to changing the status quo while uplifting and empowering other women and men.

Her Story

I have never been intentional about balancing my life. As if being part of an experiment, I have adjusted, regrouped, owned my mistakes, and found strength even from grief and loss. As a teenage immigrant to the United States, I learned from my parents’ exceptional work ethic, integrity and perseverance. I believe that setting high expectations is healthy, but that compromising does not mean failure. I’ve been fortunate to experience leadership roles in the public sector, including research administration, public health and academia. Each provided me a unique lens and framework for problem-solving. I love mentoring others, including my son (when allowed) and learning the humbling lessons that life brings each day. I am an eager learner. My teachers are family, friends, colleagues and people without degrees or credentials, who continue to selflessly share their knowledge. I hope to repay them by teaching others.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by focusing my efforts on getting a position in academia. I was highly attracted by the possibility of combining teaching and research activities, and this was my driving force. My second crucial decision was to identify a research topic that allowed me to make an impact on both basic research and technology transfer. I worked hard, and building a cohesive and competitive research team was one of my main achievements. An important milestone was the foundation of a spin-off company, Mimetis Biomaterials, as a way to transform the results of many years of research in a real product, which could contribute directly to enhance the quality of life of many patients. Balancing work and family life—I have three children—has been simultaneously one of my challenges and my main source of energy.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by taking a position in administration early in my academic career, at the time of my first son’s birth. As one of a few women dentist faculty at the institution, the role required me to “lean in” and assume new responsibilities when the demands of becoming a new mother were also new to me. I began a journey to become more self-aware of my potential to vision change. Leadership training and a network of incredible colleagues have informed my perspectives and passion for change. The fulfillment I experienced from working with faculty to innovate, create programs, and shift long-standing institutional priorities, has led to great professional satisfaction. My family has given me the resilience for the journey. After having had the privilege of serving as a dental dean for over a decade, my excitement is seeing the spark to change ignite in others.

Her Story

For me it all started at a Hawkeyes football game in Iowa City. A friend, Dr. Eva Dahl, yelled at me from many rows away: “Would you like to join the American Association of Women Dentists”? Well, I did and found an amazing group of “women supporting women”. In those early years, we did everything we could to highlight women’s accomplishments in dentistry and oral health care. This led to being noticed by my ADA Trustee, Dr. Richard Schoessler, and appointed to the ADA’s Commission on the Young Professional. After many assignments and appointments, I’m now President of the FDI World Dental Federation. If not for “women helping women,” I wouldn’t have had the career I have had, nor the amazing experiences, and would have missed out on wonderful friends and colleagues from around the globe. Thank you, Eva Dahl, and all the other amazing people I’ve met on this journey.

Her Story

Soon after I completed my doctorate in dental studies in France, I had to make a career choice: to be a private practitioner or academia. I chose the longer option of academia. While less rewarding from a financial perspective and more demanding at the same time, it opened up a space of knowledge and personal development through preparing and presenting papers through Africa and Europe. The award of a Fulbright scholarship led me to working in a full English environment in California while taking care of my two-year-old daughter in a day care center across town. It was a revealing experience in culture shock and it taught me resilience away from my comfort zone. Serving as the first woman Dean of the only school of dentistry challenges me with leadership issues every day, and has sharpened my confidence and contributions beyond the university sphere.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by coming back to Cambodia and taking the position as the youngest Vice Dean at the Faculty of Dentistry, International University (IU) right after I graduated with a master’s degree in dental science (Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery) from Seoul National University. Without knowing how, I used every challenge and opportunity to learn and grow. Professional challenges I encountered helped me to grow my passion in dental education and leadership, build friendships with students and network with other dental colleagues, both locally and internationally. I took on another big challenge out of my comfort zone by taking part in the Cambodian Dental Association as President. As a very junior leader, I learned to have fierce determination, yet be humble and supportive to achieve the best for the Association and Cambodian dentistry. My experiences have helped me to grow more positive and keep focusing on moving forward.

Her Story

I chose to balance life and set meaningful priorities when I decided to put my instructional design doctoral studies on hold and follow my husband when he was in medical school after he had a near-death accident. It was this choice that catapulted my career into medical and dental education. With three boys under the age of five and a husband in a demanding residency program, I had to seek creative opportunities through medical education consulting projects and positions to continue to grow and develop in my field. Not only did I have to find and create the need for my skills, but I also had to prove my value as an educator in the health professions without a clinical background. These experiences have helped me define and refine who I am professionally, navigate an untraditional career path and have allowed me to work with many visionary and progressive leaders. I have come full circle and I am now finishing that doctorate degree ... almost 25 years later!

Her Story

I chose to balance life by celebrating each day, working on my wellness and career. A year after earning my D.M.D., I started my academic pathway and marriage. I was chosen to implement and direct the first expanded functions dental auxiliary program in Granada and all of Southern Spain. Being recently married, my husband quit his job and accompanied me in this life-changing experience. I learned that I am passionate for my career and the leadership and learning opportunities it brings. In retrospect, every turning point in my career has been accompanied by a learning experience. I embrace the importance of family support, friends and mentors, accepting opportunities, hard work and the satisfaction of helping others. My son and family taught me the need to be courageous, perseverant, strong, humble, bold, empathetic and grateful. Life has brought tough challenges from which I’ve learned how strong and resilient I can be.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by seeking and nurturing professional relationships beyond the profession of dentistry and taking daily moments to reflect and appreciate life’s goodness. Seeking relationships beyond my immediate professional world lends opportunities to learn something different from different professionals as well as appreciate the often under-recognized similarities in challenges. There is vast potential for synergy and innovation when we look beyond our immediate world. Reflection adds balance to my life because it allows me to consciously validate my experiences, both good and bad, my personal and professional relationships, and to identify areas where I may need to give additional attention and focus. It’s easy and can be done anywhere and anytime. It creates the space to see challenges as opportunities, barriers as growth, and problems as the portal for creativity.

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by committing myself to eating healthy, exercising, getting adequate sleep, and practicing self-compassion. I have let go of worldly possessions and relationships that were crowding my life, and instead focused on nurturing positive relationships in the personal and professional spheres of my life. Practicing self-forgiveness has allowed me to become a more resilient person and more forgiving of others. I have learned that investing in self-care is not selfish, but instead a necessity. My life choices are now more intentional and focused, allowing me to be a more patient, self-efficacious, relatable, and flexible leader. I have learned that life is about the journey, not the destination. And for me, a meaningful journey includes personal health, personal growth, and the opportunity to have positive impact on those around me.

Her Story

Her Story

I chose to balance my life by moving my research focus from clinical dentistry to dental public health. I carved a professional pathway of collaborative research, making partners along the way who have provided mentorship, life coaching, and leadership skills. I expanded my networks within the United States and across continents that led to incredible opportunities for research and dissemination. My research has enabled me to meet new people, experience new cultures, and travel to several places that have helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I wove my passion for women’s issue into my leadership work, which has enabled me to increase the visibility of women in dental research. Overall, my experiences have helped to build resilience, develop strategies for work-life balance and, most of all, enjoy my work!