Embracing Discomfort: Challenging Yourself to Grow

Dr. Harlyn Susarla joins Newly Erupted and host Dr. Joel Berg to discuss the importance of embracing leadership opportunities, along with strategics risks, for early career pediatric dentists to effect positive change. She shares her firsthand experiences with exiting her comfort zone and how those situations built up her confidence in her own expertise and ability to ask the right questions – including one that saved a child’s life.

Guest Bio:

A board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Harlyn K. Susarla is committed to preserving, protecting, and promoting high quality, equitable healthcare for every child. Dr. Susarla is currently part of a multi-disciplinary team at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where her clinical practice focuses primarily on children with complex medical conditions, developmental or behavioral differences, as well as those requiring emergency care. Dr. Susarla is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. She previously worked in a private practice environment, and at the Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, which provides medical, dental, behavioral health and nutrition services to children, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Dr. Susarla completed her undergraduate education at Wellesley College. She then completed a Master of Public Health degree at Boston University, dental degree at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and pediatric dental residency at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and the American College of Dentists.

Dr. Susarla has had the privilege of being an advocate for pediatric dentistry and public health at the local, regional, and national levels. She is Immediate Past President of the Seattle-King County Dental Society and serves on the Washington State Dental Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup and Nominations Committee. A past president of the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Susarla is President-Elect of the Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry, a Trustee of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation, Vice President of the College of Diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, Chair of the AAPD Committee on Early Career Pediatric Dentists, the Western Representative for the AAPD Council on Scientific Affairs, and a consultant on the AAPD Consumer Review Committee. Dr. Susarla is also involved in her local community. She is a member of the Junior League of Seattle and serves on the board of her children’s school.

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