We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Cara Hodgson, DDS, MS. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Cara below.
Dr. Cara, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
I had professors and classmates telling me that I wasn’t going to make it through college, dental school and residency. I used my haters and doughters to fuel me.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I take pride in what I do. Orthodontics is the combination of being a doctor, art, and science. It combines my 3 biggest passions: biology, human connection, and art. What I love most about my job are the relationships I build with my patients and their families. There is nothing more rewarding to me than seeing my patients transformed into more confident, happier versions of themselves. Being trilingual has allowed me to treat patients from all different backgrounds and cultures and meet so many patients from all over the world. I love exchanging stories and getting to know each and every one of my patients on a personal level. I know each of my patients by name, and take the time to get to know each and every one of my patients. I believe that orthodontics isn’t just about fixing or straightening teeth, but taking into consideration every aspect of the patients’ smile – their profile, face type, and the soft tissue surrounding their teeth. I specialize in clear aligner treatment, full mouth laser gingivectomies, and am trained in botox and dermal fillers so that I can go above and beyond in giving my patients their dream smile.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Perseverance, determination, and strength. Never give up despite what anyone says, and don’t let anyone put limits on what you can achieve.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Meditation and exercise are therapy for me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @drhodgsonortho
- Other: TikTok : @drhodgsonortho
Image Credits
Ryan Chua
