Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sally Guerrasio-Safari. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sally, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.

Sitting on the train headed to my first day of work as a pediatric dentist, and I was terrified. Would I do a good job? Would the patients accept me? How would I fit in with the staff? Questions that would only be answered as I entered the door. And as I approached, my shiny new nameplate gave me a clue. It was subtle and probably would be missed by most, but it was a clear sign that the tone was one of acceptance and trust. Dr. Safari, the owner, had gone out of his way to make me feel valued and part of the team. His efforts to have business cards printed, my name on the door, and scheduled introductions with all of his colleagues demonstrated that I was capable and trusted with his patients and staff. This was invaluable to a less than confident newbie, and his unwavering support continued even when results were less than ideal or staff would question my ways. His steady guidance encouraged me to persevere and has shaped me into the business owner I am today. The priceless lesson of inclusion and support of your team resonates in any field, and I am grateful that I was shown it at the start of my career.

Sally, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a mother, wife, and board certified pediatric dentist, raising my family in the town where I love to practice. My partner and I strive to provide exceptional pediatric dental care to each of our patients, using the most up to date technology. Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment even for our most anxious little patients. Laser dentistry (which avoids painful injections), an experience and compassionate team, and our open door policy demonstrates our commitment to our patients quality of care. I take pride in the fact that we treat each family as if they were our own and have meaningful relationship’s with the families we see.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The practice of dentistry is as old as time, and our patients have many quality options when choosing a pediatric dentist for their child. Our reputation in the community has allowed our practice to stand apart from the rest and it is built on the way in which we treat the patients under our care. Going the extra mile, taking the time to do things correctly, and placing the patient first in our decision making has created a strong base of trust in our community. And, this base builds upon itself as existing patients relay the positive experience they have had to others seeking care.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

The secret sauce to being a successful pediatric dental practice owner is flexibility. Our profession has to adapt to each patient that sits in our chair, their preconceived ideas about dentistry, and the potential fears attached to treatment. No one method of communication or type of care works for everyone and my job is to remain fluid and open as I relate to my patient families.

Contact Info:

• Website: Atlanticpediatricdentistry.com
• Instagram: @atlanticpeds
• Facebook: Atlantic Pediatric Dentistry