Resident Spotlight: Dr. Daniela Auerbach

Compiled by Dr. Austyn Grissom                                                    

Dr. Daniela Auerbach is a second-year endodontic resident at University of the Pacific. The Paper Point‘s Dr. Austyn Grissom recently caught up with her to learn more about her professional goals, motherhood and hobbies.

The Paper Point: Thank you for taking time to do this interview, Daniela! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Dr. Auerbach: I am a second-year endodontic resident at University of the Pacific. I was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, the capital city of Honduras. After graduating dental school in Honduras, my mom and I moved to Florida. I worked as a dental assistant and was a dental assistant instructor while preparing for the national boards for dental school in the United States. Soon after, I attended the International Dental program at University of the Pacific in San Francisco where I was lucky to meet my husband, now father of our 2-year-old baby boy. I practiced as a general dentist in California for 5 years before starting my endodontic residency.

The Paper Point: What a journey! Did you always know that you wanted to become a dentist or what led you to this profession?

Dr. Auerbach: My interest in dentistry started at an early age as a result of my amazing childhood dentist. She always went above and beyond to make sure her patients felt cared for and comfortable and took pride in providing the best patient experience. A big part of my earlier teenage years involved being a part of an ambulatory crew for the Red Cross, participating in mission trips around Honduras, as well as volunteering as a general dentist for operation smiles during and after dental school. This constant service for the community instilled in me great appreciation and value for serving. These experiences inspired me to go through dental school twice, once in Honduras and once in the United States.

The Paper Point: Wow, you are awesome! I visited Honduras in 2017- I served in a dental clinic in Trujillo for a couple of weeks and it was an experience that impacted me in a big way both personally and professionally. I hope to get an opportunity to go back one day. Although I enjoyed my time in dental school, I can’t imagine doing it twice! What influenced your decision to return to school once more to pursue endodontics?

Dr. Auerbach: That’s so exciting you had the opportunity to visit and serve Trujillo. My father actually grew up in that city so I am very familiar with it. I’m glad to hear you had a positive experience in that community.

My decision to pursue endodontics came several years after graduation. My husband and I moved to Bakersfield, CA where I started working as a general dentist for the underserved community. In this position, I became aware of the healthcare disparities among this particular patient population, especially when it came to endodontic specialty services. Often times, I either had to do the root canal to the best of my ability as a general dentist or extract the tooth when it was beyond my scope due to lack of access to care. I saw a need in my community and this inspired me to pursue a career in endodontics.

The Paper Point: There is certainly a need for professional tooth savers in our underserved population- I know that that you are going to do such great things! Would you mind sharing some of your goals as a resident and as a future endodontist?

Dr. Auerbach: As a resident, I hope to inspire other mothers as well as the Latinx community to pursue their dreams, and allow them to see themselves represented. As a future endodontist, one of my goals is to help bridge the gap in endodontic care. Some ideas that come to mind are dedicating a specific amount of time per month to those with limited access to care. Another is to gather a group of like-minded professionals to travel to and treat underserved areas in the United States as well as other countries. In Honduras, the majority of dental outreach programs are focused on extractions and oral hygiene instruction. It would be great to provide the skills and equipment for endodontic care as well.

The Paper Point: Do you have any advice for mothers who might be considering applying for residency?

Dr. Auerbach: My advice to all the mothers who wish to further their education is to have patience and believe in yourself. Being a mother can be challenging. If you are able to handle motherhood, you are definitely equipped to achieve your lifelong goals. Having a strong support system goes a long way and is extremely helpful when times get difficult. During the application process and throughout residency in general, the support of my husband and mother have been key.

The Paper Point: In the event that you find some free time, what do you like to do for fun?

Dr. Auerbach: Most of my free time is dedicated to my family. We don’t have as much time together as we would like; but when we do, I always make sure it is special for all of us. Besides spending time with my family, I enjoy being a lifelong student. I have fun acquiring new skills. Skiing is one of my favorites far. Growing up in Central America we didn’t have snow, so I really appreciate being able to ski in California. My current guilty pleasure is everything related to home makeovers and renovations. I am very interested in interior design and look forward to learning more about it after graduation.

The Paper Point: Before we wrap up, do you have any final words that you would like to share with our readers? 

Dr. Auerbach: Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I would like to end by sharing one of my favorite quotes: “sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” by Dr. Seuss. This month marks the start of my second year in residency and I plan to be more present in the moment and enjoy it. A big shoutout to my endo faculty who constantly push me to be better. Most of all, I thank my co-residents who have been the most supportive and have made going through residency a fun endeavor.