The foundation
Do foundations matter? They did for Dr. Sampada Deshpande.
Sampada credits her values and pursuit towards excellence to her upbringing. Dreaming of better opportunities, her hard-working parents moved from India to the bustling Middle East in the late 80s. An engineer and teacher by training, her parents set an example of leadership with ethics and compassion, both at home and in the workplace.
Years later, Sampada hopes to model a similar set of values at Aashvi Smiles:
- Trust
- Compassion
- Impact
‘At Aashvi Smiles, we are grateful for your trust and strive to uphold it at all times. Being trusted with your loved ones’ care is a responsibility we take seriously.
Compassion towards the people in our communities, which includes members of our team, brings the care back in healthcare. We hire kind, compassionate individuals, who are willing to go the extra mile.
Life is short. Making a difference in the community we are in, is a goal we strive towards. We do this by measuring healthcare outcomes across city demographics and closing gaps in access to care wherever possible.’
Journey of a thousand miles
After completing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in Manipal, India in 2013, Sampada moved to Seattle to attend the 2 year accelerated DDS program at University of Washington School of Dentistry. The highly competitive admissions process inspired her to write her first book, ‘Persevering‘, now available on Amazon.
People- centered holistic care
Within just two years of clinical practice, Sampada found unaddressed gaps in the American healthcare system. People with anxiety, medical complexities and Special Health Care Needs (SHCNs) had limited treatment options in their communities. Most providers were referring patients to hospital systems that had months, if not years’ long waiting lists.
This inspired her to enroll into the LEND program at University of Washington in 2020. The LEND (Leadership and Education in Neuro-developmental Disabilities) program prepares its trainees to assume leadership roles in their communities and practice family-centered interdisciplinary care benefitting people with developmental disabilities.
Our specialization
Sampada completed a one year General Practice Residency at Alameda Health System, a trauma level 1 center in Oakland, CA in 2023. It is due to this specialized training, that Dr. Deshpande is often approached for care by people with SHCNs and medical complexities, and receives referrals from healthcare providers throughout Northern California.
Outside of our specialization, we serve guests of all ages and needs with our services. To learn more about the range of services and amenities we offer, visit below.
Dr. Deshpande lectures nationally on treating patients with SHCNs in a private practice setting and using portable dentistry. For information on her lectures, please visit here.
NOTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION
Founder & President, New Dentist Business Club- 501 c 3 nonprofit Sept 19 – Ongoing
Clinical Implantology, Washington Academy of General Dentistry Sep 19 – Mar 2021
IV Sedation, Oregon Academy of General Dentistry June 23 – Ongoing
CERTIFICATIONS
Basic Life Support, American Heart Association Jan 2023
Advanced Cardiac Life Support, American Heart Association May 2022
HONORS
Denobi Award, National Mobile & Teledentistry Conference Mar 2023
Fellow, American College of Dentistry Oct 2022
10 under 10 Awardee, American Dental Association Mar 2021
Recognized ‘10 dentists to watch’ , Academy of General Dentistry Feb 2021
William Howard Memorial Award, Washington Academy of General Dentistry Apr 2018
LEADERSHIP
Treasurer and SPEA liaison, NorCal Chapter, American College of Dentists Jan 24 – Ongoing
Clinical Director, Special Smiles, NorCal Chapter, Special Olympics May 23 – Ongoing
Fellow, Institute for Diversity in Leadership, American Dental Association Dec 22- Dec 23
Guest contributor, New Dentist Now blog, American Dental Association Feb 20- Ongoing
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Clinic Director, Special Smiles, Special Olympics
Lead teams of dentists and dental students screen Special Olympics’ athletes for dental diseases, educate on the proper maintenance of oral health, apply fluoride and prepare mouth guards.
Join our Mission
We are always looking for driven, committed people to add to our team. If you are interested in creating an impact, joining a rocket ship and feeling inspired every single day, we would love to be friends!
In order to interview for a position with us, please reach out here.