CAN YOU IMAGINE GIVING birth just before clinical training and managing the rigors of the Temple program as a single parent (her husband had moved to Chicago to begin his residency). Amazingly, Dr. Rima Modi did just that; she credits the Temple Dental community for its extraordinary support, understanding and flexibility which allowed her to graduate on time in 2020.
Her educational path took her from India to the United States in 2012, where she first earned a degree in biomaterials before earning her DMD at Temple University. Throughout her journey, Dr. Modi faced numerous obstacles, from balancing her pregnancy with academic commitments to relocating between cities to navigating the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She attributes her ability to adapt during challenging times to her philosophy of going with the flow, which allowed her to take advantage of unexpected opportunities, including a delayed maternity leave due to the shutdown.
After gaining valuable experience with Aspen Dental, a dental service organization, she made the decision to establish her own dental practice, Dental Symphony, in November of 2024.
Community impact of Dental Symphony
Dr. Modi’s guiding principle of “giving more to get in return” has likely played a significant role in the success of her practice. To celebrate Dental Symphony’s launch and raise awareness of her new venture, her team raised $1,800 during their inaugural open house for Kids in Need of McHenry County and pledged to donate to the organization a portion of revenue from every new patient. This year, they organized a donation drive for Home of the Sparrow, aimed at assisting homeless single mothers and women facing domestic violence, again donating a portion for every new patient. In addition to the goodwill generated through philanthropic endeavors, Dental Symphony has thrived through referrals, active participation in the Chamber of Commerce and effective Google marketing. Dental Symphony now employs multiple staff members who also value supporting the community through charitable initiatives.
Balancing business and personal life
Even as a new business owner, Dr. Modibelieves in achieving work-life balance, highlighting the strategic support from her spouse and their alternating Saturday work schedules. She stressed the importance of preserving family time and engaging in personal activities, such as exercise and travel. Dr. Modi also noted the positive feedback from her team receiving a Thanksgiving break, significantly boosting morale.
| A great foundation in comprehensive care at Temple Dental Dr. Modi says: “What makes Temple Dental great is its incredible clinical program, amazing professors and specialized programs.” A key member of her team is Dr. Jessica Wang, a Temple classmate who went on to earn her advanced Periodontics degree and who is now working on her Prosthodontics degree. Dr. Modi credits the Temple Dental program with providing a great foundation in comprehensive care. |
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