Why She Was Nominated:

When she isn’t writing her food blog (thecurryyatra.com) or professionally dancing, Dr. Venkatesh is working to bring dentistry to medically compromised populations. Patients travel great distances to sit in her chair, where Dr. Venkatesh uses a modified desensitization technique to help acclimate them to office care—which leads to more consistent, less traumatic experiences. She runs a special-needs program at Highland Hospital in Oakland and is working to start a new general practice residency program there to train dentists to work with compromised and special-needs patients.

Tool She Can’t Live Without:

“My explorer and probe instrument. One of the simplest instruments in our kit, but it tells us so much.”

Exciting New Trend:

“The increasing use of digital dentistry. The ability to prepare and deliver a crown at the same appointment makes such an impact on both clinician and patient.”

Most Memorable Patient:

“A 25-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who smiled for the first time in years after we removed a painful tooth and restored a fractured anterior tooth. I’ll always remember the joy on her face.”

Something People Don’t Know:

“I have been dancing since age 5 and have been trained in various dance forms. I performed professionally for almost 10 years.”