Why She Was Nominated:

As the only pediatric dentist in her area, Dr. Sessums serves a large population of children in southern Mississippi and is lauded for the compassion she shows her patients. She comes from a medical family: Her grandfather was a small-town Mississippi dentist for three decades. Currently, Dr. Sessums is expanding her office to include an additional 10 operatories.

Why She Became a Dentist:

“I love the surgical aspect, but I also love the idea of making dentistry a positive experience and forming long-lasting relationships with my patients and families.”

Exciting New Trend:

“For pediatrics specifically, new pulp treatment options and noninvasive treatment options such as SDF.”

Most Memorable Patient:

“A little girl with Down syndrome I’ve been seeing since she was very young. She has formed such a great relationship with my staff. Everyone is always excited when she’s on the schedule. We’ve even gotten to the point where we’ve been able to treat her as needed in clinic due to the bond they’ve formed.”