Cynical about the American Dream? Dr. Conrad’s story will renew your faith. Four decades ago, she was a 6-week-old infant drifting away from Vietnam’s coast in a fishing boat with 11 family members. Today, she owns an 11-chair pediatric practice she built from the ground up. She also assists organizations including Feed My Starving Children, Union Gospel Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Operation Gratitude and more.

“I love to socialize. What better career allows you to converse, tell jokes and be goofy all day?”

“Starting a practice with three children under age 3”—though she has learned to shift from practitioner to Mom “in a split-second.”

A sharpener. “A chef without a sharp knife is no good; a dentist without sharp instruments would be in trouble.”

Lasers. “Soft-tissue procedures without sutures, and aiding new moms with lactation and breastfeeding. Fascinating technology.”

Dr. Conrad loves to create original dishes without a recipe and share them with her team, neighbors, friends and anyone willing to eat them. “Someday, I’d like to compete on the Food Network show Chopped.”