![group photo at awards ceremony](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-08/_SFX4285%20%281%29.jpg?h=e6ca3c24&itok=k6OosjJX) # Lessons from the clinic with HSDM’s Samantha Parad New GPR director reflects on her journey from nursing to dentistry and the experiences that continue to shape her work August 17, 2026 ![headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-08/Parad.Headshot%20%281%29.jpg?itok=9JXWHFMd) Dr. Samantha ParadIn January, Dr. [Samantha Parad](https://www.hsdm.harvard.edu/people/samantha-parad) was named the new director of the Advanced Graduate Education (AGE) Program in [General Practice Residency](https://www.hsdm.harvard.edu/general-practice-residencycha) (GPR) at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM). Based at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the program provides residents with opportunities to deliver comprehensive, high-quality oral health care while serving in community-based clinics in Cambridge and the greater Boston area. Parad began her career as a registered nurse after attending the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine before completing HSDM’s GPR program at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she gained experience caring for medically complex patients. She is passionate about interprofessional education and integrating oral and systemic health. Today, she maintains hospital privileges and treats patients with behavioral, social, and medical special health care needs, often in the operating room under general anesthesia. HSDM spoke with Parad about becoming program director, how her experience as a registered nurse continues to shape her approach to patient care, and what she learned from competing as a synchronized skater on Team USA. ## As a graduate of a General Practice Residency program, what does it mean to now lead another GPR program at HSDM? My training at Massachusetts General Hospital in the HSDM GPR program helped nurture my passion for comprehensive healthcare, and it is an absolute privilege to return to HSDM and give back to an institution that was so foundational to my career. Our Cambridge Health Alliance GPR program helps transform recent graduates into “oral physicians,” practitioners with the interdisciplinary skillset to treat their patients’ oral health in the context of those patients’ overall healthcare needs. Living and practicing in the Cambridge area makes this work deeply personal, and I hope it’s personally rewarding for our residents as well. I love caring for patients in our own community and driving meaningful public health outreach. Leading this program is immensely rewarding, and honestly, I learn just as much—if not more—from my residents over the course of the year as they do from me. ## How has your experience as a registered nurse influenced the way you care for patients and teach future dentists? Working as a practicing nurse before and during dental school shaped my entire perspective on patient care. It ignited a passion for integrating oral and systemic health, particularly for vulnerable populations at higher risk for oral disease, and my own experience as a HSDM resident subsequently helped me realize the potential of practicing dentistry in the context of an integrated healthcare team. These experiences drive both my practice and my teaching today. My patients, especially those with special healthcare needs, continue to inspire me to break down barriers to accessing care so they can achieve not just optimal dental health, but their fullest potential. ## What opportunities do residents have at CHA to prepare them for a wide range of careers after graduation? Our residents have extraordinary opportunities to grow both clinically and professionally. By design, our program encourages them to work alongside leaders across healthcare, both in the clinic and in the classroom. Their coursework at HSDM emphasizes collaboration and complex dental treatment planning. At CHA, they often find unique opportunities to pursue community and social justice-focused care in a highly interdisciplinary environment through initiatives like the Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy. Because of this broad foundation, our graduates are able to pursue diverse paths. Some residents have returned as attending dentists at CHA, while others enter specialty residencies, find meaningful careers in academia, or thrive in private practice. ![photo of a figure skater](/sites/g/files/omnuum6001/files/2026-08/Photo%202.png) Dr. Samantha Parad competing with the Haydenettes, Team USA’s synchronized skating team.## Dentistry continues to evolve alongside medicine and technology. What skills do you think will be most important for today's residents as they prepare for the future of the profession? I truly believe that the future of dentistry is interpersonal, interprofessional, and holistic. More than ever, dentists will require a deep understanding of the connection between oral and systemic health. While technologies, clinical protocols, and dental materials will constantly evolve, the fundamental human element remains constant. The most vital skill our residents can cultivate is seeing and treating our patients as whole people. The holistic perspective is what ultimately drives the best clinical outcomes for our patients. ## Before pursuing a career in dentistry, you competed in synchronized skating on the U.S. team. How did that experience shape the leader, teammate, and educator you are today? At age 14, I had the incredible honor of becoming the youngest skater selected for Team USA’s synchronized skating team, the Haydenettes. Training alongside 19 elite athletes from diverse backgrounds taught me the power of intense collaboration, discipline, and shared purpose. Together, through determination and rigorous practice, we earned two national championships and two World Championship bronze medals. The adaptability, prioritization skills, and team-first mindset I built on the ice are the very foundation of how I lead, teach, and care for patients today. See also:- [ Faculty ](/news-categories/faculty)