Dr. Ying An

Giving Back to Our Community

When I was a pediatric dental resident in 2017, I hopped on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to DDC Clinic. I spent 3 weeks on the bus treating Amish children and teenagers. This was my first interaction with the Amish, and it was absolutely surreal for me, a Chinese immigrant, to get to know this community.

I became connected to the people and sparks of passion filled my heart. Parents were grateful for the care we provided to their children, and I felt a deep sense of fulfillment. Seeing the Amish community desperately in need of a local pediatric dentist and understanding the challenges they faced accessing dental care pushed me toward a decision.

By 2021, I completed my residency training and became a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University. I became convinced that I could use my knowledge and skills to improve the oral health and overall wellbeing of the Amish, particularly the specials needs population. The first person I shared my idea with was Dr. Wang at DDC Clinic. He and his colleagues welcomed me with open arms, gave me encouragement and helped me to shape my vision.

My practice, Sunflower Pediatric Dentistry, opened in nearby Burton in July 2022. I felt a huge responsibility to take care of the community that I fell in love with in 2017, and I knew the best way to show gratitude was to give back.

That’s why I became a regular donor. For every new patient that we see, our practice makes a donation to DDC Clinic. In this way, we help the clinic continue to provide trusted care to our community’s special needs children.

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