Sylvia Akar, DMD, MPH, has received the CDA Foundation’s Webb Family Grant for 2024. Dr. Akar, a 2022 graduate of the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, returned to California to enter practice. She is currently serving patients at Ventura’s Clinicas del Camino Real.
The dream of dentistry surpassed childhood tragedy
Akar distinctly remembers telling her father from an early age that she wanted to be a dentist. She held on to that dream through the years, despite facing barriers that often seemed insurmountable.
Born in Lebanon to a loving family, Akar’s happy home and childhood were disrupted by war. In 2006, when Akar was just 10 years old, her parents fled the country with their children, seeking safety. “Being such a young age and not fully understanding what was going to happen frightened me,” she recalled. “The images I saw and the bombs I heard still haunt me to this day.”
The Akar family arrived in the United States on July 12, 2006, and began rebuilding their lives. Three years later, the family’s peace was once again shattered by tragedy when Akar’s father died suddenly from a heart attack. “My father’s death left me speechless and numb, not knowing what the future held for my family and me,” she said.
Her father had been the family’s only breadwinner, so their financial situation became precarious after his death.
Motivation drawn from hardship
Even with the stress of an uncertain future, Akar held on to the values and dreams her father had instilled. Despite many barriers, Akar drew motivation from the hardships of her youth. “I was never handed anything and always had to work hard and earn the things I wanted,” she said thoughtfully. “I am proud to say that through all these hardships, I learned some valuable lessons and became stronger because of them.”
Akar’s determination to elevate her own life’s circumstances has extended to the greater community around her. “Early on from dental school, I realized that I wanted to be a public health dentist serving in low-income areas helping the people that need it the most in my community,” she explains.
Her commitment to underserved populations began as an undergraduate student at the University of California Irvine. Akar volunteered with Flying Samaritans, traveling to Mexico to provide essential dental care to communities in need. In the summers, she interned in her native Lebanon and witnessed firsthand the disparities in health care access faced by marginalized communities.
An emphasis on minimizing health care disparities
A decision to devote her career to addressing disparities in oral health access was further solidified during her final year at Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health when Akar had the opportunity to complete five rural community clinic rotations in low-income, high-minority areas across the United States.
While initially drawn to rural dentistry, a desire to be near her family led Akar to Ventura County in 2023. “I found a perfect fit at Clinicas del Camino,” she said. “Working here has been immensely rewarding. The community’s gratitude for the care we provide is palpable, and I find great satisfaction in making a meaningful impact on their health and well-being every day.”
Akar plans to continue working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), leveraging both her MPH and DMD degrees to provide comprehensive care to underserved populations in her local community. She also enjoys volunteering her services at events like CDA Cares clinics. Looking toward the future, Akar told the CDA Foundation, “I aspire to become a dental director within an FQHC, where I can influence policy and program development to better serve marginalized communities. By assuming a leadership role, I intend to advocate for innovative approaches to oral health care delivery that prioritize equity and quality of care.”
Akar’s motivation to serve within the community and bring oral health to underserved populations embodies the spirit of the Webb Family Grant and illustrates the values and morals instilled in her by her father. “I miss him deeply every day, but I am thankful for the time we shared and for the morals he taught me to live by,” she acknowledged. “I hope I am making my father proud by becoming the dentist I always promised him I would become.”
About the Webb Family Grant
A spirit of giving is the impetus behind the Webb Family Grant. As founding contributors of the CDA Foundation, Russell Webb, DDS, and his wife, Kathi Webb, demonstrate a generosity and commitment to volunteerism that has inspired the dental community to fund this annual award.
Last year, the grant expanded eligibility for applicants to include (1) students or recent graduates of a board-approved dental assisting or hygiene program and (2) educational programs approved by California’s dental board or dental hygiene board. The deserving recipient may receive up to $5,000 for educational or program expenses.
The Foundation will accept applications for the 2025 Webb Family Grant from April 1 through April 30. Awardees will be notified in fall 2025. Learn more about the award and see a list of past recipients.
The CDA Foundation offers financial support to dental professionals and community-based organizations statewide that provide dental care to underserved communities. Visit the CDA Foundation page to learn more about other grants, awards and programs.