Why She Was Nominated:

Dr. Seekand owns two practices named in tribute to her father, whom she lost when she was just 6. She’s a mentor to younger dentists, is a local digital-dentistry pioneer and participates in the Georgia Dental Association’s Donated Dental Services programs, as well as the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s Give Back a Smile. She’s a wife and mother of two kids under age 4.

Favorite Aspect of Dentistry:

“Being a woman in dentistry. After my son was born, I took him to work with me for the first 18 months. We work so hard as moms and business owners, and I wanted to reap the benefits of hard work without the guilt of working away from him.”

Inspiration:

“My mother. I lost my father a few months after we had immigrated to the U.S. from India. My mom had no formal education; my father, a highly educated environmental engineer, was the breadwinner. Suddenly, my mom was thrust into the role of a single working parent. She worked part-time at a grocery store and went to community college. She instilled in me the importance of an education and being a strong, independent woman. All that is good in me is because of her.”