Dr. Sonia Molina - UCLA/Harvard - Oral Surgeon - A Salvadoran Success Story

Sonia Molina, D.M.D., M.P.H. serves as President of Molina Endodontics, a dental office specializing in root canals and servers as President of Nassillon Development Inc., a company specializing in real estate development in Southern California. Additionally, she is a well respected clinical lecturer in the dental community as well as an active community leader.

Fleeing political turmoil in El Salvador, Dr. Molina along with her mother and siblings moved to the United States when she was 17 years old. At a young age, Dr. Molina knew the value of hard work. While attending high school, she worked in a fast food restaurant, cleaned houses on the weekends, and attended English classes in the evening.

Dr. Molina attended California State University, Long Beach, were she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Biomedical Sciences. Upon graduation, she was accepted to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and School of Public Health where she received both her Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree and Master of Public Health Degree. Dr. Molina completed her Postdoctoral in Endodontics from the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Dr. Molina has been involved in various community based organizations. Most notably, she was a founding member of The Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF). This non-profit, non-partisan, civic organization is committed to expanding the political and economic contributions of the Salvadoran and other Central American communities in the United States.

She is active on the Board of the Los Angeles Dental Society, Latin American Dental Association, Harvard Alumni Association, Women Dental Society. Additionally, she is a commissioner on the Los Angeles Health Authority Commission. At the state level, she is currently on the California Dental Board, and is a house delegate, as well as a legislative representative for the California Dental Association. Dr. Molina has served as president of the Downey Dental Academy for 5 years, and has been a volunteer dentist for Clinica Monsenor Romero, the Latin Business Association, and was involved in creating the Firebaugh Free Children’s Dental Clinic in the City of Huntington Park.

Dr. Molina has received various awards and acknowledgements for her accomplishments and community involvement. Univision, KMEX 34 has named her el “Orgullo Hispano”; Telemundo, KVEA 52 has honored her as the “Hispanic Business Salute 2000”. She has also received the “Faculty of the Year” by the UCLA Endodontic Department, and the “Woman of the Year” by the City of Los Angeles.

Dr. Molina is married to H. Francisco Leal, Principal Partner, Leal & Dominguez LLP. They have two Daughters Marcela and Andrea and reside in the City of Los Angeles.

Curriculum Vitae

SONIA MOLINA, D.M.D., M.P.H.

EDUCATION

University of California at Los Angeles, School of Dentistry

West Los Angeles, CA

Postdoctoral Endodontics, 1992

Veteran Administration Hospital

West Los Angeles, CA

General Practice Residency Program, 1990

Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine

Boston, MA

D.M.D., 1989

Harvard School of Public Health

Boston, MA

M.P.H., 1989

California State University, Long Beach

Long Beach, CA

Biomedical Sciences, B.A., 1983

Bell High School

Bell, CA

EXPERIENCE

Molina Endodontics President 11/92 – Present

8207 East Third Street

Suite: 103

Downey, CA 90242

Nassillon Development Inc, President 1999 – Present

8207 E. Third Street

Downey, CA 900242

University of California, Los Angeles Clinical Lecturer 6/92 – Present

Department of Endondontics

Los Angeles, CA

Licensed Practitioners Clinic Staff Dentist 8/88 – 5/89

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Boston, MA

Harvard Health Professions Program Cell Biology Instr. 6/88 – 8/88

Cambridge, MA

United Concordia Consultant 8/98 – Present

RESEARCH

Experimental Studies of the Application of the Excimer Laser on Dental Hard Substances.

Research Sponsor: Dr. Chutima Mangkornkarn, Program Director

Post Doctoral Endodontics

University of California at Los Angeles, 11/90 – 6/92

Longitudinal Study of the Presence of Fluorosis in School Children in Non-Fluoridated Communities.

Research Sponsor: Dr. Paul DePaola, Assistant Clinical Professor

Forsyth Dental Center, 8/88 – 5/89.

A Study of Hispanic Versus Non-Hispanic Women: Attitudes and Practice of Oral Health.

Research Sponsor: Myron Allukian, Director

Bureau of Community of Dental Programs, 7/87 – 5/88.

Summer Research Fellow

Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Department of Experimental Cardiology

Pasadena, CA 6/85 – 8/85.

APPOINTMENTS

Firebaugh Free Children’s Dental Clinic, Board of Directors, 2004

California Dental Board, Committee of Dental Auxiliaries, 2003

Los Angeles Health Authority Commission, 2004

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

SALEF, Chair, Board of Directors, 1997-2003

Los Angeles Dental Society, Legislative Committee Member

California Dental Association, House of Delegates

California Dental Association, Judge of student’s research

Downey Dental Academy, President, 1995-2000

Latin American Dental Association, Board Member

Clinica Monsenor Romero, Past Member, Board of Directors

Harvard Alumni Association, Member, Regional Admissions Interviewer

Latin Business Association, Past Member

Woman’s Dental Society, Past Treasurer

HONORS

“Women of the Year”, 2007

International Association of Salvadoran Woman

“Women of Distinction Award”, 2007

Office of the Speaker Fabian Nunes

“Business Service Award”, 2005

National Latina Business Women’s Association

“Salvadoran of the year Award”, 2005

Salvadoran American Leadership Educational Fund

“Entrepreneurial Achievement Award”, 2005

Latina Style Magazine

“Orgullo Hispano”, 2001

Univision, KMEX 34

“Hispanic Business Salute”, 2000

Telemundo, KVEA 52

“Faculty of the Year”

The UCLA Endodontic Department, 1999

“Scientific Award”

Indian Dental Association, 1998

“Special Contribution”

Women Dentist Association

“Woman of the Year”

City of Los Angles, Hispanic Heritage Month, 1995

“Outstanding Achievement in Dentistry”

International College of Dentist.

“Outstanding Contribution”

Harvard School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office.

“First Place: Outstanding Achievement in Community Dentistry”

American Association of Public Health Dentistry”

Student Merit Awards Competition.

“Crusade Scholar”

United Methodist Church.

National Hispanic Scholarship

Kellogg Foundation Fellowship

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Country of Origin: El Salvador

Immigrated to the United States after graduating from Instituto National High School, San Salvador.

Bilingual Fluent in Spanish and English