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.
SONIA MOLINA, D.M.D., M.P.H.
University of California at Los Angeles, School of Dentistry
Postdoctoral Endodontics, 1992
Veteran Administration Hospital
General Practice Residency Program, 1990
Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine
Harvard School of Public Health
California State University, Long Beach
Biomedical Sciences, B.A., 1983
EXPERIENCE
Molina Endodontics President 11/92 – Present
Nassillon Development Inc, President 1999 – Present
University of California, Los Angeles Clinical Lecturer 6/92 – Present
Department of Endondontics
Licensed Practitioners Clinic Staff Dentist 8/88 – 5/89
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Harvard Health Professions Program Cell Biology Instr. 6/88 – 8/88
United Concordia Consultant 8/98 – Present
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.
Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Department of Experimental Cardiology
Pasadena, CA 6/85 – 8/85.
Firebaugh Free Children’s Dental Clinic, Board of Directors, 2004
California Dental Board, Committee of Dental Auxiliaries, 2003
Los Angeles Health Authority Commission, 2004
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
“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
“Hispanic Business Salute”, 2000
The UCLA Endodontic Department, 1999
Indian Dental Association, 1998
Women Dentist Association
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.
National Hispanic Scholarship
Kellogg Foundation Fellowship
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
