Lea El Hachem, DDS, MS

What brought you to UT Health San Antonio?

I lived and worked in Boston for almost 10 years; that’s where I started my journey in education. I had a wonderful experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally. Then the pandemic happened, and over quarantine, I had some time to self-reflect – like a lot of us – and I felt like it was time for me to explore different options in my career path and move on to a new adventure.

It just happened that the Department of Periodontics at UT Health San Antonio had a job opening around that time, and it felt like it was meant to be! I love academia, and I knew that it was going to be my lifelong career.

What is your favorite part and most challenging part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is the gratification I get from watching students learn and evolve into knowledgeable and successful dentists. We, as educators, get to follow their journey from the beginning, and I think that’s really special!

The most challenging part of my job is probably learning when to stop working and how to disconnect. The last time I check my emails is right before I go to sleep at night; it drives my husband crazy!

What is your most rewarding experience at UT Health?

I feel most grateful for the people around me, faculty, staff and students. UT Health creates such a welcoming environment. It felt like home from day one, and I knew I made the best decision when I chose to join this team. My most rewarding experience is seeing the impact of the work I do on students, education, the department and the school.

How are you giving back to UT Health?

Coming from a diverse background, I believe this gives me a different perspective on certain matters. I am enthusiastic about new ideas that can enhance education, and I’ve worked hard to implement them. While I am a firm believer in learning traditional dentistry, I also believe that keeping up with the ever-changing dental world is essential; constant improvements and changes in dental education are key. That’s what I try to do every day to get our dental students ready for the future!

Share a message for students and alumni.

Dentistry can be a demanding profession, and sometimes it’s easy to forget how big of a difference we are making in our patients’ lives every day. We should always remember that we change lives and smiles.

Dr. Lea El Hachem
Dr. Lea El Hachem