Women in Our Community: Dr Laura Aeschlimann
In my short 24 years of life, I have read about more wars and world conflicts than most generations. From the year I was born, 1990, to now - there have been over 45 documented conflicts.
My golden birthday was 9-11-2001 which has always kept the memory of the day the World Trade Center was attacked at the forefront of my mind.
Needless to say, Veteran's Day should never be passed by. Just remember, in order to keep our freedom, there are individuals that have to fight for it.
For our recognition, we found someone very special to feature in our Women in Our Community blog for the month. Dr. Laura Aeschlimann (Dr. A) owns her own pediatric dentistry practice, leads a support group for women that have special needs children, (specifically autism) AND - to top things off, she's a Veteran. I am so proud to have people like this in our community.
A little bit about work:
Chelsea's Boutique: Professionally, when you go to 'the office', what does that entail? What do you do for a living?
Dr. Aeschlimann: When I go to the office I get to play with kids and teach them how to keep 'sugar bugs' out of their teeth. I get to count teeth and hopefully help kids avoid ever getting a toothache! I also get to work alongside five of the most wonderful, talented and compassionate women in Sioux Falls! (BTW, I'm a pediatric dentist at ABC Pediatric Dentistry.)
CB: When did you open your practice? What made you want to begin your own practice?
Dr. A: After becoming involved in a local professional women's referral group full of amazing women in 2011, I was very inspired to take control of my life, spread my wings and fly! I decided to resign from my part-time associate position as a pediatric dentist in the summer of 2012 and started my own practice in January of 2013. These amazing women - business owners and entrepreneurs themselves - helped me to realize that I had not yet been practicing dentistry the way I had always dreamed, the way I had worked so hard to be able to do. It was time to make my dreams come true and take a leap of faith.
CB: How does work impact your day-to-day choices? What made you decide that you wanted to work with children? Has working with children changed your outlook on your career field of choice?
Dr. A: I have always had such a heart for children. When I used to babysit kids, I was the kind of babysitter (still am with my nieces and nephews) that gets down to their level and really likes to interact with them - to make a positive impact on their lives. That's what I'm able to do as a pediatric dentist...make an impact on these young ones, so that they can grow up thinking that a dentist is OK, if not even maybe kind of fun!
CB: What is your professional motto?
Dr. A: Our tagline at ABC is 'Compassionate Dental Care for Kids," and that's so very important to me. No one wins if I fix a tooth but emotionally traumatize a child in the process. It's about taking care of both their teeth and their precious little psyche. It's all about compassion. And compassion towards the parents, too, because we all have our battles we're facing.
Your service:
CB: Let's hear a little bit about your duty in the Air Force. What made you decide to enlist?
Dr. A: Honestly, I decided to apply for the Air Force Health Professionals Scholarship during my first year of dental school due to the extensive cost of dental school training. I felt very fortunate to be awarded a three-year scholarship in which the USAF paid for three of my six years of training. I was a Second Lieutenant in the Reserves during dental school in Minneapolis and then became a Captain in the Reserves during my Pediatric Dentistry residency in Omaha and during my three years of active duty overseas. I earned the rank of Major Select just prior to returning to the States.
CB: Where were you stationed? During which conflict?
Dr. A: I attended training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and then was sent to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan from 2004-2007. Many were sent from Okinawa to the Middle East during this time on deployments. Due to the nature of my specialty, (Chief of Pediatric Dentistry at the base) I was fortunate to never be deployed. Instead, I took dental care of the children of the service men and women who were stationed at Okinawa as well as those who did deploy. It was very rewarding to be able to take care of these children as their parents care so much for them and wanted them to have beautiful, healthy smiles.
CB: What was your biggest accomplishment while on active duty?
Dr. A: I had several big accomplishments. I was named Chief of Pediatric Dentistry while stationed there. I also received 'Company Grade Officer of the Year' two of the three years I was there and that was beating nine other well-qualified dental officers in our Squadron. My biggest accomplishment while on active duty was becoming a mom!
CB: What was your greatest struggle while on active duty?
Dr. A: It was very hard for both my husband and I to be half a world away from our friends and family for three years. We both were extremely homesick. It is definitely a huge sacrifice that our service men and women make leaving their homes.
CB: What are you the most proud of regarding your service?
Dr. A: Being in the military is not something I ever really considered I would do until I decided I didn't want to be so in debt from school. I'm proud that I could 'hack it' because being in the military is different from just being a US citizen. It's a whole other way of life and I'm proud that I got to experience it. I have a huge appreciation for all who serve and for those who make a career of it.
CB: How do you celebrate Veteran's Day?
Dr. A: This year, I'm giving myself the day off to spend time with my husband and Tanner. I also like to call up our good friend from the Air Force who served 30 years and has a birthday on November 11th. That's another blessing of being in the military - we gained wonderful friends that we will cherish the rest of our lives.
Regarding home:
CB: Educate us, briefly, on autism.
Dr. A: Autism is very complex. There's a saying out there that goes like this: "If you know one child with autism, you know one child with autism." What that ambiguous statement means is that every child or individual with autism is completely their own definition of autism. Some individuals with autism - or, more appropriately defined now 'autism spectrum disorder' since there is a spectrum or range of characteristics and medical conditions associated with autism - may just be a little quirky, while others have many complex issues. Some of these may be difficulty communicating, socialization challenges, behavioral/coping issues etc. A few online websites I would recommend for more information are: www.autism.com, www.tacanow.org and www.autism-society.org
CB: What was your biggest accomplishment while on active duty?
Dr. A: I had several big accomplishments. I was named Chief of Pediatric Dentistry while stationed there. I also received 'Company Grade Officer of the Year' two of the three years I was there and that was beating nine other well-qualified dental officers in our Squadron. My biggest accomplishment while on active duty was becoming a mom!
CB: What was your greatest struggle while on active duty?
Dr. A: It was very hard for both my husband and I to be half a world away from our friends and family for three years. We both were extremely homesick. It is definitely a huge sacrifice that our service men and women make leaving their homes.
CB: What are you the most proud of regarding your service?
Dr. A: Being in the military is not something I ever really considered I would do until I decided I didn't want to be so in debt from school. I'm proud that I could 'hack it' because being in the military is different from just being a US citizen. It's a whole other way of life and I'm proud that I got to experience it. I have a huge appreciation for all who serve and for those who make a career of it.
CB: How do you celebrate Veteran's Day?
Dr. A: This year, I'm giving myself the day off to spend time with my husband and Tanner. I also like to call up our good friend from the Air Force who served 30 years and has a birthday on November 11th. That's another blessing of being in the military - we gained wonderful friends that we will cherish the rest of our lives.
Define proud: Proud can be good and bad. It needs to come with humility. Define integrity: Integrity is extremely important to me and one of the three values we cherish at ABC along with compassion and excellence. Two of my favorite quotes regarding integrity are from Successors' posters: "Wisdom is knowing the right path to take. Integrity is taking it." and "Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost." Both M.H. McKee. Define soldier: Someone who gives up a part of his/her freedom to help another have freedom.
CB: Educate us, briefly, on autism.
Dr. A: Autism is very complex. There's a saying out there that goes like this: "If you know one child with autism, you know one child with autism." What that ambiguous statement means is that every child or individual with autism is completely their own definition of autism. Some individuals with autism - or, more appropriately defined now 'autism spectrum disorder' since there is a spectrum or range of characteristics and medical conditions associated with autism - may just be a little quirky, while others have many complex issues. Some of these may be difficulty communicating, socialization challenges, behavioral/coping issues etc. A few online websites I would recommend for more information are: www.autism.com, www.tacanow.org and www.autism-society.org
CB: Tell us a little bit about your son, Tanner. When was he diagnosed?
Dr. A: My wonderful little boy was born while we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He was developing typically until he was four months old. Around that time his development started slowing down and he began waking up screaming in the middle of the night and having some weird spasms. His development began actually regressing around seven months of age and at nine months old he had his first grand mal seizure. It was at that point that the doctors realized that the spasms were in fact likely seizures and Tanner was diagnosed with a seizure disorder and is being developmentally delayed. At ten months, the possibility of autism was mentioned though doctors cannot fully diagnose until usually a little older. He was nearly two when he was officially diagnosed. Tanner continues to struggle daily with seizures and autism, has a feeding tube, is significantly developmentally delayed and is non-verbal. Even though that description sounds bleak, Tanner is an amazing child who is very content, has so much going on behind his big beautiful eyes and is changing lives! I am so blessed to be his mommy and we love him so much. He lives at home with us and attends school at LifeScape in Sioux Falls thanks to our very supportive local school district Viborg-Hurley.
CB: How has Tanner's diagnosis changed your outlook on daily things?
Dr. A: Some days life is hard. Being a parent of a child with special needs is hard. Tanner can't give me a hug. He can't tell me he loves me. But, I know he does. I always remember that I am so blessed to have him. I know of many moms who have lost their precious baby and I know of many women who want a baby but can't have one. I can be disappointed that parenthood is not what I dreamed it would be, or I can embrace and thrive in the parenting role God blessed me with. I am also very blessed to have an amazing, supportive husband, and we are surrounded by such wonderful people.
CB: What do you do to help with the autism community in Sioux Falls?
Dr. A: A few years ago I took over leading an informal 'Mom's Night Out' autism support group that meets about every other month for dinner to provide one another with friendship and support. I also have a wonderful team of people at my office who help to provide compassionate dental care to children with autism. Of our team of six at ABC, two of us have children on the spectrum and one of us has a brother with autism. Everyone at ABC is very familiar with the condition.
CB: What would you like the community to understand about autism?
Dr. A: If you ever see a kid acting out in public and you think the parent should get control of their child, please consider expressing a little compassion - a little sympathy. Instead of a dirty look and judgment, please give that mom a hug instead. Or, at least an 'I feel your pain/I understand parenting is tough sometimes' smile.
To finish, let's end on a casual note:
CB: What's your go-to closet item?
Dr. A: In the summer, for sure, it's a sundress! They're so easy to wear, so comfortable! People think you're so dressed up but it's all about being cute, practical and comfy. The looking great part is just a perk! In the fall/winter, fleece-lined leggings are amazing. Again, look cute but really just about the comfort and convenience...and warmth!
CB: If you reached into your purse and pulled out 5 things, what would they be?
Dr. A: Lip liner, fruity-flavored Chapstick, my old school pen and paper day planner calendar and a glitter gel pen!
CB: Coffee or tea? Movie or book
Dr. A: Chai tea. Both!
Dr. A: My wonderful little boy was born while we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He was developing typically until he was four months old. Around that time his development started slowing down and he began waking up screaming in the middle of the night and having some weird spasms. His development began actually regressing around seven months of age and at nine months old he had his first grand mal seizure. It was at that point that the doctors realized that the spasms were in fact likely seizures and Tanner was diagnosed with a seizure disorder and is being developmentally delayed. At ten months, the possibility of autism was mentioned though doctors cannot fully diagnose until usually a little older. He was nearly two when he was officially diagnosed. Tanner continues to struggle daily with seizures and autism, has a feeding tube, is significantly developmentally delayed and is non-verbal. Even though that description sounds bleak, Tanner is an amazing child who is very content, has so much going on behind his big beautiful eyes and is changing lives! I am so blessed to be his mommy and we love him so much. He lives at home with us and attends school at LifeScape in Sioux Falls thanks to our very supportive local school district Viborg-Hurley.
CB: How has Tanner's diagnosis changed your outlook on daily things?
Dr. A: Some days life is hard. Being a parent of a child with special needs is hard. Tanner can't give me a hug. He can't tell me he loves me. But, I know he does. I always remember that I am so blessed to have him. I know of many moms who have lost their precious baby and I know of many women who want a baby but can't have one. I can be disappointed that parenthood is not what I dreamed it would be, or I can embrace and thrive in the parenting role God blessed me with. I am also very blessed to have an amazing, supportive husband, and we are surrounded by such wonderful people.
CB: What do you do to help with the autism community in Sioux Falls?
Dr. A: A few years ago I took over leading an informal 'Mom's Night Out' autism support group that meets about every other month for dinner to provide one another with friendship and support. I also have a wonderful team of people at my office who help to provide compassionate dental care to children with autism. Of our team of six at ABC, two of us have children on the spectrum and one of us has a brother with autism. Everyone at ABC is very familiar with the condition.
CB: What would you like the community to understand about autism?
Dr. A: If you ever see a kid acting out in public and you think the parent should get control of their child, please consider expressing a little compassion - a little sympathy. Instead of a dirty look and judgment, please give that mom a hug instead. Or, at least an 'I feel your pain/I understand parenting is tough sometimes' smile.
To finish, let's end on a casual note:
CB: What's your go-to closet item?
Dr. A: In the summer, for sure, it's a sundress! They're so easy to wear, so comfortable! People think you're so dressed up but it's all about being cute, practical and comfy. The looking great part is just a perk! In the fall/winter, fleece-lined leggings are amazing. Again, look cute but really just about the comfort and convenience...and warmth!
CB: If you reached into your purse and pulled out 5 things, what would they be?
Dr. A: Lip liner, fruity-flavored Chapstick, my old school pen and paper day planner calendar and a glitter gel pen!
CB: Coffee or tea? Movie or book
Dr. A: Chai tea. Both!
Interviewing the women we feature for this blog section is my favorite monthly thing to do. Upon completion, I'm always reminded of how amazing our community is. Dr. A truly opened my heart to striving to be a more compassionate person. To all of the Veterans within our reach and those around the country, we wish you a very Happy Veteran's Day and thank you for your service and for protecting our freedom.
