With an aptitude for science, a love of learning, and the generosity of a strong female mentor, Dr. Priya Stearns, owner and principal dentist at Rutland Dental Centre, built herself the career—and family—of her dreams.

“I’ve always been interested in healthcare,” says Priya. “While I was doing my undergrad degree at the University of Victoria, I narrowed it down to optometry, medicine, and dentistry.”

It was through a very fitting connection that she made her decision. She was chatting with her female dentist one day during a routine visit and
mentioned her interest in a dentistry career.

“She said, ‘why don’t you shadow me?’ And, of course I said yes!” Priya remembers. “She showed me what her days looked like, talked about how
she was a working mom and could schedule her appointments around childcare—I knew I wanted a family one day so that really appealed to me.”

Priya later attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to study dentistry. There, she met her future husband and business partner Dr. Mike Stearns, and the two decided to launch their careers together.

“We both wanted to start off by practicing rurally,” says Priya. “You get a bigger range of experience that way.”

They spent the next few years practicing in smaller areas, including Grand Cache, Alberta and Whitehorse. Then they had their first child, and it was time to move back home to Kelowna, where both of their families lived.

Today, the couple owns Rutland Dental Centre, where they, like the dentist who mentored Priya all those years ago, are able to build their schedule
around caring for their two children. And, as the principal dentists, they’re committed to fostering a positive environment for staff and patients.

“We’re like a family,” says Priya. “All our staff have been at the office for many years, so there’s more opportunity to build relationships with patients in the community.”

Finding balance as a successful dentist, business owner and mom isn’t always easy. But, like her mentor did for her, Priya always tries to empower women to believe that it is possible.

Maybe that means making your own career dreams a priority, or maybe it’s about intentionally making time for yourself in your busy schedule. Every woman is different, but Priya believes everyone has something valuable to bring to the table.

As the Rutland Dental Centre team prepares to move into a new location in the Sole Rutland Building in the Spring, Priya is looking forward to what the future holds. “We are fortunate to have such a great community to work in and look forward to continuing our growth.”