Trusted Cumming, GA Orthodontist
Get to Know Susan Podray-Donovan, DMD, MS
Dr. Podray-Donovan has been working in dentistry for well over a decade now, and she never gets tired of seeing so many smiles each and every day at Serenity Orthodontics! She thinks there is something so beautiful about a healthy, happy smile – it really does shorten the distance between people. She goes above and beyond to ensure that her patients have a wonderful experience throughout their treatment, from the excitement at the very beginning to the stunning finish. If you’d like to learn more about her, just keep reading below.
Why Did You Want to Become an Orthodontist?
Dr. Podray-Donovan grew up in South Florida, where her father (now retired) worked as an orthodontist. When she was a teenager, she often helped out around his office, doing lab work, sterilizing treatment rooms, and even assisting with patient care. Gradually, she fell in love with orthodontics and the transformations it could accomplish. After completing dental school, she practiced as a family dentist for a year, but it just wasn’t the right fit. Although she enjoyed being able to provide a wide spectrum of care, her passion belonged to the same work she once did alongside her dad. The rest is history! Funny enough, her brother is an orthodontist too, which means both of them didn’t fall far from the tree at all.
Where Did You Study Orthodontics?
Dr. Podray-Donovan graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her undergraduate degree in biology and a minor in physiology. She then completed her dental doctorate at Temple University, followed by her Orthodontic Certification with a Master’s in Biomedical Science from the same school. Today, she is very involved in the Georgia Society of Orthodontics and currently serves as the Vice President of the GAO; other active memberships include the American Association of Orthodontists and Southern Association of Orthodontists. She is also an elite Damon provider and an Inbrace Innovator – in fact, she’s very proud to be the first doctor to bring the smart wire inbrace lingual technology to the state of Georgia! Today, she’s happy to teach her fellow orthodontists this esthetic braces technique.
Outside of the Dental Office, What Do You Like to Do?
Today, Dr. Podray-Donovan lives in North Georgia with her husband Jon and their two boys Zach and Kyle. If she’s not busy crafting smiles at the practice, you can usually find her spending lots of quality time with her boys; they do all sorts of activities like swimming, biking, fishing, hiking, or playing basketball. They also have backyard chickens and love tending to them. As for personal passions, she’s a HUGE Disney fanatic! She loves chatting with all of her patients about their vacations to the various parks.