Balance has been defined as the harmonious arrangement or relation of parts or elements within a whole. Balance has been attributed as a key element to numerous success stories and accounts of healthier living. Dr. Thuan Dao is living representation of this enviable characteristic. This equilibrium allows Thuan to exemplify successful professional growth and an enriched personal spirit.

Her Southeast Asian heritage preceded her migration to the North American continent in trail of her siblings. She currently has family located in the eastern Canadian cities of Toronto and Montreal, as well as the western American cities of Seattle and Los Angeles. With a previous Bachelors degree in French Literature from the University of Saigon, Thuan pursued a health sciences career analogous to nearly all her relatives. However, Thuan was different, dentistry was fortunate to gain her dedication and expertise. Her dental degree was conferred from the Faculte de Medecine Dentaire at the Universite de Montreal in 1985 followed by a post doctoral hospital residency at the same University. Thuan migrated west to Toronto for completion of her prosthodontics education in 1991. Her fortitude and ability reaped additional pedigrees of MS in Neuroscience and PhD in Biomedical Sciences from her alma maters.

Accolades began to amass at the conclusion of her formal education and memberships in numerous esteemed international organizations are mounting respondent to her character. Academic and private practice activities have balanced her demonstrated research endeavors. Dr. Dao’s consistent research dossier supports her studies of interest in prosthodontics and neurosciences. She pronounced that pain research is a confirmed interest to her humanitarian trait with the proliferation of individuals living with chronic pain. Thuan has examined psychophysical and outcome assessment measures of pain and its relation to quality of life. Her studies scrutinize a multitude of etiologies for chronic myofascial pain disorders and include a broadened research spectrum of sensory disorders enveloping whiplash, endodontic and surgical implant patient populations. Dr. Dao is an accomplished educator demonstrating teaching and service contributions for the University of Toronto. She actively lectures nationally and internationally on the fruits of her research.

Subsequently, you understandably challenge the concept of balance. However, I assure you Thuan’s academic verve extends to her personal being. She adamantly states "It is important to have balance. Balance in work, family and home." Previous encounters with "burnout" fortify her conviction in this principle. Thuan relishes traveling, therefore, her balance principle compels her, whenever possible, to include some personal vacation to her professional travel venues. How often do we forget to savor the unique region’s we professional enrich? Journeys also include regular travel to see and enjoy family.

When home adjacent to Lake Ontario in Toronto, Dr. Dao involves herself in a broad spectrum of interests to fortify this vital balance. She is an accomplished pianist with an endearing appreciation of classical music. This talent was cultivated at an early age and fortified through similar family interests. Those nimble fingers may be considered green as demonstrated by her devotion to gardening, specifically nurturing a variety of her preferred genus, orchids. This perennial task triumphs the cold, blustery winters Toronto endures.

Dr. Dao’s artistry is wide-ranging from the prosthodontic lab to written verse. Her education in French Literature cultivated a love for poetry she identifies as a personal solace. One can begin to realize the equilibrium Thuan creates to allay the professional strain we all encounter. Although, the often obligatory physical liberation of stress is accomplished for Thuan through walking, swimming and tennis, thus completing the ambition of total harmony for Dr. Dao.