SLL STORIES
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a global shutdown of schools, clinics, and travel, thereby halting opportunities for in-person service work and separating communities through mandatory quarantine. In the midst of isolation, SLL STORIES was created as an online resource for parents, teachers, and dental providers with the shared goal of providing accessible, prevention-based dental education to kids. The founder, Sarah L Liebkemann, utilized her passion for dental hygiene and artistic skill set to create free online oral health resources for kids and ultimately write/illustrate a series of dental-focused children's books.
Read on to learn more about the founder of SLL STORIES, Sarah L Liebkemann.
professional LIFE
Sarah L Liebkemann holds a dual appointment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) as an Assistant Professor at UNC-CH Adams School of Dentistry, and the Director of Communications at the UNC-CH Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice. She received her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education from the UNC-CH in 2021, and was an inaugural member of the Interprofessional Education and Practice Distinguished Scholars. She graduated from the UNC-CH baccalaureate dental hygiene program in 2019 as the first student to earn highest honors and distinction. Sarah has served in a variety of leadership roles in organizations relating to dental academia, public health, and interprofessional education. She was inducted into the Sigma Phi Alpha dental hygiene honor society in 2019. Sarah has received a number of awards, including the National Sigma Phi Alpha Excellence in Journalism Award for her research exploring the use of Interactive Virtual Games in dental hygiene curriculum.
PERSONAL LIFE
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Sarah is a 25-year-old dental hygienist, professor, and artist living in Carrboro, North Carolina.
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A lifelong learner, Sarah believes that a curious mind and vivid imagination make every day an adventure. She channels her creative energy into collaborative projects and enjoys working in a variety of art forms, including digital art, painting, origami, animation, puppet crafting, flower pressing, sculpture, and crochet.
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Sarah's passion for preventive dentistry began when she traveled to Uganda at age fifteen. Her experiences with the Batwa pygmies and health team at the Bwindi Community Hospital sparked an interest in the intersection of dentistry with prevention, population health, and cultural humility. Since then, Sarah has dedicated herself to the mission of improving oral health within her community and around the globe.
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When she's not thinking about teeth or fiddling around with crafts, Sarah enjoys gardening, cuddling with her two dogs, taking fancy bubble baths, and boating with her family. Her favorite novels are "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens, "Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America" by Mary Otto, and "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.
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Personality
Myers-Briggs: INFJ ("The Advocate")
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5 Dynamics: Explore (Abundant), Excite (Deliberate+), Examine (Deliberate), Execute (Deliberate+)
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DISC Classic profile (professional setting): Steadiness*/Dominance ("Achiever Pattern")
Enneagram: Type 2, wing 3 (professional) or wing 9 (interpersonal)
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Thomas-Kilmann Model (conflict management) tendency: Collaborate/Compromise