Her Story
About Janice
Dr. Janice Spada is a semi-retired cosmetic and restorative dentist, motivational speaker, and actress whose career has been defined by a commitment to creating beautiful smiles and empowering others. Licensed as a dentist in Massachusetts since 1982, she built a distinguished career during a time when dentistry was still largely male-dominated. In 1987, she opened her own practice, where she worked as a cosmetic dentist and sole proprietor for more than three decades before selling the practice in 2021. Today, she is charting the next chapter of her professional life while maintaining her dental license and exploring opportunities to use her experience in leadership, mentoring, education, and public speaking.
Dr. Spada’s interest in dentistry began when she was a fifth grader and won a blue ribbon at a science fair, sparking a lasting passion for science. She went on to earn a BS in Biology from Boston College, graduating Magna Cum Laude, followed by a DMD in Dentistry from Boston University. Throughout her career, she has combined clinical expertise with education, serving as an Associate Clinical Professor in Boston University’s Dental School APEX Program and supervising dental students during externship rotations. She also supervised and trained dental assistants through an externship program at Minuteman Regional Technical School. Her experience as a practice owner taught her the importance of preparation, perseverance, delegation, collaboration, and knowing when to seek guidance from others.
As she enters this new phase, Dr. Spada is especially interested in mentoring women and sharing the lessons she has gained throughout her career. She has supported women dentists and dental students and remains engaged in professional and community organizations, including the American Association of University Women. She believes success is not only measured by the practice one builds but also by the people one encourages and the opportunities one helps create for others. Whether creating smiles through dentistry, educating and mentoring future professionals, speaking to audiences, or pursuing creative interests, Dr. Spada continues to look for meaningful ways to make a positive impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Janice
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, preparation, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Entering dentistry when there were few women in the profession taught me to believe in myself while also recognizing the value of asking for help and surrounding myself with talented people. Building my practice showed me that strong relationships, effective delegation, and mutual respect are essential to leadership. Most importantly, I believe success is measured not only by what you accomplish, but by the positive impact you have on others through mentorship, encouragement, and helping people recognize their potential.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is that you don’t have to do everything yourself. Learning to delegate and asking for help are signs of strong leadership, not weakness. I also believe in building and maintaining positive professional relationships because people remember how you treat them, and those connections can provide valuable support and opportunities throughout your career. Most importantly, I’ve learned to remain open to new possibilities and recognize that a career doesn’t have to follow a straight path.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering dentistry is to give yourself permission not to do everything perfectly. Learn to delegate, ask for help, and trust your team. It’s also important to maintain clear professional boundaries with employees while remaining kind, caring, and respectful. You can build strong relationships without losing sight of your role as a leader.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in dentistry is creating stronger support networks for women and helping them recognize that they can excel as clinicians while also becoming leaders, entrepreneurs, mentors, and advocates. With advances in technology, education, and professional communities, more opportunities are available than ever. At the same time, maintaining balance, finding mentors, overcoming self-doubt, and having access to the right support and resources remain important challenges.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, kindness, perseverance, and service. I believe in treating people with respect, staying curious, continuing to learn, and using my experience to help others. I want this next chapter of my life to be meaningful by continuing to create smiles, mentor others, and encourage people to see greater possibilities for themselves.
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