Daily Inspiration: Meet Allan Wu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allan Wu.

Hi Allan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Southern California in the San Gabriel Valley. Both of my parents were born and immigrated from Taiwan, and I grew up in a multicultural home with my older brother and younger sister. For my undergraduate education I wanted to explore outside California, and attended the University of Richmond in Virginia. It was there that I decided to pursue a career in dentistry. After graduating from the University of Richmond, I returned home and attended the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California for my doctoral degree. This was a proud moment for me, as my father had completed this same program almost 35 years before I did. After graduating I worked at several different offices around Southern California to broaden my scope and perspective, including locations in West LA, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Inland Empire. I am currently working with my father in Arcadia, not too far from where I grew up.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been challenges along the way. One of my biggest challenges was the decision to pursue dentistry as a career. When I started college I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I was majoring in business administration and it wasn’t until about halfway through my sophomore year that I realized that was not the direction I wanted to take. I realized that I wanted a career where I could build lifelong relationships and foster interpersonal connections, while being able to do good and help others. After much thought and researching class schedules I was able to come up with a plan to switch majors while also catching up on many prerequisite classes. It wasn’t easy, and there were many sleepless nights, but I would do it all again for the privilege to see the smiles of happiness of those I can help.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I practice dentistry with a focus on integrity and providing the highest quality of care, while striving to provide every patient a comfortable and relaxed experience. I view my primary responsibility as providing education and information to my patients about current and potential future problems, and to offer solutions to those problems. Outside of the office, something I am passionate about is community service. I have been on several international trips to provide dental care to those who otherwise would not be able to afford dentistry. Whether it be locally or in another country, it gives me great fulfillment to see my work providing a positive impact on the lives of others.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I had a curious and adventurous personality. I was always ready to try something new and enjoyed picking up and developing new skills. I was fortunate to be able to travel when I was younger, and seeing different places, eating exotic foods, and learning other cultures and customs garnered an appreciation of the unknown that I carry to this day.
I had many interests growing up, and several of these have developed into lifelong hobbies. From early on I knew I had a passion for the outdoors. Skiing and hiking were two things I always enjoyed, and continue to this day. I played tennis more seriously when I was younger, but nowadays it’s a great way to have some casual fun. I have always enjoyed playing board games and card games, and I’ll rarely turn down a little friendly competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.petercwudds.com/