A Texas native, Dr. Cynthia Wright knows how to live life, and to take pride in it. She also fits right in with her new surroundings as Magnolia's newest dentist.
Wright graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. Edward's University in Austin. She then went to the University of Texas-Houston Dental School, then completed a residency at the University of Washington, where she became certified in IV conscious sedation, a form of sedation deeper than gas that can better ease a patient's anxiety during a dental procedure.
Throughout her training, Wright has always stayed active, playing soccer at St. Edward's and continuing to play on a recreational team in Seattle. She also kayaks on Lake Union and, last winter, skied Steven's Pass. One of her proudest achievements was running the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon last month with her cousin.
"We ran in the memory of all those who lost their lives in the federal-building bombing, those who survived, and we ran in memory of our grandpa, who passed away 10 years ago," Wright said.
That pride extends into her career in dentistry, which began when she was a teen-ager.
Throughout high school, she worked in a dental office, where her mom was an office manager, and just being in that environment inspired her. Wright is also driven by being a part of a patient's overall health.
"I wanted to be a part of health care but not just see patients when they're sick," she said. "I like the comprehensive view and being a part of a patient's overall health."
After growing up and going to school in Texas, Wright moved to Seattle because of the University of Washington's well-rounded residency program offers a more well rounded medical training than others, she said.
"I interviewed at five or six programs," she said. "The program here in Seattle has a lot of hospital rotation. We worked at the VA and Children's. It was more than just dentistry."
Wright thought she would move again after her one-year residency ended, but she liked the area so much, she stayed.
She loves working in Magnolia and living in Queen Anne and all of its conveniences such as Kerry Park, Discovery Park, Melina's and access to live music.
"I go to Paragon for Funk Night," she said. "I go to Triple Door and Showbox." She's also become a Mariners and Sounders FC fan. She's into walking in the parks, sitting outside restaurants. And, if you're one of her patients, you may have met her 6-year-old German Collie, Lola. She accompanies Wright to the office.
"I love living in this part of the [city]," she said. "Hopefully, I'll be around for a while."
She misses her friends back in Texas, Texmex food and sometimes the heat. But she said, on an idyllic Seattle day, "There's no way you can get me back to Texas."
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