Meet Dr. Julia Giardina, Maker City's New Annual Partner!
We're excited to welcome Dr. Julia Giardina and Giardina Orthodontics as the new Annual Partner of Maker City! As a local business owner, mother of two young children, and Explore More parent, Dr. Giardina knows firsthand the value of giving children opportunities to explore their interests and discover their potential.
Her enthusiasm for Maker City is both personal and professional. An early love of science helped shape her own career in orthodontics, where creativity and problem-solving are part of her everyday work. Now, through this partnership, she's helping ensure that young makers throughout our community have access to the tools, technology, and hands-on experiences that might just spark their own lifelong passions.
Explore More is so grateful to Giardina Orthodontics for supporting this important space and ensuring that it is engaging and available to all!
Q&A with DR. Julia Giardina
We recently caught up with Dr. Giardina to learn more about her family, her work, and what inspired her to support Maker City. From childhood science fairs to her favorite Museum memories, here's a chance to get to know the person behind the partnership!
1. Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m originally from Cape Coral, Florida, but Virginia has been home since I moved here for dental school in 2015. I met my husband, Nick, at the University of Florida, and he made the move with me! During my orthodontic residency, I connected with Dr. Kray, who encouraged me to join her practice and eventually take over ownership in 2021. That's what brought us to Harrisonburg, and we've loved growing our family here!
Over the past five years, I've worked to build Giardina Orthodontics into a practice where exceptional care and the patient experience are equally important. We want every patient to feel like a rock star when they walk through our doors! What I love most is building relationships with patients and being involved in this wonderful community.
Outside of work, my husband and I stay busy with our two young children! One of my son's favorite places is Explore More, and we've spent countless weekends there. When I find a little free time, I love painting, crafting, taking walks, and squeezing in a workout!
2. As a mom of two young children, what excites you most about watching kids learn, explore, and discover new things?
I love those little moments when you can almost see the wheels turning as my son figures something out! It's especially fun visiting the museum week after week and watching him build on something he learned the last time.
For example, when he was younger, he would just chase the balls around in the money exhibit. Now he's figuring out where to put them and how to launch them. I imagine his next big discovery will be learning how to aim them! There are a million little moments like that, and they make me so proud. It's amazing how much children learn through play without even realizing it!
3. Was there someone or something in your childhood that sparked your interest in science or inspired you to pursue orthodontics?
My love for science really started in middle school when I won my school's science fair and went on to place at the regional competition. That earned me a spot at a science camp where we collected rock samples, used microscopes, and learned about geology. I absolutely loved it, but I quickly realized it wasn't the rocks I loved. It was science!
I actually started college planning to become a physical therapist, but a friend encouraged me to shadow at a dental clinic, and I was fascinated! Dentistry combined science, problem-solving, and creativity in a way I hadn't considered before.
I've also always loved painting and drawing and have a natural eye for proportions and balance. When I discovered orthodontics in dental school, everything clicked. It combined my artistic side with biomechanics, physics, and the science of creating beautiful, functional smiles. I was hooked!
4. Orthodontics combines science, technology, and hands-on skills. How do creativity and problem-solving come into play in your work?
This is such a good question! I always say that being creative and looking at every case like a puzzle are two things that make a great orthodontist. No two patients are exactly alike, so you really have to think outside the box and come up with a plan that works for each person.
Some cases are especially challenging and require working with other specialists. For example, if an adult's upper and lower jaws don't line up properly, braces alone may not be enough. We might work with an oral surgeon to combine jaw surgery with orthodontic treatment to create a healthy, functional bite.
That's what makes my job so fun! I love the challenge of figuring out how all the pieces fit together and then getting to see the final result.
5. You work with children and families every day. What do you enjoy most about helping young people grow and gain confidence?
There is truly no better feeling than bringing joy to a child and making them smile, and I'm lucky enough to do that every day! One of my favorite moments is taking someone's braces off and handing them a mirror to see their new smile. The excitement in the room is palpable! I love hearing from parents that their child is finally smiling with their teeth in pictures for the first time.
And it's not just kids! I've had adults cry happy tears after seeing a smile they never thought was possible because they believed they were too old for orthodontic treatment. Those moments are so special. It's about so much more than straightening teeth. It's about giving people the confidence to smile without holding back!
6. What drew you to Explore More and the opportunity to become Maker City's Annual Partner?
I've loved crafting, painting, and creating things since I was a kid. It's still one of my favorite ways to relax and express myself, so Maker City is something I'm genuinely excited about!
I think it's AMAZING that children in our community have a place to explore skills like 3D printing, sewing, button making, etc. These are things they can continue to enjoy throughout their lives, and they might even discover an interest that leads them toward a future career in science or technology. How cool is that?
I also know these opportunities require supplies, equipment, and ongoing maintenance, so I'm especially excited that our partnership will directly support keeping these experiences available for kids to enjoy.
7. As a parent and a local business owner, what does it mean to you to invest in opportunities for children in our community?
As a mom, I've seen firsthand how much places like Explore More mean to families. Watching my own children learn and grow through play has made me appreciate just how important these opportunities are.
As a business owner, I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I can give back to the community that has supported my family and my practice. I love the idea that something we help provide today could spark a child's lifelong passion or open their eyes to a career they never knew existed. You never know which little experience might make a big difference in a child's future, and that's what makes this partnership so meaningful to me!
8. If you could spend an afternoon in Maker City learning something new, what would you want to try?
I would love to try sewing! I haven't used a sewing machine since I was a teenager, but I've always thought it's such a great skill to have. I'd love a little refresher, some time to practice, and maybe even make something I could take home! Maker City would be the perfect place to pick it back up.