Title
Interviewer
Kristine Navarro
Project
Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Dr. Arnaldo Chavarria was born in 1960 in El Paso, Texas. His father was Armando Chavarria who worked for Farrah Manufacturing and his mother Ramona Chavarria was a homemaker and cared for her nine children. Dr. Chavarria attended Hart Elementary, Guillen Middle School, Bowie High School and Ysleta High School. He has an associate’s degree in applied science with a major in dental hygiene from El Paso Community College. Dr. Chavarria is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Dentistry. Dr. Chavarria is married to Helen and they have two children. Dr. Chavarria is a dentist in El Paso.
Summary of Interview
Dr. Chavarria is the sixth child in a line of nine siblings. After graduating from high school, Dr. Chavarria briefly worked at a factory before applying and getting accepted to the El Paso Community College Dental Hygiene program. Dr. Chavarria worked as a dental hygienist before applying and being accepted to dental school in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating dental school, Dr. Chavarria worked with Dr. Watson, the El Paso City/County Health Department as well as La Fe Clinic and Sun Plaza Clinic. Soon after, Dr. Chavarria opened his practice on the Eastside of El Paso. Dr. Chavarria has received assistance through the United States Small Business Association. He is a member of the American Dental Association, The Texas Dental Association, and the El Paso Dental Association. In addition Dr. Chavarria is a member of the Seattle Club’s El Paso Chapter of the Thunderbird Study Club which is a study organization for local dentists to keep up to date with strategies and dental procedures. He attributes his work ethic and humble heart to his father and mother who taught him how to work hard and trust in the God. The advice Dr. Chavarria would offer those wanting to be a dentists is to get good grades because dental school is competitive, be prepared to work hard and sleep less, and to gain experience in the a community public health setting or partner with a senior dentist.
Date of Interview
12-3-2010
Length of Interview
95 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1502
Transcript Number
No. 1502
Length of Transcript
42 pages
Transcriber
GMR Transcription Services
Interview Number
No. 1502
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Chavarria DDS, Arnaldo, "Interview no. 1502" (2010). Paso del Norte Entrepreneurship Oral History Project. 25.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/entrepreneur/25