Randa Soussou

Investigator and Attending Pediatric Dentist, BC Children's Hospital

Academic Affiliations

Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia

Research Theme

Evidence to Innovation

Research Group

Clinical Pharmacology

Implementing Knowledge for Equity and System Change

Research Areas

Anesthesia, General

Artificial Intelligence

Autism

Child Dental Health

Dental Research

Contact

randa.soussou@dentistry.ubc.ca

Mailing Address

2151 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC
V6T1Z3

Overview: Our research focuses on improving dental visits for children by using innovative technologies like virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). These tools help us make dental care less intimidating and more engaging, particularly for children with special needs such as autism. We aim to transform dental visits into a more positive experience. This approach not only alleviates anxiety but also enhances the overall effectiveness of dental treatments.
Publications: Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis: A case with self-inflicted oral ulcerations
Journal of Dentistry for Children
2019
Waiting room time: An opportunity for parental oral health education
Canadian Journal of Public Health
DOI: 10.17269/CJPH.108.5984
2017
Research: Sedation Extension Clinic Pilot Project
This project aims to improve access to dental care for children with behavioral complexities by reducing reliance on OR-based dental sedation. It integrates caregiver education, innovative sedation technologies, and interdisciplinary collaboration to create a tailored and trauma-informed dental care experience.
Oral Health Promotion in Schools Using Lay Health Advisors and Technology
This initiative seeks to promote oral health in school-aged children through interactive apps and digital tools, empowering caregivers and children with accessible educational resources. The project is in the development phase, with pilot implementations being planned.
Caregiver Feedback for Service Improvement
I am supervising two graduate students on QI projects aimed at improving services at BCCH and UBC. These projects involve collecting caregiver feedback to enhance patient experiences and outcomes in sedation and oral health services.

Stories See all

How this food allergy treatment for kids is easing anxiety for parents

By helping children build tolerance to allergenic foods, oral immunotherapy (OIT) not only reduces the risk of severe allergic reactions, but also helps families feel safer, more confident, and less isolated in their daily lives.

Continue reading How this food allergy treatment for kids is easing anxiety for parents

Caring for young people during a toxic drug crisis: Q&A with Dr. Danya Fast

In 2016, BC declared a public health emergency as a result of the significant increase in drug-related overdoses and deaths. Open conversations about the toxicity of the drug supply remain a top priority, so we sat down with BCCHR investigator Dr. Danya Fast to discuss key findings from her research and what families need to know to support loved ones who use drugs.

Continue reading Caring for young people during a toxic drug crisis: Q&A with Dr. Danya Fast

BCCHR laboratories hosting Indigenous students for seed2STEM program

For the first time, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) is participating as one of the host institutes in the seed2STEM program — a research summer program that aims to increase participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among Indigenous youth.

Continue reading BCCHR laboratories hosting Indigenous students for seed2STEM program

Congratulations CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant recipients

Congratulations to the investigators and their teams who were awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Spring 2025 Project Grant competition.

Continue reading Congratulations CIHR Spring 2025 Project Grant recipients

OPTIMISE trial seeks to personalize cancer treatment for children with high-risk tumours

Dr. Rebecca Deyell will be leading the OPTIMISE trial — short for Optimal Precision Therapies to CustoMISE Care in Childhood and Adolescent Cancer — at BC Children's Hospital. The trial is designed to match children, adolescents and young adults with high-risk cancers to targeted therapies based on the genetic makeup of their tumours.

Continue reading OPTIMISE trial seeks to personalize cancer treatment for children with high-risk tumours

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