Resources & Tips For Dentists

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“This side of me came out during chemotherapy, this urge to overcome my fears and make hurdles. One thing I’ve always wanted to do is put pen to paper; I’ve always wanted to write an article for a dental magazine. Lo and behold, I’ve actually gotten an opinion article published in Dental Economics. It amazed me what I was able to do in a reasonable amount of time just by giving some commitment… Before this all happened, I had grown out my hair and was really upset to see all my hard work go to nothing. One day, my wife and I were sitting in my living room and wondering what to do with my head. I came up with the crazy idea of doodling on my head—just playing tic tac toe. I always knew my wife was an artist when she was young, but being a dentist for so many years apparently left that talent ‘untapped.’ When she picked up the marker and started doodling, I was amazed… A lot of my friends wanted to see how I was doing but were hesitating to reach out. My wife and I were able to share my journey, with them, through art. We started an open-ended photoblog called ‘My Head is a Canvas.’ It’s a beautiful collection of paintings my wife has created alongside some of my literary expressions—her illustrations and my creative writing. I never thought I’d have done something like this or even stumbled upon it. It’s pretty incredible. If it weren’t for cancer, I probably would have never discovered this nor built that camaraderie with my wife. I always felt there was something in me, but there was always that hesitation or busyness… No matter what you’re going through or how busy you are in your field, I urge you to take the time to pursue your own goals and passion projects. You’ll be surprised where baby steps can take you… All of us go through things in life—whether it’s cancer or some other form of tragedy. In dentistry, it’s hard to slow down. Take some time off, though. I know we have goals—goals of owning a practice, goals of whatever. But I strongly urge people to never underestimate the time that they get. See it as a gift to nurture who you are. Time is a blessing. I stumbled upon this after the universe put this in perspective for me… Now that I’m on the other side of things, I’m now back in my field with a lot of energy. I’ve never been happier doing dentistry. I’m able to practice my profession without that level of burnout I had in the past.”

More Stories

Dr. Alice Hoang

Dr. Alice Hoang

“I didn’t come out of the closet until my 3rd year of dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina. Being from the South, with immigrant parents, I learned to internalize homophobia and misogyny. When I got to college, I started to realize how my...

Dr. Sarah Morris

Dr. Sarah Morris

I’ve always been someone who respected and appreciated science. I actually made the decision to enter dentistry through a “what do you want to be when you grow up” project in eighth grade. I guess I was thrown into the field of science early due to my hearing...

Dr. Kate Haag

Dr. Kate Haag

“My husband and I own a farm and ranch where we raise milo, corn, wheat, oats, and several hundred cattle. There are cows that we feed out and sell for meat, but we also have some heifers and their babies who live out in the pasture. We also have three helpers: two...

Dr. Alan Stern

Dr. Alan Stern

“It’s a very raw story because, like every one of us, I’m imperfect. When I got out of dental school, I really thought that I should have that big house and be driving that Lexus. To add to it, I thought I should be on live radio because I speak well and it was an...

Dr. Vi Ho

Dr. Vi Ho

“I realized the importance of cooking when I was nine. I had just arrived in America along with my parents (and one younger sibling). My parents had to work twelve-hour shifts—six to seven days a week—just to make ends meet… At that age, you’re old enough to realize...

Dr. Sagar Shah – Part 1

Dr. Sagar Shah – Part 1

“I’ve been a practicing dentist for over eight years. I love my profession, but it’s been quite a ride. I’ve always loved the fact that I’ve been able to continue to learn. Our field has no ceiling; you can always keep things fresh. It’s been an exciting career...