1. What is a typical day like at the office? Busy.

I see 15-20 patients

every day. Usually my schedule has 10 and m
2. Why did this type of work interest you, and how did you get
started? M y interest is helping patients get better. The variety of
problems is the challenge that keeps me going. I got started
during my junior year in undergrad. I knew I wanted something
different than my current path.
3. Can you suggest some ways a student could obtain this
necessary experience? Call an office and inquire if they would
allow the student to come in and shadow the Doctor. Most
Dentists would be happy to provide some guidance. If there is an
interest in pursuing a career, then volunteer their time in the office.
On the job experience is priceless.
4. What are the most important personal satisfactions and
dissatisfactions connected with your occupation? What part of
this job do you personally find most satisfying? Most
challenging? What do you like and not like about working in this
industry? The most satisfying part of my career is seeing a
complex case to completion. Taking something that was broken
down and restoring it back to health is an awesome feeling.
Surpassing a patient's expectations are what make the daily grind
rewarding. The biggest challenges is people management. Being a
CEO is not something that is taught in Dental School. Being
successful in business, and being technically excellent are not
related. Having the skills is important, however being able to sell
what you can do is just as important. Being technically excellent
does not mean you will be successful. The biggest dislike in this
industry is the influx of corporate ownership of Dental practices.
Having a Board of Directors who are not Dentists, driving a bottom
line, not what is best for the patient, is not something the
profession needs. Dentistry is not a commodity. Treatment plans
should not include a wallet biopsy.
5. Do you find your job exciting or boring? Why? T he work that I do is
never boring. The variety of problems encountered daily is never
the same. There are similarities in the mode of failure. Managing
that aspect is fun. Reducing the risk of it occurring again makes
what I do a challenge.
6. How many years of college did you attend? What classes did you
have to take? I did a total of 10 years. 4 undergraduate , 4 Dental
School, 2 year General Practice Residency at the Medical
University of SC. The classes that I took that made getting
accepted to Dental School were Comparative Anatomy and
Biochemistry. Tough classes, but made the course in Dental
School easier. As I had seen it before. My path was a bit different
than most. My major was Marine Biology for 2.5 years, so my
class selection is not what would be the recommended list for a
prospective Dental student.
7. What sorts of changes are occurring in your occupation?
Challenges to the profession are the insurance companies
dictating treatment. Eliminating procedures because they can. No
accountability and no oversight. Treatment based solely on cost.
What's the cheapest possible way to do it. Reductions in
reimbursement. This has become a much bigger problem as Delta
Dental is becoming the majority provider nationwide.
8. What are the skills that are most important for a position in this
field? B
eing technically excellent is a major part, but being good
with people is key. Knowing people and being able to sell what you
do are huge.
9. How would you describe the working atmosphere and the people
with whom you work with? T he work atmosphere at my office is
professional but fun. We are committed to making our workday a
positive one. We have a 90 min meeting weekly to address any
issues. This has been one addition that has made a significant
difference in how we do what we do.
10. Is there flexibility related to dress, work hours, and vacation
schedule? Our dress code for clinical staff is scrubs. Colors are
decided upon by the team. Hair must be out of the way, either
short, or pulled back. For non-clinical team, business casual attire.
A professional atmosphere is required. Operating hours are
posted and are not flexible. Our schedule is booked out for the
Hygienists 6 months, so vacation planning is critical to ensure that
our patients care is not impacted.
11. How has the job affected your lifestyle outside the office?
Thankfully the career that I have has afforded me many
opportunities that I would not have otherwise. The work is hard,
but it is rewarding and fulfilling. Financially, my career has been a
blessing. We are not careless with our resources, but we do have
fun.
12. From your perspective, what are the problems you see working
in this field? T
he problems that are encountered in this field are
varied, but dealing with people's expectations is probably the
biggest challenge that has to be addressed. The majority of what I
do involves things that can be very traumatic both physically and
emotionally. Telling someone that they have to loose all of their
teeth is a very emotional experience.
13. What interests you the most about your job? T he constant
variety of problems encountered, keeps what I do, very interesting.
The challenge can be simple, and some can be extensive.
14. If you could do things over again, would you choose the same
path for yourself? If I had to do it over again, I would still do what I
do. I believe that I would change the location. Of the things that I
enjoy outside of my profession, I would like to be near the ocean.
15. How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?
. My training at the Medical University of South Carolina did a good
job of getting the fundamentals taken care of. My undergraduate
studies were not directly related to my professional career, but it
gave me the background in people skills. Relating to people is
 critical to doing what I do. Participating in the "University
Experience", not just the academics, provided me a great
foundation to build on.