My Loupes Are Up Here

3 Stories, 3 Women, 3 Dentists

Episode 20: Join us for a unique episode where we share the stage with three of our colleagues; Drs. Deshpande, Dua Makkar and Weir. These three dentists and authors have banded together to share their experiences about writing as healthcare professionals. Each of them brings a unique perspective to life around dentistry. They hope for every listener to get immense value from listening to their journey.  Now, this episode is pulled off of a Facebook Live so there may be references to those listening at the time. 

 

Dr. Sampada Deshpande is a foreign trained dentist based in San Francisco Bay Area. Author of the book, Persevering, Sampada earned a DDS in 2018 from the University of Washington. She is a recipient of the ADA 10 under 10, AGD 10 to Watch honor and Howard Memorial Award. In her book, she shares a step-by-step checklist for all international dentists to follow when preparing to move to North America for advanced training and licensure. The only of its kind, Persevering also navigates work opportunities, and features interviews of foreign trained dentists who are now settled in the US & Canada. You can reach her for speaking opportunities by visiting her website www.sampadadeshpandedds.com.

The book, Life Interrupted, Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide is written by Dr. Parul Dua Makkar’s late brother, Dr. Manu Dua. He wrote this book as he battled the last stages of Oral Cancer at the age of 34. ‘Manu wrote at a time when his world fell apart and he welcomed death. Instead of taking a negative outlook, as he went through multiple treatments alone and long hospital stays in isolation, he decided to impart his wise words to the world,’ says Parul. Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is a practicing general dentist in NY. After obtaining her DDS from University of Oklahoma, she practiced in Canada before moving to NY where she also completed a GPR at Staten Island University Hospital. Parul currently resides in Long Island and can be reached at parul_dua@yahoo.com or on Facebook/Instagram @pdmfamilydental. 

 

 

Dr. Yvette Weir is a Howard University graduate with over twenty years of experience in general dentistry with the underserved population of Maryland. She has lived in several countries and practiced dentistry and taught English in West Africa and had a small radio show and a children’s business in Latin America. Her current passions include speaking, writing and leadership ventures through her Retreat and Event business - Wild at Heart. Her book, Relationship Playbook for Women: 7 Questions for You and Your Soulmate, is a guide for professional women and men who are looking to find, evaluate and connect with a person for a satisfying long term relationship. Yvette can be reached via IG: Audaciousretreats | Flowdoc21 | Fitveganblogger and through her facebook page: Wild Heart21.

 

UPDATE on the story of the foreign trained dentist who was applying to dental school after a 15 year hiatus...SHE GOT IN!

 

Working Moms: Juggling Life and Our Love of Dentistry

A conversation with Dr. Kate Quinlin and Dr. Vladana Babcic about juggling life, motherhood, and being partners in their multispecialty practice. Dr. Quinlin, a board certified periodontist, and Dr. Babcic, a board certified endodontist have built an amazing career in Chicago and the Chicagoland area.  The model of their practice is focused on interdisciplinary care through team based treatment planning.  They have not only achieved success in their career but also as mothers and wives.  Juggling life as full time clinicians, managing their practice, directing Seattle Study Club and motherhood is not an easy feat.  As working moms, we break down how life really is trying to "do it all."

Episode 18: Spinal Hygiene for Dentists

In this episode Dr. Shivani and Dr. Priyanka are joined by guest Dr. Nardine Bekhit for a conversation on chiropractic medicine, entrepreneurship, and motherhood. Nardine shares a strategy for dentists to maintain spinal health and reduce chronic pain, all from a chiropractor's perspective. She has a talent for educating and empowering patients, and has been increasing her impact with the use of social media. We discuss the challenges of wearing so many hats and playing the role of doctor, entrepreneur, and mother. One thing we love about Nardine is her courage to break the mold of being a traditional clinician and following her instinct for innovative ideas. Listen to the end for some raw advice on becoming a mother. This was a wonderful conversation!

 

Dr. Nardine Bekhit is a chiropractor and new mom in Ottawa, Canada. As a musculoskeletal health expert, she has a special interest in helping dental professionals provide care without having to sacrifice their muscle and joint health in the process. She creates content on Instagram (@curlychiro) to disseminate ergonomic and exercise information in fun and creative ways and is passionate about educating and empowering patients with the tools they need to better their health. 

 

Life Interrupted, Part 2

In this 2nd part, Shivani discusses grief, life purpose, and the precious lessons of mortality with Parul.

If you or anyone you know is dealing with grief, the loss of a loved one, or a terminal diagnosis, this episode may be difficult to hear, but also exactly what you need to hear. We are always here to support our listeners with one on one discussions and/or providing further resources.

 

Resources:

Link to Dr. Manu Dua’s articles in Dental Town: https://www.dentaltown.com/magazine/author/1331/dr-manu-dua

Link to the book Life Interrupted: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Interrupted-Duas-Survival-Guide/dp/1736058711 

Link to Dr. Parul Makkar’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdmfamilydental/ 

Life Interrupted, Part1

In these next two episodes, Dr. Shivani interviews guest speaker Dr. Parul Dua Makkar, who recently lost her brother to oral cancer. Parul's brother, Dr. Manu Dua, passed away in March 2021 at the young age of 34. Manu was a general dentist and practice owner in Calgary, Alberta. Manu also had a strong passion for writing, and before he passed he began writing journal entries which would later be published by Parul in the book "Life Interrupted." We highly encourage all of our listeners to read this book! In this podcast episode, Parul opens up about Manu's diagnosis, treatment, and the life lessons he imparted. 

 

Dr. Parul Dua Makkar obtained her BSc in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from University of Central Oklahoma in 1999, her DDS from University of Oklahoma in 2003. She worked in Calgary, AB for a few years before moving to New York. She then completed her GPR Residency at Staten Island University Hospital. She is currently in private practice in Long Island, NY, where she resides with her husband and two boys that keep her quite entertained.

 

Resources:

Link to Dr. Manu Dua’s articles in Dental Town: https://www.dentaltown.com/magazine/author/1331/dr-manu-dua

Link to the book Life Interrupted: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Interrupted-Duas-Survival-Guide/dp/1736058711 

Link to Dr. Parul Makkar’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdmfamilydental/ 

My Mission for Wellness in Dentistry

 In this episode, Shivani opens up about her background, where she is from, and her pathway into dentistry. She discusses the life experiences that have helped form her sense of purpose in this profession, and her mission to help other dentists build their own wellness practices. It is important to Shivani to redefine what it means to be a dentist and to encourage others that a consistent wellness practice will not only prevent mental and physical burnout, but also cultivate more joy and peace in your life. She also talks about her recent life transitions abroad and out of clinical dentistry, and the challenges that have come along with this transition.

 

Dr. Shivani Kamodia Barto joined MLAUH in 2020 as a co-host after discovering her passion for empowering others through the power of storytelling. She is passionate about wellness and sustainability, and bringing her passions into the profession of dentistry.

Building a Business with Purpose with the Co-Founder of Cocofloss

Join us for an incredible conversation with Dr. Chrystle Cu, founder of Cocofloss. 

In this episode, we discuss 

• • The organic growth of her practice from one single chair to a busy five chair practice

• How she discovered a pervasive problem and went about creating a solution

• Why “it’s all about the why,” and how living with intention leads to a purposeful life

• Advice to budding entrepreneurs hoping to build a business with a lasting impact.

 

Dr. Chrystle Cu is a graduate of Wellesley College and University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. She practices general dentistry in San Mateo, California, in the center of Silicon Valley. As a prevention-focused dentist, she created Cocofloss in 2015.

Outside of private practice, she volunteers to provide dental treatment and oral health education to underserved communities without access to care. She’s passionate about finding creative ways to inspire folks to start flossing – and to love it! For Chrystle, success as a doctor means she’s helped patients achieve a healthy mouth and broader understanding of how oral health relates to the body overall.

 

Instagram, Twitter: @getcocofloss

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovecocofloss

Website: www.cocofloss.com

Young Dental Group: @youngdentalgroup   www.youngdentalgroup.com

Empowering Through Education and Entrepreneurship

In this episode we discuss how Sonia went from building her practice to building her educational empire, and how she continues to carve time out for her family and personal development. Sonia gets deep about her experience with coaching, and how integral coaches have been in her personal and professional life. We discuss how she built her incredible team and how she strives to use her business to help her teammates realize their dreams.

 

Sonia teaches and embodies the following lesson; understanding where your peers and patients are in their journeys is the key to building strong relationships and a stronger practice, and it’s all rooted in self-empowerment. Her entire career has been characterized by pushing herself and empowering others to grow—as entrepreneurs, leaders, and patient advocates—all in the service of creating a more educated, balanced field. You don’t become the first female endodontist in Charlotte, NC (and board-certified, to boot) without a serious growth mindset and a strong dose of hustle. 

 

Because Sonia refuses to mind the dentistry status quo. When no one would hire her out of residency, she started her own practice. When she felt she was losing time with her family due to how many hours she was spending in the office, she became more intentional with her schedule. And when she realized she could save more teeth and improve people’s lives by providing dentists and endos with the proper education, she took it upon herself to lead the charge.

 

Now, on top of running her thriving practice, Sonia provides groundbreaking digital education and community support to general dentists and endodontists who want to uplevel their technical skills, patient experience, and overall business models. Through her thoughtfully designed online course, E-School, she is revolutionizing the reputation of endodontics through the simple, tangible lessons rooted in her own diverse experience. By empowering dentists to perform better root canals, empowering endodontists to run better practices, and empowering patients to make better health decisions, Sonia is paving a new way forward for the next generation of healthy, confident, empowered people—both in and out of the chair. 

 

Subscribe to Sonia’s blog for endo case studies, tips, and tricks.

Learn about E-School, her online CE course for general dentists.

Follow Sonia on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

 

https://soniachopradds.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/soniachopradds/ 

Thoughts on Business & Success in Dentistry

We are honored to share our episode with Dr. Sampada Deshpande, who recently won the ADA 10 Under 10 Award: an award honoring dentistry’s rising stars who are making an impact on the profession less than 10 years after graduating from dental school. We discuss her path in founding the New Dentist Business Club; the power of blogging and sharing your true self in building a patient following; how she is learning to accept recognition and success; and the power of pivoting and redefining goals. One thing we love about Sampada is her passion for learning and personal growth, and how there is a lesson in everything we do and everyone we meet in life. Listen closely for some 🔥 book recommendations. 

 

Dr. Sampada Deshpande is a general dentist based in Seattle. A foreign trained dentist from India, Sampada earned her DDS from the University of Washington in 2018. She is the founder and president of the New Dentist Business Club, and truly enjoys providing interactive business education to new dentists and dental students. She has been recognized as a 2020 Top 10 Dentists to Watch by the Academy of General Dentistry and a winner of the 2021 ADA 10 Under 10 Award, and is also currently a full-time trainee at the Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities program at the University of Washington. Dr. Deshpande is a guest blogger for the ADA New Dentist Now and sits on the Seattle King County Dental Foundation’s Board. Outside of clinical dentistry, she enjoys biking with her husband and reading books on Finance & Management. You can reach her directly at @dr.deshpande or get more info on NDBC @newdentistbusinessclub on Instagram.

 

*Recorded in 2020

 

https://www.instagram.com/dr.deshpande/

https://www.instagram.com/newdentistbusinessclub/

https://www.sampadadeshpandedds.com/

Creating a 2021 Vision

Creating a 2021 Vision.  A new year! A new season!

How do you create a vision and set goals for yourself? In this episode, Dr. Shivani and Dr. Priyanka discuss their methods for creating an annual vision, setting quarterly goals, and cultivating daily habits. We challenge you to set a 2021 intention, not a New Years resolution. Consider digging deep and asking yourself who you want to be and why you want to be that person, and use the power of goal setting as a roadmap to get there. We talk about the importance of journaling, creating a vision board, reflecting on progress, and celebrating wins. We even share our one word intention for 2021, what is yours?