Being a resident has its highs and lows. I love being a resident — so much so, I became a pediatric dental resident after completing a one-year GPR. Completing a residency allows you to grow clinically, improve clinical thinking skills, and further develop critical interprofessional and communication skills. However, it isn’t for everyone. If you are on the fence or potentially considering residency, here are some things to keep in mind. Know what’s expected of you. Once you agree to be a resident, it is a contractual agreement. Each program has its own manual that outlines the policies and responsibilities of their residents. They are typically reviewed with you on the first day, and you’re expected to review them on your own as well. Before your start date, you’ll sign the policy and agree to your responsibilities. The manual also may include the disciplinary actions that will be taken if you don’t follow the rules, such as suspensions or expulsions. Once you start your residency, don’t expect to be treated like a dental student. You are now a trained professional, and they are expecting you to be that. Therefore, preparedness is key. In most advanced programs, you may see more advanced cases and medically compromised patients. Without proper preparation, you could potentially hinder patient care, which is a big no-no in a residency. Plus, adequate preparedness will lead to a less stressful experience and establish confidence between you and your attendings. For example, knowing your patient’s chart, past medical history and consults completed, as well as providing routine follow-up care are pertinent to delivering optimal patient care. Also, some programs may meet weekly for rounds for inpatients who require dental clearance for procedures and patients who require sedation. Residents are responsible for presenting patients to attendings to ensure that each patient is prepared for the treatment in both a clinical and an OR setting. Read more in the April issue of Contour magazine. ~Dr. LaJoi E. Wiggins, East Carolina ’17, Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Dental Resident ’20 via Tumblr What to expect during residency
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Preparing for a successful career in dentistry requires intentionality. Those dentists who want to accelerate their path to success are proactive and take the interview process seriously. To help navigate these challenging waters, we’ve identified the top five tips to start planning for your dream job. Define your perfect fit. Visualize what your perfect fit looks like. Know what you want and write it down. Make a prioritized list. What factors are most important to you when looking at an opportunity? Where do you want to practice? How do you want to practice? How much do you want to earn? Many candidates go into a job search without considering these essential factors. By narrowing your search to focus on opportunities that meet those criteria, you are much more likely to find your perfect fit. Determine the best time to start looking. And that time is now. Whether you are a D1 or a D4, there are things you can do today to set yourself up for that dream job. According to a 2016 study by LinkedIn, 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking. Dentistry is a small world, and the best jobs often come down to who you know. By networking early and often, you can make contacts that can help you identify and secure the best and lesser known opportunities. Many practice owners will plan years in advance for the growth of their practice. Leverage your network to become a part of their plans. Stand out in your interview. Tell them your story. You already have many of the qualifications they are seeking. Your best chance of getting the job is by being memorable. Let them see your passion for dentistry. Tell a brief story about why you chose dentistry. Saying, “I want to help people” may be true, but it isn’t memorable. Instead, tell a 30-60 second story about an experience that showed you what it felt like to impact someone’s life. Don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability. This is how you’ll be memorable. Remember that connection is key. Connect with the interviewer and their team, and you will stand out from the rest. Be informed about how you want to be compensated. Do your research and know your market. Knowing what you want and are capable of earning is half the battle. You can find average dentist salary ranges on websites of the ADA, state or county dental associations, or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Know what it will take to meet your minimum financial obligations. This will help you define a range that is both reasonable and obtainable. It’s also important to know how you will be compensated. Is it salary, collections or production-based? If it is based on collections or production, understand precisely what it would take to meet your goals and be sure the opportunity can support that. It can be easy to get stuck on percentages while overlooking the actual production opportunity. If you are offered 30 percent of production at a practice with lower production opportunity versus 24 percent production at a practice with high production opportunity, the lower percentage may yield a higher outcome. Also, be sure to ask questions about who covers lab and supply fees, as well as availability of health benefits, 401(k), malpractice insurance, continuing education and other potential benefits. Follow up after the interview. Be sure to ask for the next steps before you leave. Agree upon a date that you will follow up if you haven’t heard from them first. Then, take the time to send a handwritten thank-you note to your interviewer and anyone else you interacted with during the process. Be sure to include something personal about your experience with them. Few people take the time to do this, and it will help you stand out. Hopefully you will land the job, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask for some feedback. This may help you fine-tune something that will help you land the next opportunity. It’s never too early to prepare for your dream job. The key to feeling more confident and achieving success is intentional preparation. By using these five tips, you can start taking important steps to plan for your job search and stand out among the competition. ~Mindy Giffin, Senior Manager of University Relations for Pacific Dental Services® This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA. via Tumblr How to land your dream job Cherry blossoms aren’t the only things popping up in D.C. this spring. Nearly 1,000 dental students and dentists will travel from all corners of the country to visit the Hill to advocate for the dental profession. Whether you’re a student that has attended the ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day in the pastor this is your first leap into lobbying on the Hill, here are four fast facts you should know before you head to D.C. April 14–16. 1. Be familiar with the issues. Lobby day attendees will advocate on three issues: dental student debt principles, repeal of McCarran-Ferguson and the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. To learn more about each:
2. Draft your personal story. On average, dental students will graduate with about $300,000 in student loan debt. This doesn’t even consider the additional debt nearly 50 percent of dental students will incur when they go into postdoctoral programs, according to the American Dental Education Association. While these statistics are powerful, stories have a strong impact because congresspeople are inundated with facts and statistics on a daily basis. Make sure you stand out by telling your story. When thinking about how student debt will affect you and your fellow students, consider the amount of debt you will have and what that means for your future. Talk about where and how you want to practice when you graduate and the influence student debt will play in that decision. 3. Prepare to be a professional. Making a positive impression on the congressperson or staffer you meet on Capitol Hill is important to building a lasting relationship. Here are some ways you can prepare to succeed at your meetings:
4. Life after Lobby Day. Advocacy efforts are most effective when they are year-round. After you leave Capitol Hill, it’s vital for you to keep the momentum alive and to take your enthusiasm back to your chapter. Here are three easy ways to be engaged after lobby day comes to a close:
If you have any questions for ASDA staff before leaping into the 2019 ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day, contact Keely O’Sullivan Kurtz, ASDA’s manager of advocacy and policy. via Tumblr Look before you leap: Lobby Day 2019 As a future dentist, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of dental student life. From crazy schedules to staying up late to study and treating your patients in between, it can be challenging to carve out time to focus on cultivating the career you want after graduation. In the webinar “How to Launch Your Career!” Heartland Dental supported doctor, Jacob Berger, has compiled four fundamental ways that helped him launch his career before and after graduation. 4. Hustle If you think you’re hustling now, wait until your career takes off. It’s important to get clear on your goals and intentions of becoming the dental provider you want to be. How does your ideal job look? What type of impact do you want to have on your community? What attitude will you show your patients every day? How you envision your future will feed your hustle to finish dental school. Your answers build the framework that will keep you on track to accomplish your goals. Work smarter, not harder. 3. Learn You’ve probably heard the phrase “you’ll never stop learning after you graduate,” and that’s the truth. If you think life post-graduation lets you go into autopilot, readjust your perspective a bit. Use this time in dental school to develop those skills that will help you grow into the provider you want to become. Get a mentor, brush up on some of your clinical skills, read books, find a new hobby — whatever makes you feel the most complete. 2. Involvement Involvement in a student organization can influence your dental school experience, but it’s not for everyone. Getting involved doesn’t always mean community service, but it does mean allocating your time with intention. Whether you enjoy attending events, mentoring, taking extra courses, networking with your peers or just being present where you are. Being intentional about where and how you spend your time can create opportunities you might have missed. 1. Launch So, now you’re hustling, learning and getting involved, but what about leadership? It’s easy to get caught up in perfecting your clinical skills, causing you to neglect improving and understanding your leadership style. “Launch: A Heartland Dental Leadership Summit” is an excellent example of one of the many development opportunities available for you as a future leader. Launch is an all-expenses-paid leadership conference that is exclusive to dental students graduating in 2020 and 2021. Heartland Dental’s two-day summit is filled with educational resources that will help you take your leadership skills to the next level and propel your dental career after graduation. To learn more about Launch and how to apply, visit heartland.com/launch. Want to hear more about these four fundamentals? View the recording of our webinar “How to LAUNCH Your Career!” with Dr. Jacob Berger today. ~Heartland Dental This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA. via Tumblr Four fundamental ways to launch your career My family hosted students from Italy, China, Ukraine and Thailand from short periods up to a year when I was in high school. I told myself, “One day, you will visit them.” I started my undergrad program, and it was clear that studying abroad was not an option, but again I told myself, “One day, you will travel.” Three years later, dental school started, but this time I said, “Enough is enough. Today is ‘one day,’ and I am traveling.” I just needed to figure out how to do it on a budget. Since then, I have been to 16 countries. I’ve hiked into the heart of a dormant Icelandic volcano, watched the French national football final, and saw my favorite musical in the West End of London. I hope by sharing my tips for traveling on a budget, I’ll inspire your next adventure. Start with your flight. The best practice: Monitor and be patient. The Hopper app tracks flights to and from everywhere, providing real-time updates on flight costs. Hopper does not always have the cheapest flights, but it gives an estimate for the lowest cost you will find. Start watching nine months out, then compare the prices on Hopper to Skyscanner.com and Kayak.com. One of the three will offer the estimated fee. If you are going to multiple cities, compare each airport as well as train accessibility. It might be cheaper to do a round trip from the same city, but see how much the trains are to get back there from your final city. Final flight note: Consider off-season travel for better access to tourist attractions and cheaper flights. For additional tips, finish reading in the March issue of Contour magazine. ~Ryan Twaddle, Marquette ’19, 2018-19 ASDA Speaker of the House via Tumblr Make the most of your travel budget While you are in dental school, it’s common to think that you don’t need to worry about things such as insurance because you’re still in training. Some might think that insurance can be dealt with once “real life” kicks in, yet there are some compelling reasons for securing disability income insurance while you are still in school. Risk management You probably haven’t thought of your profession as risky, but the work you have chosen is highly specialized and in the event that something happens to you, whether on or off the job, you could see your career come to a quick end — or at least a significant slowdown. A minor hand injury may not impact the average businessperson. A dentist, however, could see months or years of income fall away. So while dentistry as a profession is not risky per se, the risks that the individual practitioner is exposed to can put their ability to earn an income at risk. For this reason alone, it’s important to try to mitigate it. Protect your investment Many students feel because they are not currently earning much money, they do not have anything valuable to protect, but this is not true. It could be argued that, in some ways, a dental student or anybody in training is probably worth more at this point in time than they will be at any time in the future, simply because all their earning time is ahead of them. At this point, your earning is locked potential. Consider that potential an investment, and the investment is you. Disability income insurance allows you to protect your future insurability, even if it’s in the form of securing some minimum level of coverage with an option that may allow you to increase your coverage in the future as your income increases, without having to worry about any changes in health. Protect yourself from debt obligations Many disability income policies offer student loan protection riders. A rider is optional coverage that you may be able to secure at an additional cost. If you’ve borrowed money to fund your education, it’s probably not a bad idea for you to look into student loan protection riders, which may help pay all or a portion of your monthly student loan payments if you are totally disabled. Many federal loans forgive or discharge loans in the event of a disability, but if you read the find print, you’ll discover that their definition of disability may be somewhat restrictive. Accordingly, considering the purchase of a student loan protection rider may be worthwhile. While malpractice insurance (or professional liability insurance) is a completely separate product from disability income insurance, it’s often presented as the “other insurance” dentists in training should familiarize themselves with and secure early on in their careers. If you currently are in training and are concerned about your risk exposure, there are a few reasons to secure malpractice insurance while you are still in school. Most schools will ensure that you are covered for malpractice while in training under the auspices of their program. One possible exception may be in the event of an externship. If you are participating in an externship, make certain that the coverage through your dental school provides coverage. If it does not, you will need to purchase separate coverage. In addition, you will need your own coverage when taking your board exams. This information should help further your education on your risk exposure and guide you along your path. ~Jamie L. Fehrs, MBA, Financial Services Associate, Treloar & Heisel, Inc. This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA. Treloar & Heisel and Treloar & Heisel Risk Management are divisions of Treloar & Heisel, Inc. via Tumblr Why every dentist-in-training needs disability income insurance As a dental student, we’re often not confronted with the importance of experience in business settings. My work history as a human resources professional gave me firsthand insight into the key leadership and management skills that I can use as a practicing dentist. In 2009, I graduated as a dentist in Iraq. Shortly thereafter, the country became engulfed in chaos and terrorism that impacted all aspects of life. A year later, I applied for a human resources position in an international development organization as an alternative to practicing dentistry. At this time, medical professionals and teachers were targeted communities since these two populations had the greatest influence in educating people and standing against violence. After one life-threatening year of residency, I made the decision to work in another field as a means of survival. It was at this time that I discovered my interest in many new areas such as public speaking, leadership, critical thinking, people management, negotiation and emotional intelligence. I realized that these skills could also transfer to my career as a dentist. I continued to grow in the HR industry, eventually becoming the HR manager of my organization, but I decided to leave Iraq for the United States in 2013. I began a new chapter of my journey in San Diego, California, where I started the reaccreditation process to practice dentistry in the United States. It was impossible to study without working, but I was unsure of whether I should work as a dental assistant or rely on my HR management experience. I ended up working in leadership and health care management while fulfilling the requirements to be accepted into an IDP program. I also started a Masters of Public Health program, but four months before graduation, I received a letter of acceptance into an IDP program in Mexico. I decided to hold my MPH position, resign from my job as a supervisor and head to Mexico in 2017 to begin my two-year IDP program. During the years I worked in HR and management, I learned a lot about how important it is for dentists to possess strong leadership skills. In San Diego, I worked in a dental clinic and then a large community clinic, and I witnessed how difficult it is to manage staff problems, to select the right candidate, manage patient complaints and other issues that require strong leaders. I was able to help practices by setting workplace values, hiring the right people, mentoring and leading performance improvement planning. After a few months of applying these changes, the results were undeniable: Practice productivity was at its highest, staff turnover dropped and patient satisfaction rates were high. In the end, patients were satisfied with the level of professionalism they experienced as well as the result of the procedures they received. In our dental practices today, we have many team members we have to lead: front office staff, benefits coordinators and office managers, dental assistants and hygienists. As a result of my HR training and experience, I will be able to apply the lessons I learned to get the best from my dental team. Creating and sharing your vision, effective listening, accepting and encouraging new ideas, and then supporting your staff to implement them will only empower your team. In addition, your appreciation and recognition will motivate them to keep doing a good job. Leading by example, positively engaging with your staff, and setting and evaluating goals will help ensure you maintain a prosperous dental practice. ~Mohlab Al Sammarraie, International Student, Universidad de La Salle Bajío, Mexico ’19 via Tumblr What a career in human resources taught me about dentistry An article from the Journal of Dental Education defines motivational interviewing (MI) as a “person-centered, goal-directed method of communication for eliciting and strengthening intrinsic motivation for behavior change.” In dentistry, MI is a strategy that can be used to improve patient outcomes and acceptance of treatment plans and suggestions for oral health care by increasing a patient’s motivation for behavior change. According to a May 2004 review on motivational interviewing in health settings published in the Patient Education and Counseling journal, this style of communication changes how an appointment feels to a patient and provides dentists with the opportunity to work closely with patients who need to make a behavior change but are not ready to do so. Because of this difficulty, it is important to be aware of the tools that can be used to enhance success. A June 2009 Clinical Psychology Review article said that one of the advantages of MI is that it is “kinder and gentler” and subsequently “less likely to produce resistance among patients.” In addition, this strategy can be used in a short amount of time and can be efficiently incorporated into patient appointments. So how does MI work? In the book, “Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change,” the OARS strategy is discussed, which outlines four ways to better prepare people to make positive behavior changes. OARS stands for the following:
Open-ended questions are central to motivational interviewing, as they are used to initiate dialogue. As future dentists, we can use open-ended questions to allow our patients to explain their reasoning for accepting or not accepting a treatment plan. We also can use open-ended questions to help patients understand a treatment plan and why it is most appropriate for them. Affirmations are used to “support and promote self-efficacy” and “validate the client’s experiences and feelings.” Using affirmations allows a patient to feel heard and encourages them to realize that they can make a positive change. A little support goes a long way! Reflective listening usually consists of repeating back or paraphrasing what is said. It makes the patient feel like you are engaged. Reflective listening can help us recognize where a patient is coming from and help us clarify whether we are understanding what they’re saying. If we are following along correctly, we can continue the conversation. But if we misunderstood something, our patients can correct us before continuing. Finally, summarizing is a great tool as it “reinforces what has been said, shows that you have been listening carefully and prepares the client to move on.” This is an excellent way to end an appointment after making sure that the patient feels comfortable with the treatment plan and next steps. Using MI with our patients is something we should consider pursuing. The Patient Education and Counseling review suggests that acceptance of MI is high among patients and can be used to help improve their oral health. It allows for an honest dialogue that will eventually result in positive behavior changes, enhancing overall oral health for patients and improving patient outcomes for dentists. ~ Joan Daniel, New England ’22 via Tumblr Motivational interviewing to improve patient outcomes We receive many questions from new dentists about whether they should save for retirement or pay off existing student loans. While each situation is unique, we do always try to accommodate early retirement saving as much as possible. If you start early, you not only get in the good habit of contributing toward savings and retirement, but you have so many years for your contributions to grow. With that said, many new dentists are unsure of their options to save for retirement. Here are some of these options.
~Megan Mathers, Mathers Law & Tax Services via Tumblr Retirement savings options for the new dentist An article from the Journal of Dental Education defines motivational interviewing (MI) as a “person-centered, goal-directed method of communication for eliciting and strengthening intrinsic motivation for behavior change.” In dentistry, MI is a strategy that can be used to improve patient outcomes and acceptance of treatment plans and suggestions for oral health care by increasing a patient’s motivation for behavior change. According to a May 2004 review on motivational interviewing in health settings published in the Patient Education and Counseling journal, this style of communication changes how an appointment feels to a patient and provides dentists with the opportunity to work closely with patients who need to make a behavior change but are not ready to do so. Because of this difficulty, it is important to be aware of the tools that can be used to enhance success. A June 2009 Clinical Psychology Review article said that one of the advantages of MI is that it is “kinder and gentler” and subsequently “less likely to produce resistance among patients.” In addition, this strategy can be used in a short amount of time and can be efficiently incorporated into patient appointments. So how does MI work? In the book, “Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change,” the OARS strategy is discussed, which outlines four ways to better prepare people to make positive behavior changes. OARS stands for the following:
Open-ended questions are central to motivational interviewing, as they are used to initiate dialogue. As future dentists, we can use open-ended questions to allow our patients to explain their reasoning for accepting or not accepting a treatment plan. We also can use open-ended questions to help patients understand a treatment plan and why it is most appropriate for them. Affirmations are used to “support and promote self-efficacy” and “validate the client’s experiences and feelings.” Using affirmations allows a patient to feel heard and encourages them to realize that they can make a positive change. A little support goes a long way! Reflective listening usually consists of repeating back or paraphrasing what is said. It makes the patient feel like you are engaged. Reflective listening can help us recognize where a patient is coming from and help us clarify whether we are understanding what they’re saying. If we are following along correctly, we can continue the conversation. But if we misunderstood something, our patients can correct us before continuing. Finally, summarizing is a great tool as it “reinforces what has been said, shows that you have been listening carefully and prepares the client to move on.” This is an excellent way to end an appointment after making sure that the patient feels comfortable with the treatment plan and next steps. Using MI with our patients is something we should consider pursuing. The Patient Education and Counseling review suggests that acceptance of MI is high among patients and can be used to help improve their oral health. It allows for an honest dialogue that will eventually result in positive behavior changes, enhancing overall oral health for patients and improving patient outcomes for dentists. ~ Joan Daniel, New England ’22 via Tumblr Motivational interviewing to improve patient outcomes |
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