Dental Entrepreneur Woman - Autumn 2018

Autumn 2018

The Ingredients Of A Passionate Professional Life Bete Johnson

The Nomadic Lifestyle: The New Normal?

Minal Sampat

Female Dentists Are Crushing It Jackie Ulasewich

PLUS:

Dental meetings don’t always have to be about dentistry Why Collaboration is Key

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Inside

Autumn 2018 Editor and Publisher Anne M. Duffy, RDH Assistant Editor

Patterson Fuse Shofu Advisors to the Board Katherine Eitel-Belt

Michael Duffy Managing Director Patti D’Agata Creative Consultant Beth Linesch Design and Layout Brian Rummel Production [CURAtive] James B. Kennedy Reilly Williams Spring Contributors Dr. Shakila Angadi Bete Johnson Tija Hunter Nancy Kagan Linda Miles Minal Sampat Katrina M. Sanders Marissa Thompson Jackie Ulasewich Cover Photography Joe Regan Web Design Jameson Management Social Media Rita Zamora Connections Charter Sponsors A-dec Crest Mary Fisher-Day Inspired Hygiene Patterson D5

Linda Miles Board Lois Banta Kristine A Berry Shannon Pace Brinker Dr. Tanya Brown Jasmin Haley Bonnie Hixson Janice Hurley Suzanne Kump Tonya Lanthier Rachel Mele Anastasia Turchetta Rice Lori Streeter Rachel Wall Rita Zamora Junior Board Dr. Shakila Angadi Jennifer Chevalier Dr. Erinne Kennedy Minal Sampat Dr. Amisha Singh

Editorial Office 12233 Pine Valley Club Dr Charlotte, NC 28277 704-953-0261 Fax 704-847-3315 anneduffy@dew.life Send materials to: DeW Life Magazine 8334 Pineville Matthews Rd Ste. 103-201 Charlotte, NC 28226 Guidelines go to dew.life

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

It has been a roller coaster of emotions as the news pours in and out with regard to the pick for our nation’s highest court. As I write this editorial, Brett Kavanaugh is being voted in to take his place on the Supreme Court.

My heart has been heavy at times watching all the hate and venom explode from both sides of the aisle. My hope is that we will be able to move forward and get back to bringing people together regardless of their differences.

What I do know is that we can make a difference where we are planted. We can DeW small things with great love. This is our mantra and Ladies, this will be our movement. We ask you to join us! Our mission is to inspire, highlight and empower Women in Dentistry.

And in this issue, you will truly be inspired by Bete Johnson’s words. Bete is revered in our profession and you will understand why as you get to know her better. If we could all begin our day with her thoughtful principles in place, we could be a small part of the change the world needs.

Everything about this issue leads to a better and more authentic version of ourselves. Minal Sampat took the leap and at her young age inspired me to take a review of my work station. I look back with no regrets and look forward with a new lens. Maybe you will do the same.

I met Jackie Ulasewich through my good friend at Pure Barre. She professes that female dentists are crushing it. I connected Shakila and Minal over email and their first call lasted all of two hours. No surprise! Skakila is so intuitive, truly an inspired dentist. I hope you will connect with all of them by checking out their podcasts.

Linda Miles is and always will be a gift to us. Her review of recent collaborations encourages us to open our eyes to other opportunities to grow our movement.

It fits in well with the Mentee/Mentor, Mentor/Mentee, Thompson/Kagan article that will warm your heart. How can we pay this forward in our day to day?

Tija Hunter and I met at my first Dentsply Sirona World, in the process of launching DeW Life. I will never forget her encouragement. She is a strong voice for DeWs and as you will notice, has no problem, thinking out of the box.

At the end of the day let’s celebrate! I learned a lot from Katrina Sander’s article and it hits the perfect balance for our publication. We are women first, dental second and we are all DeWs. Don’t waste a moment or a sip and Love the Wine you’re with! Cheers to our movement - DeWs extraordinaires!

I hope you will read us cover to cover. Please share with your friends and let us know what we can DeW for you!

Let us know what we can DeW for you!

Love,

P.S. My reflection is a tribute to my dear sister-in-law Peggy Duffy, July 6, 1941 – July 30, 2018. A mentor of mine still to this day!

AUTUMN 2018

contents

6

The Ingredients of a Passionate Professional Life

12

Relationships that build people

26

Bete Johnson

22 30

Why Collaboration is Key

6

Female Dentists are Crushing It

28

Jackie Ulasewich

Dental meetings don’t always have to be about dentistry Tija Hunter, CDA, EFDA, CDIA, CDSO, MADAA

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Linda L. Miles, CSP CMC

Shakila Angadi, DMD

LOVE THE Wine YOU'RE WITH Katrina M Sanders, RDH, BSDH, M.Ed, RF

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A Carrot, an Egg, and a Cup of Coffee Anonymous

Health & Wellness

18

Celebration

32

Reflection

40

Who, Wear, When

10

Living Your Strengths

22

DeW Dish

14

Success

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Hitting Rock Bottom Can be the Best Thing for You

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Minal Sampat, RDH

Nancy Kagan, RDH & Marissa Thompson, RDH, BS

DeW-ers

The Nomadic Lifestyle: The New Normal?

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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DEW-ERS

THE INGREDIENTS OF A PASSIONATE PROFESSIONAL LIFE

H

ad it not been for organic chemistry, I would probably be a dentist. It’s important we all recognize our natural abilities, talents and gifts, and I readily recognize mine do not include organic chemistry. Still, I was determined – and perhaps destined - to have a lifelong career in dentistry, because I witnessed first-hand the impact a smile can have on a person. My mother was edentulous by age 38. Not surprisingly, it affected her physically, emotionally and most importantly, socially. Dentistry transformed not only her smile, but also the person wearing the smile. I’ve now enjoyed over 25 years working with some amazing people whose single focus is to help patients to get the dentistry they need and want. From my journey, which is far from over, I have discovered some specific ingredients to living a passionate professional life. I’d like to share these and hope they inspire you to find your own recipe for success.

Be a Passionate Professional There are many things I am passionate about. Topping the list are my faith, family, career and friends. My world was built on these core values. Living passionately and doing what energizes and inspires you is important. As important is living a professional life where you have the focus and the skills to do your job and do it well. This is easier if your vocation is aligned with your core values.

When I began my career at CareCredit, I was attracted by its mission to help patients receive care when they needed and wanted it. It’s important to know that the organization you work for can make a difference not only in your life, but also the people you serve. Today, CareCredit is a part of Synchrony, whose core values – what they seek from those who are on the team – are truly aligned with mine.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

By Bete Johnson

•

Honesty. It’s our policy.

• Passion. It’s our fuel for greatness.

• Driven. We are all in and we deliver.

• Caring. We believe people matter.

• Responsible. We know what’s at stake.

• Bold. It’s time to make a difference.

Take a few moments to identify and write down your core values. Instinctively, you already know what they are because they have intuitively guided many of your choices. Your core values will probably not change over your lifetime, even though your journey and definition of success will.

Start with the End in Mind Determine what you want your legacy to be. Legacy for me isn’t about the “stuff” you’ve accumulated or the inheritance you leave behind. Legacy is about the people and the lives you’ve enriched. Legacy is why you do what you do – it’s what gives purpose and intentionality to your decisions. Some people choose to make vision boards, some keep visual reminders of their passion and purpose and still others keep a written journal of their goals and aspirations. I have chosen to surround myself with photos of the people who matter to me most – my husband, my sons and my friends. And I choose to put on a shelf visible mementos, such as books and gifts, from those with whom I have deep connections to in life. Because of this,

Dew-ers

people who walk into my office already have insight into who I am and what matters to me.

Find Your Inspiration and Mentors My journey has been filled with many thought leaders, books and companies that inspired me to be better and do better. It’s the people and mentors who have worked alongside me that impacted my life the most. Doug Hammond (yes, the guy who hired me 18 years ago) has core values similar to mine, so we work comfortably and effectively together to make amazing things happen. If you don’t have people or mentors in your life who inspire you daily, find them!

Finding Reason and Purpose

"By nature, I’m an introvert.

Yet, the role that I have requires an extrovert. So, in order to do my best job, I needed to find my reason to go beyond my comfort zone." my shield, so I could defend myself against negativity and those who would say, “It can’t be done.” And Jordan became my armor so I could protect my heart and keep what’s most important safe.

What is your reason - what motivates you to push yourself Find Balance to find your best self? By nature, I’m an introvert. Yet, the role that I have requires an extrovert. So, in order to do It’s easier said than done, but when you have your core my best job, I needed to find my reason to go beyond my values and priorities defined in life, you’ll know when to say comfort zone. My reason was my sons. David became my “yes” and when to say “no.” It’s OK to say no, even to what sword – so I could be bold, impactful, and enabled to do seems to be great opportunities if these opportunities are the right thing even in difficult situations. Justin became not in alignment with your values. I’ve also found it’s OK

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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Dew-ers to take on too much every once in a while, as often it’s in the chaos that you stretch yourself and find strength and wisdom – from the experience or from others. Always do enough or do more than enough, but always do it well.

Be Observant And while doing so, look for any and every opportunity to lift others up. Look for the unsung heroes in your daily journey. They are all around you. All too often, we don’t take the time to purposefully acknowledge those who assist and make our lives purposeful and successful.

While you’re looking for the unsung heroes, be sure to be your own hero. When you do something that you didn’t think you could, take time to acknowledge you did it. Be proud of yourself – even if that means shouting a big “Whoooohoooo!” Often, I’ve found women are hesitant to acknowledge their accomplishments, thinking they’re bragging. I believe there is more positive power in recognizing our successes, big and small, than focusing on our limitations.

Finally, Stay Connected It’s the connections in life – with family, friends and those who work for and beside you – that matter. Make them worthwhile. It takes work, but it’s work that’s significant and substantial. I’ve spent my dental career creating connections – so that we, as a dental community, can make it easier for patients to get the dental care they need and want. I choose to not allow fear or failure to get in the way of leading a passionate professional life.

About the author:

Bete Johnson, a 25-year sales, marketing, and practice management veteran, is Senior Vice President and General Manager of Dentistry for CareCredit. She has been a core part of the team for almost 18 years and, among numerous awards, received recognition as one of the Top Twenty-Five Women in Dentistry and the Linda Miles Spirit Award. Through her engagement with dental professionals including consultants, associations, practices, and dental suppliers, Bete provides the opportunity to network and create new relationships that benefit the dental profession.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

Choose a community that has your back.

When you choose the ADA, you choose to join an empowering dental community that will support you every step of the way.

Build your professional network while taking your career to the next level through events like the ADA’s Women in Dentistry Leadership series and the Institute on Diversity in Leadership. Cultivate personal connections through your state and local dental societies with others who’ve been there.

Visit ADA.org/chooseADA to join our community.

Visit ADA.org/ChooseADA to learn more.

who, wear, when.

Lois Banta book signing

Anna Burns, Dr. Tnaja Lauinger, Marion Par-Weixlberger

Emily Boge, Tonya Lanthier, Kristine Berry, Rachel Wall, Amy Kinnamen, Anne Duffy

AADOM Graduates

AAWD members with Dr. Tamara Berg

Dr. Sharon Parsons, Dr. Michelle Morrow, Dr Meredith Levine

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

Lucy Hobbes Project award recipients.

(Dr Sharon Parsons not pictured)

Million Waves Straws Project

Emme Sanders, Julie Damao, Amber Young, Debra Nash, Deana Zost, Mary Day, Adriana Booth

AAWD Savannah,GA

Suzanne Kump, Michelle Graham and Sarah Scheoneck

Spa day with DeWs

Donna Lacek and Renee Wheely

Dr. Tram Lyna Vu & Dr. America Nazar

Upcoming Events

AADOM awards with Heather Colicchio

Lori Streeter

Anne Duffy Dr. Natalie Lesinski

Mary Horvath, Shelly Otte, Sue Kump

Greater New York Dental Meeting Second District Dental Society and New York County Dental Society New York, New York November 23–28 gnydm.com American Academy for Oral Systemic Health 2018 Scientific Session: Las Vegas, Nevada November 8–10 aaosh.org Bites and Business Charlotte, NC November 9 Bitesandbusiness.com ASDA National Leadership Conference Chicago, IL November 16- 18 Asdanet.org

Rebecca Moser, Trish Lewis-Clark, Mary Day, Julie Varney, Grace Rizza

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DEWE-RS

THE NOMADIC LIFESTYLE: THE NEW NORMAL?

By Minal Sampat

H

ave you ever scrolled past pictures on social media of people “lucky” enough to work from anywhere?

The photos are usually of a perfectly positioned laptop with a cute drink right beside it and the ever-so-coy caption that reads “My office today.” For years, I pictured myself balancing the occasional monotony of desk work by completing it while sitting in the sand, soaking up sunlight and enjoying the sound of waves on the shore. In 2017, life presented an opportunity to travel the world, and so my husband and I decided to leave the comfort of our home and go on a nomadic adventure. After a cross-country road trip and a few international travels, I currently find myself more fulfilled than I have ever been with my life! This journey, however, hasn’t been without its obstacles. After all, beautiful pictures from exotic locations are impressive, but how do we sustain the traveling life while making a living?

Besides that, on a personal level, there are some important things to consider before leaving familiar surroundings.

Some of the concerns I had included not receiving my mail, finding a new hairdresser and where I would put all my stuff.

My “stuff” wasn’t just office supplies. If I was going to go for an entrepreneurial walkabout, I had to consider my personal possessions and routines. Could a travel kit contain everything I needed to avoid always looking like I just stepped off a redeye flight? What would I do with all my clothes, and even more dauntingly, my shoes? The idea of lugging it all around was preposterous, but so was the thought of parting with it all. Shoes, thankfully, can be packed and checked onto flights.

As it turns out, I was able to find solutions to most of these concerns. When you think about it, technology has changed the way we run a business. Amazon, one of

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

the world’s largest retailers, operates primarily without physical stores. Airbnb doesn’t run its own bed and breakfasts. Uber, the most popular transportation network company, works prominently via a ridesharing App. After taking some time to focus on what I really needed to be physically present for, I spoke to my clients about their comfort with switching to videoconference meetings.

To my delight, they were happy to make the switch and enjoyed the flexibility of “attending” the meetings in the comfort of their own home and business offices. As for the non-traditional work hours, there were some adjustments to make – sometimes I had to work early mornings and late nights to match different time zones. There were instances when traveling through areas without Wi-Fi hindered my connection to my clients. The solution?

Setting realistic expectations of my availability. I’m there 100 percent of the time that I can be, and my clients are more forgiving of the 1 percent of the times that I cannot be reached. I found that in having a transparent work relationship with my clients, they have become my biggest referral sources and also my tour guides by sharing their travel tips!

If I was always on the move and keeping things virtual, then how was I to receive those important mail items? And at what “address” would my home and business be based at? My research brought me to the fascinating world of Virtual Address Services. Did you know that you can have access to your snail mail online? I am now not only able to have a permanent address, but also store, organize and forward my mail to wherever I am in the world. I highly recommend looking into a virtual address if you’re considering going untethered. A bonus to this? No more junk mail!

DeWe-rs Regarding my stuff, I am learning to adopt the minimalist approach to owning things. If I have not used something in over a year, do I really need it? Does an item bring true joy to me? And how many dresses do I truthfully need for a work trip? It has not been an easy lifestyle change, but being able to reallocate the money for stuff into gathering experiences has helped with the process.

Perhaps by now you are overwhelmed. Maybe you are encouraged and want to give this nomad lifestyle a try. You might be wondering in the back of your mind … WHY? Why go through all this? Why jump through all these hoops?

Why leave the familiar for the unknown? We all, no matter how we live our lives, have something that we enjoy so deeply, we could not image life without it. For some people, they might find themselves cooking a delicious fivecourse meal for friends every Friday night. Others might find their passion in, quite literally, running after record time in the Boston Marathon. My WHY is as simple as four short words: I love to travel. I have lived in India, in the Virgin Islands, on the East Coast and the North West, and still, I crave to travel more. I am constantly mesmerized by how beautiful this world is and how different people from different cultures come together. That is my reason for living a nomadic lifestyle.

A quick glance over our shoulders shows us that we have progressed from corded phones to mobile phones, desktop computers to tablets, and in-person meetings to Zoom.

The Digital Age has allowed my business and my personal life to be on the move. Yes, I am constantly learning and adapting along the way, but having the freedom to include my love of travel has made it worthwhile. What is your WHY? For years, how have you pictured yourself running your business and living your life? If you don’t want to be tied to one location, you may not have to be.

PS: To my delightful surprise, there are amazing hairdressers everywhere in the world!

About the author: Minal Sampat is a business owner, marketing coach, national speaker, entrepreneur, dental hygienist, enthusiastic shoe lover and the host of Marketing + Mocktails with Minal show on Facebook. Feel free to follow her nomadic life under the hashtag #MinalAroundTheWorld, visit her website at MinalSampat. com and send her a hello at info@minalsampat.com.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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DEW DISH

DeW DISH

DR. USA BUNNAG

www.usabunnag.com, www.drbunnag.com www.smilesonwings.com

estranged father and his wife at 14. It was the last time I saw my mother. When she was ill and passed away, I couldn’t go back to see her.

I left home when I was 18 and turned down a chance to study pre-med so that I could be on my own. I became a dental assistant and got married at 21 and had my first son at 23.

I worked full-time, raised two sons and studied predentistry then went to dental school with two small children.

In 2009, my husband had a massive stroke which left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. He needs 24/7 care. I am his caregiver. He is being cared for at home.

What do you do to turn around a bad day?

“This too shall pass.” I am a mindfulness meditation coach and working on getting my certificate in Positive Neuroplasticity Training. Being in the moment and adjusting my reaction to a situation is the key for me to handle any bad day. Bad things will happen, but it’s how I react to the situation that is the key to stress reduction.

What is your guilty pleasure?

What is the best part of your job?

Watching an NCIS marathon.

Being able to create beautiful and healthy smiles and help my patients obtain optimal dental health.

What is your favorite Indoor/Outdoor Activity?

How do you measure your success?

I am a watercolor artist and an avid gardener. Lately, with caring for my husband and running two dental practices and Smiles on Wings, it’s difficult to find time to do both.

Now, just walking my dogs, is a treat.

Success is measured by the ability for me to use my gift to help others and to make a difference and continue to light the candles and empower young women to dream the impossible and to do the impossible.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career?

What is your dream vacation?

Not a vacation but an escape: to the mountains of northern Thailand. Being part of the villages and be with the villagers that I had invested the last 15 years of my life to help Opening my first dental office on a budget two years after improve their well-being. There is something about the graduating from dental school. mountains, the simplicity of the lifestyle and the kindness of the people that is so fulfilling to the heart and soul. The What obstacles have you overcome in sound of the children laughing innocently, the moonlit your life? sky or the dark sky with millions of stars are just amazing.

Being where no one had been to is quite life-altering. My I grew up in Thailand and came to live in the U.S. with my heart is in the mountains of northern Thailand.

ANDREA GREER www.onpoint.consulting

Of course, not surprisingly, everyone was so incredibly supportive and provided gentle, loving mentorship and only wanted the six of us contestants to succeed. And I was speaking with some amazing people on that stage.

I was so honored to be up on that stage and so happy to conquer my fear of speaking to that August crowd, I just didn’t want to bomb! So, I was completely taken by surprise when I was awarded first place! I am very proud of this huge accomplishment, and I love my beautiful trophy!

How do you take your coffee?

That has been an evolution! I came of age in Seattle, so I developed into a bit of a coffee snob, and I drank a lot of it. All loaded up with cream and sweetener. Working from home, I started drinking it more – a full pot every morning.

Terrible for me!

What is the best part of your job?

When an audience member comes to me after hearing me speak, or a team member approaches me after a day of hard work learning new skills and strategies for success, and they tell me they feel empowered, rejuvenated or excited for their own careers and roles, I get a rush! I have always enjoyed learning new concepts and hearing other people’s perspectives. And now, knowing that I am doing that for the next generation of dental-care providers is so humbling for me. I love seeing the light bulbs go off, seeing the joy return to faces that were burned out and inspiring people to be their best for their patients. I am so blessed to be here!

What has been your proudest moment in your career thus far?

I love to speak. I have had the opportunity to speak to large and small audiences, and I am quite comfortable on the stage. However, early this year, made the decision to throw my hat in the ring to even take part in the Spotlight on Speaking at The Speaking Consulting Network’s annual meeting in Anaheim. My heart was pounding hard when I hit the send button on that email, because I would voluntarily speak for 10 minutes, and the audience is almost entirely made up of giants in our industry!! Now THAT is nerve-wracking!

This year, I decided to change it up – now it is quality over quantity. I have one or two cups of black coffee and sit on my patio every morning and plan my day. It has become my meditation. It is perfect for me.

What is your motto?

“Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” Aldous Huxley said that. When I was 19, I dealt with a personal challenge that would have had some asking, “Why me?” Instead, even at that young age, I was asking, “What am I supposed to do with this?” I took the opportunity to better my life and my path, and it made me so much stronger. I came across that quote way back then, and it has truly been my life motto.

Guess what? Bad things happen. Unfair, sad, frustrating, terrifying, terrible things happen. I firmly believe that letting those things ruin your outlook is a choice. My “glass half-full” personality is a choice I made when I was 19, and even after losing loved ones, divorce and cancer, I am happy, and I know that I am blessed!

You get really pumped up when this song comes on the radio: “Come With Me Now” by Kongos! I crank that tune up, pound my steering wheel, punch the air and catch all the stares as I am driving down the road! Love it!

DR. CHITRAR DURGAM Instagram username: drdurgam

What obstacles have you overcome in life?

I think trying to help my son, who has food allergy issues and asthma, has been a huge challenge for me. Constantly looking for answers to questions and being forwarded to another specialist can be very daunting. I’m still dealing with getting answers, but I’m not letting it weigh me down.

I don’t let the negativity or things outside of myself control my inner thoughts, which has been key. It helps that my children are the most amazing humans on this planet. I’m not biased, though.

How do you measure success?

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is when a patient returns and is extremely appreciative of the service and treatment they received. Many patients tell us we review conditions with them that they never knew about prior to coming to our office. We’ve had patients send us amazing gifts, refer their friends and send thank-you cards, which really are appreciated because the team sees their hard work pay off.

Who has been the most influential woman in your life?

My mother has been the most influential woman in my life, hands down! She worked as an accountant, she can cook all different types of cuisine, she is a confidante to many and she is a tremendous mother. She always gave a 150 percent to everything she did. I remember one day, there was an evening event at school that I wanted to attend, but I wasn’t feeling well. My dad had recently taken another job in another town. She was trying to juggle everything with me and my brother. She stayed up to wake me up so I could go to the event later after I took a nap. There were times neighborhood kids needed help with their math homework and they would come to our house to enlist the help of my mom. She helped me throughout my life to be strong academically and, in parallel, be street-savvy. She also was a rockstar at work. My mother has been a huge inspiration to me in how I live my life. I am so fortunate to have her, and everyone who meets her constantly reminds me of it.

I try hard to live minimally, because the less I have, the less I have to manage. It has been an important factor in allowing me to pursue success. Success is not material items to me. It’s experiences and my goals. My measure of success is very simple. In areas that matter to me, I want to see consistent progress. I demand a lot of myself, so the amount of work is never a question, it’s more about making sure the results are strong.

What do you to turn around a bad day?

I will usually go to the gym to work out or put my headphones on and dance to music. People who know me well know I like having small dance parties. I think I have just said too much! It does help that I do lip-sync and comedy videos on Instagram because that keeps the laughing at a maximum.

What does your dream vacation look like?

Two days on a beach under a cabana with sparkling water.

I like to do absolutely nothing but not for too long.

What famous person – living or dead – would you like to have lunch with and what would you ask them?

I would love to meet with Kathy Ireland, because she paved the way for women to create lifestyle brands and she is always moving into unchartered areas without hesitation.

She, in her very humble way, always seems to be doing various things to cheer others on to greatness, As if being successful businesswoman isn’t enough, she is a triple threat with beauty, brains and kindness. I think kindness and respect are so underrated these days, and I believe people like her keep it alive. It would be such an honor to meet her.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HITTING ROCK BOTTOM CAN BE THE BEST THING FOR YOU I

am so grateful for the deep dark depression that plagued me over three years ago when I isolated and insulated my whole being. Yes, I said it. Depression. Ugh, no one wants to talk about that! We all live perfect lives, right?

Wrong. Many of us, as dental professionals, have a tough time accepting reality when we are stuck and unhappy, but let me tell you – it can change your life.

As a high school student, I was the epitome of a hardworker. Growing up in an immigrant household, where my parents came to this country with $8.00 in their hands and no English skills, I was expected to work hard, go to school, get good grades and succeed in life. Although they meant well, often times the expectations of my family were exhausting – and I was constantly living up to the idea I that I needed to do everything right all the time. I took on responsibilities early and was expected to “suck up the tough emotional stuff,” like moving to a different country (yes, Canada is a different country), acclimating to my environment and holding the family together with the pride of my success.

When it came to choosing colleges, I was accepted into a six-year dental program that handpicked overachievers such as myself. After all, with the encouragement at home to get “settled” quicker, who would not want the opportunity to finish undergrad and dental school early?

Barely knowing myself, I threw myself into this decision and decided that moving away from home and out to Kansas City is where I would find success.

Although the undergrad portion of the program was intense, dental school as a 20-year-old was no joke.

Between the high expectations of perfection, the constant berating from professors and comparison with peers, the experience molded me to be a skilled, professional

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

By Dr. Shakila Angadi

dentist. As a person, however, I was more lost than I was ever before. I replaced my writing, drawing, sketching, silly, singing, creative self with the perceived professional I thought I needed to be. If it wasn’t goal oriented, it wasn’t worth doing. But it was exhausting.

Meanwhile, I made my first positive emotion-centered decision to date an amazing man finishing up medical school who seemed to bring out a lighter, non-weighted side of myself. When I finally completed dental school (engaged to my love), I was offered an associate position that gave me comfort with a family friend. Needless to say, it taught me a lot about relationships and my priorities, and it a gave me a false sense that I was ready for business ownership. So less than a year after having my son, I dove into business ownership of the dental practice. Headfirst and blindly. No questions, no reports, no leadership skills.

Shocked as a new business owner, I quickly realized there was A LOT I didn’t know. This was the beginning of what I consider to be one of the darkest periods of my life.

I felt alone and depressed. With a tiny baby seeking my attention, I spent more time away from him trying to learn as much as I could from books, courses and literature.

My husband was a busy medical doctor by this time, and his call at the hospital left me feeling solitary. I felt alone and lost. I was plagued with the guilt of the distance between my young son and the space I was creating in my marriage. I was up at all hours of the night, ate a lot of pity ice cream and cried myself to sleep on a daily basis. I wallowed for hours on end. “How did I get here? What did I do wrong? Why am I not happy? Do I even deserve to be happy?”

This was my rock bottom. That lonely isolating place where I was ashamed to reach out for help and find the

Health and Wellness

resources to help me. After a certain all-nighter of bawling my eyes out, I had an epiphany. I hated being miserable.

Hated it. I hated being consumed with it and the way it consumed me. I was finally sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I did, who I was and what my emotions meant. I learned how to value myself as a human being. This experience was the absolute best thing I have ever done for myself. In fact, it was the first time I had ever placed my happiness as a priority.

When my husband got home that next day, we decided I needed professional help. As I sought out therapy, I signed up for dental consulting and continuing education with organizations that could help me. I even found a coaching program I felt was supportive and encouraging, so I continued to make changes in practice. I fit out and moved into a new space, and I hired the people to support my dream.

Months later, I found myself reflecting in a different space. I was happier. I was enjoying time with my son, my relationship with my husband had a newfound energy, and I felt connected with myself. I was able to be clearer in my practice and for the first time, I felt true joy.

But even with all of this, I found myself off. I was still missing something. It felt like my glass was almost full, but not quite yet. I realized it was no longer about the business, it was me.

Yes, as a dentist, I said it. THE PROBLEM WAS ME. I began to explore the path of self-development and fell into the field of emotional intelligence and, more specifically, my future EQ coach. After second-guessing the decision for a hot minute, I invested time, money and resources into working with her to develop a new understanding of myself. I deeply explored why I had made the decisions

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It was (and still is) amazing.

As I reveled in the gratitude for my life, I began to talk about my dark days with other dentists and friends, and I came to the shocking revelation that many of us had gone through or were feeling the same thing. Why do we accept being unhappy? This bore my new mission.

After completing my own EQ certification leadership training, I found a newfound passion of helping dental professionals by expanding their emotional vocabulary, letting go of the very expectations that had plagued them (and me!) for many years. Learning and watching the immense change in these wonderful human beings was, and still is, very cathartic.

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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Health and Wellness

I found that educating myself and practicing daily emotional intelligence, gratitude and self-development exercises maintained my happiness and kept my joy.

Towards the end of last year, I realized that as much as I still enjoyed helping people in clinical dentistry, I was finding an increased passion in a world outside of it. I was still juggling the practice, running the business, motherhood and of course being married to my amazingly supportive doctor hubby. It was a lot!! But the spark on my face arose after each client session, a podcast interview or helping someone grow their EQ. Helping others in an emotional capacity was now my mission, my fuel, my hunger to change the world- one emotion at a time. So, after long talk(s) with my hubby, I decided to list the practice for sale. I didn’t want it all; I wanted to stay happy. I didn’t want to burn out of dentistry, so I decided to take a step back to pursue a passion I had not let myself experience my entire life. After the practice listed, I encouraged my hubby to seek opportunities outside of our area. We had originally moved to be closer to the practice, and now that was not holding us back. After some quick, honest self-reflection (along with many interviews) he found an opportunity that gave him passion and purpose. He was radiating the very energy I had found with my clients. For the first time, moving didn’t seem scary. Change didn’t seem scary. Things felt natural and meant to be.

As we continue to plan our move and make decisions to support our passions, I have come to realize that living in my box of what was expected of me and by me was not a place I could exist in being happy. When I started to realize that the very boundaries I had put for myself were erasable and written in pencil, I began to explore other opportunities. Finding joy and happiness involves the acceptance of who you are. But to accept myself, I needed, no, I had to go through all of that loneliness and despair to realize I could choose myself and choose to be happy. I have never been more excited for the future and more content with where I am. I have finally chosen ME.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

About the author: Dr. Shakila Angadi is a dentist, mother and certified Social and Emotional intelligence coach. As a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist, she worked her way through her dental career of over 11 years from an associate to the dental practice owner dealing with the overwhelm that can be acquired in the dental business. Through her own journey of expanding her mindset to find happiness and becoming an S&EI coach, she enjoys helping dentists and health care professionals sharpen their emotional intelligence skills to live a purposeful, balanced life.

Through her social platform, The Inspired Dentist, she is involved with multiple projects including The Inspired Dental Life podcast, speaking, writing and her private and semiprivate coaching programs. She is on a mission to spread the awareness of EQ for health care practitioners to avoid burnout, stress and fatigue to live a happier and more emotionally resilient life.

You can connect with her on social media on FB, Instagram and Twitter: www.theinspireddentist.com

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LIVING YOUR STRENGTHS

RELATIONSHIPS THAT BUILD PEOPLE The mentor/mentee relationship and what it meant for us.

M

entor: an experienced and trusted adviser. This term describes my boss, friend and confidant. It is not every day you find someone that takes a chance on you, but that’s what happened when Nancy and I were connected in 2013. Her continuous guidance and support helped me grow into the strong, confident dental consultant I am today, and for that I am forever grateful.

How It Started In 2013, I was a practicing clinical hygienist. Knowing that I was destined for another path, I took a chance. A consultant came to the practice where I was working, and as we spoke about her profession, I became increasingly interested. I simply asked her if there was something I could help her company with on my days off. This consultant introduced me to her boss, Nancy Kagan. At the time, I didn’t quite understand the importance of this introduction and the path this would lead me down.

As I became immersed in their world, I knew this was the right career for me, and I was eager to prove myself.

Leaving my career as a clinical hygienist was not a choice that came without heavy consideration. I would be leaving what’s comfortable for the unknown. Nancy took, and still takes, it very seriously when you leave your job to come work for her. She understands her employees have bills to pay and children to feed. She was determined to make sure this career was the right fit for me and I was the right fit for this career. You don’t always get that level of concern for your well-being in every business, and knowing this, I appreciate it that much more.

Nancy saw something in me that I didn’t even know was there – an entrepreneurial spirit. She quickly took me under her wing, taught me industry standards, how to be a successful leader and how to coach dental offices. Most importantly, she allowed me to believe in myself and aim for something greater.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

By Marissa Thompson

Today Through the years, we became increasingly close, and our initial work relationship has blossomed into a dear friendship. There is not a week that goes by where we don’t laugh together or ask for personal guidance. This doesn’t mean we don’t disagree, but as a mentor, she allows me to think outside the box and talks me through the impact of my decisions. She encourages me to be thoughtful in my decision making. The word mentor is exactly what Nancy is, a trusted advisor. I truly wish everyone at some point in their life finds a mentor like I have with Nancy.

Life Lesson: •Never be afraid to ask. If I had not asked the consultant that day, I would have never met Nancy and may have never become a consultant.

•Find a mentor that you admire, that you will listen to and that will be honest even when it is hard. You will be more successful because of it.

Conclusion: Together with our colleagues, we have grown Summit Dental Partners, LLC from four employees to 10. In the future, we intend to train unexperienced front desk administrators so they can lead successful practices. We truly believe the sky is the limit, and together, there is no stopping us.

RELATIONSHIPS THAT BUILD PEOPLE

By Nancy Kagan

The mentee/mentor relationship and what it meant for us.

H

aving employees was the furthest thing from my mind when I went out on my own as a practice management consultant 16 years ago. I was happily rolling along, grateful to have a steady stream of consulting clients to keep me busy. Then in my seventh year, someone asked about working with me. I met her and thought for the first time that this could be a great way to expand my availability. She came on board and quickly became a full-time employee at Summit Dental.

I have never met someone who enjoys learning as much as she does. She would watch videos and YouTube channels and listen to podcasts every chance she could. She wanted to learn as fast as she could, and learn she did!

I began to see her as a kindred spirit. I would get texts from her at all hours if she saw something or had an idea that she wanted and needed to share. Her entrepreneurial spirit came alive, and she began to make suggestions about Summit that are still in play today.

She was consulting in an office one day, and a hygienist there approached her asking how she (also a hygienist) got involved in consulting. This led to a great dialogue between them. My employee called me right away and suggested I meet with Marissa. Just for clarity, Marissa’s boss knew she had aspirations beyond clinical hygiene and supported her fully. I met with Marissa and immediately saw what my employee had seen. I remember thinking she seemed fearless … willing to tackle any aspect of consulting that I threw at her. Hmmm… could I add someone else to my team? Could I take her on knowing that she needed months of training? Could I pass her up???

I spent as much time with her as I could. I saw so much potential in her and wanted her to be the best that she could be. She shadowed me for the first few months, studied the different software applications and gained confidence daily. She had (and still has) the attitude that if I don’t know it I will learn it. I began to see times when I went from teacher to student as she taught me things that were spot on.

I suggested she come to the Yankee Dental Congress in Boston where we were exhibiting that January. I thought this would give her an opportunity to see us in action and to see how frenetic the consulting world could be. She agreed and joined us there. My husband had the booth opposite us that year. He’s in credit card sales, so his booth wasn’t terribly busy. This gave him the opportunity to observe our booth. Midafternoon, he called me over and said, “Hire Marissa. She is watching you like a hawk.

When you look for a pen, she hands you one. When you need a business card, she’s right there. She is uberengaged and reminds me of you!” I’ve always felt that when talent presents itself, you jump in and figure it out, so that’s exactly what I did! By mid-February, Marissa was on board and ready to learn anything and everything she could.

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I am happy to say that Marissa is still a vital part of the Summit family. You would never know that she isn’t the owner with the amount of time and devotion she puts into her work. Watching her grow has been a journey I treasure.

While in the beginning I was her mentor, I now feel our roles have shifted. Almost five years later, I still learn from her every day. It’s not often you find someone that is so in sync with you, especially in the workplace. We’re almost always on the same page, and when we’re not, she is as respectful as you would want an employee to be. I have so enjoyed being her mentor that doing more mentoring is now on my bucket list. I have no illusions that I will find another Marissa. Our relationship runs deep, as we are now friends as well as mentor-mentee. I begin and end each work day with a call from her. Sometimes I wonder how the phone doesn’t combust as we talk and talk about the future of Summit. Business has grown dramatically in the last five years, yet despite these accomplishments, being a mentor to Marissa remains one of the highlights of my career.

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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Living Your Strengths

About the authors:

Marissa Thompson is practice management consultant, dental hygienist, wife and mother. With an endless supply of creative ideas and practical know-how, as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in dental hygiene from Forsyth, Marissa tirelessly and tenaciously gets the job done. Her goal is to combine her training as a hygienist and management expertise to help in multiple phases of consulting. Marissa can be reached at 781.401.0564 or through their website www.summitdentalpartners.com Nancy Kagan is the founder of Summit Dental Partners LLC, a practice management consulting company working with dentists and dental practices throughout New England. She is also a frequent lecturer on matters relating to the daily operations of dental practices.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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Your Guide to Practice Success

SUCCESS

FEMALE DENTISTS ARE CRUSHING IT

By Jackie Ulasewich

W

hen I started in the dental industry, it was flooded with male dentists. That was no surprise, because I mostly worked with men when I was in corporate dental marketing. As a woman who was brought up to believe that I could and would do anything I put my mind to, it was frustrating to think that there was an untapped resource out there. The world needed more female dentists, and I couldn’t wait to have them as clients.

learning what her patients need beyond dentistry. She is great at recognizing which patients are letting fear stand in their way, which need to see data and research, and which people just need to vent about their concerns. Even with a high-end practice, she isn’t afraid to be human with her patients and is willing to share her personality with the people who trust her with their care. Fun fact: Her daughter is now an associate dentist at the practice.

Another win for women in the dental industry!

To be fair, my male clients were and are fantastic. With few exceptions, they’ve all been open-minded and treated me professionally. Still, when I landed one of my first female clients, it was extra sweet. She had a high-end practice and was more interested in seeing patients who were looking for more elaborate treatments than she was in setting up a revolving door for anyone and everyone.

Working for someone who places quality above quantity made her an ideal match. She were trained by the best in the industry and offered treatments that no one else in her immediate area could. With this exclusive skill set, she had made a name for herself when the “Good Ol’ Boy” network began to feel threatened. After some time, she was told by state regulators that she couldn’t use superlative terms such as “excellent” or “best” in any of her marketing; this included changing the name of her practice. Imagine being a female dentist trying to make a name for yourself under those circumstances!

This was definitely a challenge, but I was thrilled to help her practice thrive — even under those limitations. For a private practice — male or female — she now has a slew of reviews and receives them at a rapid pace, all of them glowing.

I can’t write this piece without mentioning yet another female superstar. After practicing as an associate for about a year, she took a chance and bought a practice from a local dentist who wanted to retire. She wanted quality out of her patients and was open to pretty much anything we suggested, so she allowed us to step up her Facebook game with super-friendly, whimsical and creative posts. The results of her posts and subsequent interactions with patients was phenomenal, proving that personality truly helps patients make connections. Her willingness to take chances paid off again when she approached me about expanding her practice to include sleep medicine and TMD treatment. My suggestion to make the sleep/TMD center its own entity was welcomed with open arms. Now she has a thriving dental practice and is busy growing a second practice devoted to helping patients live more comfortable and healthy lives.

Another one of my favorite female clients is also located in the South, where gender stereotypes tend to be very traditional. Not only did she overcome these by opening her own practice, she made huge investments in equipment that no one else in her vicinity would, helping her to stand out among the rest. She also invests her time

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

These days, more than half of the practices I work with have a female dentist — either as a lead or an associate.

I don’t think this is a coincidence. From my experiences with these women, they more readily realize that they need the help of a marketing agency and are open-minded when it comes to change. All of my female dentists are doing so well. How do I know? I’ve read the reviews, and I’ve seen the video testimonials. In fact, one of the first times I saw a patient brought to tears because they were so grateful for the way their treatment changed their life was in a video testimonial that came from one of my female clients. Which brings me to my next point …

Success

One of the strengths I’ve notice in my female clients is an ability to emotionally connect with their patients.

They listen, they sympathize, and they are willing to take time to discuss treatment options, so their patients fully understand the procedures they are about to undergo.

They prioritize communication, which puts patients at ease. This goes beyond good bedside manner. They truly wish to see that their patient’s emotional needs are met, not just the physical.

Another thing I admire about these women is their willingness to admit their flaws — marketing in particular.

I have to give a shout out to some of my best male clients, too, as they were also willing to acknowledge that marketing wasn’t their strong suit when they contacted me for help. Ultimately, it comes down to being OK with letting others know you’re vulnerable. Sharing that trait goes a long way with patients.

The female dentists and the women leaders in the practice with whom I work are by far my easiest clients. They know when to surrender control so they can focus on what they do best. They are enthusiastic team players who ask great questions when they need to, but are rarely unreasonable. This is in direct contrast to the stereotypes that some choose to believe. The female clients I consult are brilliant dentists and savvy business women, but they also possess a social acumen that sets them apart.

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Again, I am fortunate to be able to work with men who are forward-thinking, but I would still like to have more female dental clients. Even now, they are judged differently than male doctors and I want to prove to the world that they are just the same, if not better. In the nearly two decades that I have been in the industry, I have seen change. The dental industry has made room for women, and I look forward to the day when a female dentist will be so commonplace that it won’t even register as special.

About the author: With over a decade of experience in corporate dental laboratory marketing and brand development, Jackie Ulasewich decided to take her passion for the dental business and marketing to the next level by founding My Dental Agency. Since starting her company, she and her team have helped a wide variety of practices all over the nation focus their message, reach their target patients, and grow their practice through effective marketing campaigns.

When she isn’t helping dental practices reach their full potential, she can be found at the beach with her three dogs or immersed in everything food-related with her large Italian family. For more information, call (800) 689-6434. Office: (800) 689-6434 www.mydentalagency.com

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SUCCESS

DENTAL MEETINGS DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABOUT DENTISTRY A

bout this time last year, sparked from a conversation with a friend, I had an idea. One of the hottest topics in dentistry isn’t even about dentistry at all.

A dear friend of mine, Uche Odiatu, a dentist from Canada and speaker on health and wellness, always speaks to a packed house. This tells me two things: First, Uche is an amazing person/speaker and; Second, people want to learn how to take better care of themselves. My idea was to put on a dental “healthcare summit” and offer it up to women in dentistry.

Thus the very first Women in Dentistry Health Care Summit was formed. I won’t claim to know it all. In fact, I knew that this was much more than I could handle alone.

That I needed to enlist help and lots of it. I contacted a friend whose country club I knew I could use at no charge, found a sponsor for food (dental related) and went to work finding other women who could help me put this together.

I had the base plan – an all-day event, targeting women in dentistry, where I would have an entire lineup of speakers on a variety of topics, each rotating and lasting 30 minuets to an hour. I would also invite vendors from the area that would fit into my “wellness” agenda.

Now, where to find that help I needed? Well, that turned out to be much simpler than I ever imagined! I just turned to Facebook and my local dental Facebook page. I created a post letting the dental community know what I was up to and set a meeting date and time. To my surprise nine women, six who I hadn’t met before, showed up at the meeting! The ideas being thrown around the table were so exciting!

This meeting proved to be pivotal point in the success of this event. I left there that night knowing we had just created something big! One of the women who works in dental sales just happened to do graphic design on the side, and she was able to produce our flyer and program for the night. Ideas for topics and speakers were born.

Breast Cancer, yoga, heart health, ergonomics, skin care, fitness, nutrition, financial wellness and mental wellness, and bone health to name a few. One of our original

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

By Tija Hunter

meeting planners has a daughter who is a comic at local comedy clubs and she would serve as MC for the event.

Vendors each paid to attend the event and were giving a table/booth area, which would be in the wellness arena, as well. Crest, Oral B, supporting oral health and Adec, supporting ergonomics in chair selection, showed up. A local chiropractor, and an esthetician who happened to have a “skin-care van” came and spoke and was also able to have ladies in the van for facials, etc. A local float spa came as a vendor and gave a gift of a free float! As a matter of fact, all the vendors and speakers provided some sort of “door prize” for the event.

Our capacity was 50, and we hit that mark! The event was well-loved by all attendees. In fact, we have just begun planning next year’s event and already know we need to find a bigger venue! The comedian was a huge hit and the speakers, mostly women, were genuinely thrilled to be there. Speakers were not paid, we allowed them to use this to promote their business.

We heard, more than once, people saying, “This is the best event I have ever attended,” and we were thrilled! And that was from attendees AND vendors!

The next time you are planning a continuing education course, consider what it is your audience wants. There are many dental seminars out there, so think outside of the box and provide something new and fun!

About the author: Tija Hunter has more than 36 years of dental chairside experience.

She is the office manager and chairside assistant to Dr. Eric Hurtte of O’Fallon Missouri. Named one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry/2015 by Dental Products Report Magazine, she is a former Vice President of the American Dental Assistants Association (2016/2017) where she holds the honor of Master.

Editorial board member for Dental Products Report Magazine, contributor to Dental Products Report, Dental Assisting Digest, and Dental Economics Magazines, and IgniteDA. Director of the Dental Careers Institute with five locations in the United States and author of six CE study courses.

SUCCESS

WHY COLLABORATION IS KEY

By Linda L. Miles

W

ebster’s defines collaboration as the action of working with someone to produce or create something as in an intellectual endeavor.

Collaboration is very similar to, but more closely aligned than cooperation. Teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and rewards when facing competition for the end result. This is especially true when one or more on the team has strengths that complement the weaknesses of another. By collaborating, we are able to leverage each individual's talents by creating a more cohesive product in any business.

Just when I thought I was retiring completely in June 2016 by closing my corporation, disconnecting the office of LLM&A phones, faxes and post office box address …

Lee Tarvin and I said, "This is it, the grand finale month of our long and wonderful careers in dentistry." (Lee was my right-hand person for 32 of my 35 years in business).

At ages 74 and 72, we were both looking forward to full retirement. As we looked back on our three plus decades, we reflected on how lucky we had been to have those wonderful years with long-lasting relationships and good memories.

As Lee and I discovered, when you’re a speaker or consultant, you’re an absentee owner of your business.

Therefore, it’s important to have a personal assistant who has strengths you don't or a person who loves doing the parts of the business you’re not best at doing. I was the creative visionary who came up with more good ideas for helping practices than we could have ever used each year. Lee took the project we were currently working on and helped me created the roles and responsibilities of each team member who was going to be involved, and together they carried the project to fruition. She didn't want my job, and I didn't want her details part. So for us as team leaders and collaborators, we were in sync. We also encouraged our coworkers to question the obstacles

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

and to offer better solutions and ideas which helped the company grow. We wanted DeWers and thinkers!

Some examples of collaboration within dental groups I've witnessed over the years include:

1. The Lucy Hobbs Anniversary Project in its Sixth

Year: Lucy Hobbs was the first woman to graduate from dental school almost 150 years ago. Knowing that today more than half the graduating classes of dentists are female, Benco Dental started the LHP in 2012. Through collaboration of their marketing department, a few selected dental companies, dental schools, the ADA and a survey, they created the LHP for honoring highly visible, high-powered women in dentistry. In November 2017, there was a Lucy Hobbs Meet and Greet in conjunction with the Greater NY Dental Meeting, and starting in November 2018, around the GNYDM, a three-day, power-packed meeting for all women in dentistry will be held.

2. The Speaking Consulting Network (SCN), the Dental Consultant Connection (DCC) and the Academy of Dental Management Consultants (ADMC): Collaboration is strong. When a practice hires a management consultant, the practice has varying degrees of issues that are all interconnected. No matter how great the consultant or the consulting firm, most of them can't be all things to all people.

They must reach out to others in their group who are specialists in certain services such as medical/ dental cross coding, IT, clinical excellence, human resources, compliance experts and fraud investigation, along with the many aspects of practice and team development. Reaching out to the members of their groups who are the experts is truly providing a higher level of service to clients.

Success

3. The Founding of Ultimate Team Mastery with Dr.

Tanya Brown in April of 2016:. I wanted to do an online webinar series on practice and team development, but I’m not very tech-savvy, nor did I have my AGD accreditation for Dental CEUs. Tanya, who is also a great management speaker and consultant, is tech-savvy and has CEU certification, so we collaborated and have enjoyed a year of working together and great success with UTM.

4. Our DeW Life (Entrepreneurial Women in Dentistry)

leader, Anne Duffy: Anne realized after the success of Dental Entrepreneur Magazine that in order to successfully create a special lifestyle magazine for all women in dentistry, she needed to collaborate with a village of women entrepreneurs in the dental industry who share her love of empowering and mentoring other women. DeW Life, thanks to Anne, is off to a roaring start and serves a need that has not been filled even with more women than men graduating dental schools each year ... not to mention the 750,000 team members, speakers, consultants, editors and dental company representatives who will become subscribers of DeW Life.

5. Whole Health Dentistry: This group is getting a lot

of new attention and traction since the inception of AAOSH eight years ago. Dentists, physicians, nutritionists, nurses, chiropractors and dental-team members are collaborating on ways to best identify, communicate and treat illnesses that manifest in the oral cavity. For the first time in my personal dental career (56 years), I am seeing a new sense of collaboration between healthcare professionals, now that they know the mouth and body have been reunited. Dentists are truly the only physician of the mouth and are getting the respect they deserve from other healthcare professionals. New services, such as Oral DNA, complete oral cancer screenings and dental oncology (getting patients dentally ready to start their chemo and radiation treatments) are spreading to other practices. Not only has the care of the patient improved, practices are getting into this type of whole health dentistry on the ground floor. I predict this is the next biggest movement in the dental profession.

6. Oral Cancer Cause (OCC) Becoming a 501 3C in 2013: Robin Morrison and I met at an AADOM meeting where we discussed her brother, Mike, who had passed away months earlier, and my sister-in-law, Charlotte, who was with hospice in her final battle with head and neck cancer. With our combined 80-plus years in dentistry, we were both very busy but very committed to financially and emotionally help oral cancer families as the patient goes through

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their medical treatment, which is often worse than the diagnoses. This project would not have come to fruition without our collaboration and determination. With an all-volunteer force, except for Executive Director Amber Young's 20-hours-per-week salary, 100-percent of our funds (minus marketing costs) go to the families for transportation for treatments, child care if the mom is unable to care for their small children, co-payments and dental reconstruction.

Our advisory board and the promotion of Amber Young from Chief Brand Officer to Executive Director has created tremendous growth of OCC this past year.

If you have heard the gloom and doom that some dentists and other dental professionals are spreading, I hope you will find like-minded, positive and forward-thinking women in dentistry the DeW Lifers like to spend time with. These heavy-duty collaborators are not only excited about the future of dentistry, but they are the pioneers of new everything. They are not settlers. They embrace new technology. They take leadership courses as they know leaders create other leaders, not followers. These women are from all walks of dentistry. Some are dentists, some are team members and others are representatives from leading dental companies. You will find speakers, consultants, meeting planners, writers and dental-lab professionals. Successful collaboration begins with clear communication, a common goal and those who are as passionate and enthusiastic about the future of dentistry.

Select your mentors carefully and begin the collaboration process. Don't forget that the more involved you are in organized dentistry and dental meetings where the top 20 percent hang out, the more likely you are to be included in collaborative projects. The best reward of that plan will be the relationships you make and the lifelong friends you will acquire.

About the author: Linda Miles, CSP, CMC, is an internationally recognized consultant, speaker and author on dental practice and staff development.

Linda is a successful businesswoman who not only founded LLM&A, a leading INC 500 dental management consulting firm in 1978; but also founded the Speaking Consulting Network in 1997.

She sold those two businesses in 2007 and 2010 to devote more time to Co-founding the Oral Cancer Cause (OCC) in 2013.

In 2016 Linda Co Founded with Dr. Tanya Brown, ULTIMATE TEAM MASTERY, an online virtual classroom program. Linda has spoken in all 50 states and on four continents, authored four books and mentored many other dental consultants. www.AskLindaMiles.com.

Lindamiles992@yahoo.com

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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CELEBRATION

LOVE THE WINE YOU'RE WITH

By Katrina Sanders

“C

ongrats, babe!” he says, as he lifts my gold-plated corkscrew and inspects a round Mikasa wine glass for water spots. With a suave lift and a gentle aeration, he opens a bottle of 92-point Z.D. vintage 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, pours me a sorso (which means “sip” in Italian) and graciously swirls my wine.

sweet tobacco. While it truly is a gorgeous “cheers-toyou” wine, it is also the PERFECT pajamas, cuddle up with a good book and enjoy the rainstorm wine. I am moved, as I reflect on the incredible culture, moods, palates, history and experience that wine delivers.

To be clear: while I consider myself the average “It’s “Here’s to you,” he says, lifting his own glass of carefully 5 O’ Clock Somewhere” wine drinker, the Court of crafted, oak-barrel aged wine which is gently fermented Master Sommeliers awarded me my Level I Sommelier to provide a soft balance and unique complexity of flavors. certification earlier this year. As a member of Guild Somm, Crafted from small vineyards in Napa Valley, Calif., this the Court of Master Sommeliers and self-proclaimed exquisite wine provides depth and layered complexity V.I.P. to many wine tasting rooms, I truly see wine as an with a bold, ripe and balanced fruit-forward palate. experience. While my boyfriend gets annoyed when I Aromas of plum, anise and vanilla dance in my nose and request a wine list at Buffalo Wild Wings (where they leave a long finish of jammy fruit with a hint of cedar and pronounce it “Mer-LOT,” by the way), he also understands earthiness. I swirl this beautiful wine one final time to my deep-rooted appreciation for a quality glass (or bottle) marvel at its gorgeous garnet color before experiencing of wine. some of the most complex and incredibly unique senses I’ve experienced.

“Write buzzed, edit sober,” I mutter to myself as I take another sip. Ugh, this wine has opened up, and is now This evening, like many others, my sweet boyfriend robust in baking spices and dark fruits of blackberries and has chosen a gorgeous bottle of hand-crafted wine under ripe plum. to celebrate a major milestone in my young career as a DeW. He leaves me to my rose-gold laptop, turning on The truth is, my appreciation for wine begins with its “Fleetwood Mac Radio,” as he walks away so that I can tenacity. You see, the history of wine begins thousands write perhaps the most interesting of articles I’ve written of years ago during the ancient world when the grape on my passion, joy and zest for wine. species vitis vinifera, native to the Mediterranean regions was being distributed across the globe. Ancient Greeks Let me begin by sharing: 1. This article is not about me, collected surplus grapes for the winter, and grapes that but rather, about the beautiful world of wine making couldn’t immediately be consumed quickly began to and – most importantly – wine DRINKING. 2. There is spoil, thus allowing the earliest of alcoholic fermentation. nothing more glorious than a lit candle, a beautiful glass Crude wine was discovered, as sugar-rich juices became of carefully curated wine and Fleetwood Mac on the radio. exposed to wild yeast and created a rudimentary I suggest you try it. You’re welcome. concoction that provided intoxicating and euphoric effects. The interests of the Catholic Church propagated I take another sip: the balance of dark chocolate, worn the vitis vinifera species across the globe and, for many leather and black licorice is met with bitter espresso and years, wine provided a safer beverage than water, which

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celebration was oftentimes polluted with disease.

Just as the wine industry began booming in the early 1860s, it was soon met with near extinction. The phylloxera epidemic introduced a tiny insect that fed on the roots and leaves of grape vines, leaving vineyards defenseless to the damage. To this day, Chile is proudly the only wineproducing country not affected by the spread of phylloxera.

Through grafting techniques (is that a dental term in a wine article?), grape vines were able to be salvaged where the wine industry flourished.

Then prohibition happened in the 1920s. Bathtubs filled with gin and the speakeasy provided refuge from the law. Thousands of winemakers watched their casks of carefully aged wines aggressively emptied into rivers while their vineyards were dug up and replanted. By the Great Depression, prohibition was repealed, and U.S. troops returned home after serving tours in Europe with gorgeously tasting wine. The wine industry flourished.

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc > Oysters South African Chenin Blanc > Charcuterie Board Italian Pinto Grigio > Mushroom-based dishes

Today, wine grapes are grown, harvested and subject to wine-making techniques in countless vineyards across the globe. It is estimated that there are between 3,500 and 10,000 varieties of wine that cover an enormous range of flavors and characteristics. Most importantly, these grape varietals thrive in various unique climates while producing a unique effect of terroir (the taste of a place).

As a wine enthusiast, I appreciate the robust history and unique lessons of the wine industry. What I admire time and again, however, are the ways in which wine brings people together. Whether you’re enjoying a refreshing Rhone Valley Viognier at happy hour, an Oregon Pinot Noir with dinner or a crisp Alsace Riesling with dessert, wine truly creates an experience of togetherness.

As the holidays quickly approach, I thought I’d share some of my favorite wine varietals and pairings, as well as some tips on experiencing wine tastings like a professional.

Pairing First and foremost, the rules surrounding “pair whites with whites and reds with reds” is considered antiquated and certainly not gospel according to the wine industry. Of note, full-bodied whites such as a California Chardonnay or an Italian Pinot Grigio would overpower the lightness of a flaky fish while a soft Burgundy (French Pinot Noir) may be too seductive and spicy for a gamey steak.

The best part about wine pairings is that it is truly up to the chef to provide interesting pairings that support the flavor profiles of both the wine and the course. But if you must know, here are some of my favorites:

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French Beaujolais > Salmon Spanish Tempranillo > Buttery Steak Whatever the pairing, I always like to include interesting wines – wines that speak to their terroir and leverage a unique flavor profile, such as the bright and floral notes of an unoaked Burgundy Chardonnay, the grassy and herbal aromas of a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc, the smokiness of a Piedmont Barbera, the soft and spicy notes of a Washington Merlot or the fruity and tannic structure of a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. We have all had a super oaky Chardonnay or a cotton-mouthed dry Merlot; Spice it up, and you’re bound to impress your guests!

Wine Tasting Basics Whether beginner or professional, wine tasting is truly a unique and personal experience. Wine tasting relies on the ability to recognize unique aromas, flavors and sensations. No matter your experience, try these few basics to nail your next wine tasting experience:

1. Analyze with your eyes and look for clarity and brightness. The color of a wine can provide information about its exposure to oxygen (imagine a cut apple that has been exposed to oxygen), as well as yellow-ness from an oak barrel or the darkness of residual sugar.

2. Analyze with your nose.

Wine aromas are a symphony of aromatic instruments all being played at the same time. The nose provides identification of

Dental Entrepreneur Woman

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celebration

l a t n e D e Th

’ s t s i n e g W INE n i e w ü l G aromas ranging from fruity (citrus, berries, tropical fruits, dried fruits) and floral (fresh flowers, jasmine, honeysuckle) to earthy/mineral aromas (wet dirt, vegetables, and herbs), wood aromas (smoke, cedar and caramelization) and biological aromas (barnyard, burning rubber and even cat urine).

3. Analyze with your palate.

Your palate allows you to sense varying levels of sweetness or dryness.

In addition, your palate may sense acidity (which may make your mouth water or cause a tingling sensation) or tannins (a sense of astringency such as drying or fuzziness of the tongue).

4. Flavor profiles: the attack is considered the first taste of the wine, experienced within the first few seconds.

The midpalate are the new flavors that emerge as the attack fades. The finish is the perception of flavor that remains after the wine leaves the palate and can be experienced for long periods of time.

In a world where we are constantly tied to deadlines, social media and schedules, old-world vines are still desperately clutching to the earth and provide a unique experience in which every sip of wine provides a robust history of the past, a brief moment in time and a vivid opportunity connecting us to our own gorgeous humanity.

I will happily be spending my holidays with my handsome boyfriend and three sweet rescue dogs. No matter who you spend your holidays with, I hope you have a grape one, and be sure to love the wine you’re with.

Cheers! ~The Dental WINEgenist

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Glüwein is a German mulled wine, or a spiced holiday wine sipped during the holidays and traditionally enjoyed out of mugs. I am famous for serving my spiced glüwein at holiday events while my house gloriously smells of the holidays.

Here is my (not at all precise) recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 1 jar of whole cloves 1 orange 1 jar of cinnamon sticks 1 cup of white sugar 1 cup of orange juice 1 bottle of CHEAP red wine Slice the orange in half and push the whole cloves into the outside of the orange peel.

Combine the orange juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks and oranges with cloves into a saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes until thick and syrupy.

Pour entire batch into a crock pot, add a bottle of CHEAP red wine. On setting low, allow the wine to steep for about 1 hour before enjoying in mugs (cold wine glasses will break) Take a picture and tag The Dental WINEgenist on Facebook with #DeWlife

REFLECTION

A CARROT, AN EGG AND A CUP OF COFFEE

A

young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.

She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her in the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter asked, “What does it mean, Mother?”

She explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water. Each reacted differently.

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Dental Entrepreneur Woman

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell has protected its liquid interior, but after sitting in boiling water, its insides became hardened. The round coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which are you? Are you the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do you wilt, become soft, and lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Do you have a fluid spirit, but after a, breakup, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have you become hardened and stiff?

Does your shell look the same, but on the inside you are bitter and tough, with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean actually changed the hot water, the very circumstances that bring the pain.

When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and the flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

MacPractice Simplicity in practice

DOES YOUR SOFTWARE MATTER? DOES BEING THE BEST CLINICIAN MATTER IF YOUR OFFICE ISN’T RUN AFFORDABLY AND EFFICIENTLY. DOES EFFICIENCY MATTER IF YOUR SOFTWARE DOESN’T PROTECT YOU FROM VIRUSES AND RANSOMWARE AND MAKE EVERYONE IN YOUR OFFICE FEEL EMPOWERED TO BE THEIR BEST? DOES INNOVATION MATTER ANYMORE? AT MACPRACTICE, WE BELIEVE IN THE UNBELIEVABLE. IT’S WHY WE BUILD THE BEST SOFTWARE YOUR MONEY CAN BUY. AND TOMORROW IT WILL BE EVEN BETTER. YOU BETTER BELIEVE SOFTWARE MATTERS.

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For You About You

By You

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We are delighted to receive general submissions from you, women in dentistry. What is your story and how can you inspire us? What are some of your ‘top of mind’ questions or comments about the dental profession? Is there a topic you would like to explore that could be introduced on our website as a blog or as a feature in our print edition?

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