Keep It Local: Make the Life You Want to Live

DESIGN THE LIFE THAT YOU WISH TO LIVE

By: Lynna Van Merkey, DDS I never would have thought that being a dentist would be my easier, “go-to” answer when I meet strangers in passing. Over the years, I’ve found that running an e-commerce brand is the more complicated answer, and usually requires elaboration. The founding story of my company V Coterie dates back to the start of my third year of dental school, circa 2017, when I took on the role of President of the American Student Dental Association. (The name V Coterie comes from the letter V for my maiden name Van and Coterie which means a group of people with shared interests or taste. That group of people — healthcare workers.) ASDA was in desperate need of a rebrand in order to get our members active and engaged. So I teamed up with a graphic designer friend of mine to conceptualize a new Oklahoma ASDA logo. I turned that logo into a lapel pin to offer as an incentive to our members, and it was a hit! The process seemed straightforward enough to piggyback off as a personal project, so I taught myself Adobe Illustrator and began creating designs of my own. The designs first began as the various degrees and roles in dentistry and then branched off into more fun inside jokes and puns. It’s something I fiddled around with in between classes just to pass the time. It was not only a creative release but was also ego-boosting, almost as a way to show off dentistry as a profession — to showcase the scientific and artistic breadth of our curriculum. Things snowballed as I covered more professions, such as pharmacy, optometry, nursing, allied health, etc. Fast forward to today, and V Coterie now boasts thousands of designs and styles across a range of product lines, including necklaces, charms, rings, and key chains. At their core, the products are fashion accessories to express ourselves—within and outside our healthcare job. We are only just embarking on a time when society will see us as more than the doctor figure, the dental “professional.” Our patients want to see us being human. We are layered and complex, not monolithic. We have vast interests within and outside dentistry. We can be deeply passionate, be it one, two, or 10 hobbies. It also means allowing ourselves to prioritize self-care, downtime, rest, and our interests outside work. These things are absolutely necessary for a fulfilling life, and they make coming into work that much more enjoyable. There is a word I learned from an Uber driver: “avocation.” An avocation is any activity that you pursue when you're not at work—the things that define us outside of a job. I know some extremely talented, multihyphenate dentists who serve as role models for me and my journey. For example, Dr. Omar Sabre of Maison de Sabre, a premium brand for customized leather goods. Another Tulsa friend and colleague is Dr. Melissa French of Heirloom Rustic Ales. I think dentistry is a profession that seems to attract the most creative masterminds.

The funny thing is, I realize I’m only just beginning my professional journey. There is so much to be learned from a scientific and technological standpoint in dentistry. I think that is what keeps us on the edge of our seats, keeps us excited about the work we do. At the same time, I continue to lean into my creative entrepreneurial spirit, because creating something from nothing has its own fulfilling meaning for me. Dentistry offers a challenging puzzle, but we usually know precisely what that end goal is. It is so cheesy, but I do believe that you can design the life that you wish to live.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Lynna Van Merkey received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 2019. She was inducted to the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society, receiving the Dr. William S. Kramer Award based on demonstrated scholarship, character, and the potential promise for advancement of dentistry and service to humanity. Lynna founded V Coterie as a passion project for creative expression during dental school. V Coterie is a niche accessories brand designed for healthcare professionals. The brand is a cheeky appeal for a departure from stoicism in medicine, inspiring creativity in a place that is traditionally cold and clinical. The company has been featured in publications including Forbes, People, Buzzfeed, PopSugar, and more.