From the Editor’s Desk Meet the Next
Generation of Dentists Remember when there was fresh ink on your diploma from dental school? Recall when you were evaluating your career path options in dental education, public health, dental research, or private practice? Remember agonizing over your employment options, or maybe non-options? Remember applying for your first job that required a dental degree? Recall applying for your first business bank loan? The newest generation of dentists have not only faced these life altering obstacles recently, but they also dealt with the lingering economic effects of the 2008 recession and now the current world-wide pandemic. Most new graduates also, carry staggering student debt. This Nugget issue is dedicated to the newest members of our profession to find out
how they are faring, what are their thoughts and what are their ambitions. By no means does this issue reflect the full spectrum of new graduates. In fact, serendipity played a major role of the five featured dentists. Research for this issue involved a list supplied by the Sacramento District Dental Society of dentists that had graduated in the last ten years. In addition, fellow colleagues and a public health employer were contacted for referrals. The research included a questionnaire and in-person interview and many emails. Providence might have helped to find these dentists, that and an efficient front office receptionist getting the message to the dentist in the back office or in one case, a good mom urging participation.
By Denise Jabusch, DDS
Associate Editor
But what is notable about the five featured dentists is that they all completed a residency program after dental school. They fine-tuned their dental skills and sought additional expertise in a variety of fields and interests. They are business savvy, and know that if they are to survive economically, they must be well-informed. They have no illusions about their goals, and yet they have kept the altruistic motivation of why one chooses a dental career, that is to care for others. Their enthusiasm for dentistry shows. Please meet Drs. Chris Macasaet, Deanna Lee, Jonathan Lee, Elizabeth Bingham, and Ramesh Thondapu. Suffice to say, it is a sheer pleasure to meet them.
UPCOMING CE COURSE! Treating Patients for Life – The Role of Dental Implants in an Uncertain Post-Pandemic World*
Friday, March 26, 2021
Sponsored by:
9am – 11am Webinar/Zoom Meeting
COVID-19 has changed the landscape of our dental practices, how do we pivot and thrive in a post-pandemic clinical practice? In this presentation, the focus is on how to improve the quality of life of your patients and improve practice growth using dental implants. Emphasis will be placed on focusing on a broad range of dental implant options using affordable and low cost strategies to treat patents to get patients to say yes to treatment even when the world is going crazy!
2 CEU, Core $99 SDDS Members & Staff $89 DHP Members
Michael D Scherer, DMD, MS, FACP Dr. Scherer is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University, a Clinical Instructor at University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and maintains a practice limited to prosthodontics and implant dentistry in Sonora, California. He is a fellow of the American College of Prosthodontists, has published articles, DVD training series, and in‐person and online courses related to implant dentistry, clinical prosthodontics, and digital technology with a special emphasis on full‐arch reconstruction. As an avid technology & computer hobbyist, Dr. Scherer’s involvement in digital implant dentistry has led him to develop and utilize new technology with CAD/CAM surgical systems, implement interactive CBCT implant planning, and outside of the box radiographic imaging concepts.
Head to sdds.org or use the insert included in this issue to get signed up for the class today! * N ote change of program, speaker is the same!
www.sdds.org • March 2021
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