The attitude of a dentist

So I've begun this whole process again, and amidst all the things I am trying to get done, I have begun working at a dental franchise in my home state as a float scheduling manager. This all ties in with what I have to say in the next paragraph, but I just want to state that I believe that this will be a really good opportunity for me to observe dentist's attitudes towards their staff, patients, and each other.

I began training at location B at the beginning of December, probably the largest location amongst those in the franchise. The experience level of doctor varies from recently graduated in May to decades of experience and everything in between. Needless to say, the personality types of these dentists varied equally as much as their years of experience...

Let's start with Dr.A, who I had worked with Saturday, one that I had not had a good impression of since I first saw this dentist. Dr. A graduated within the last two years and began by slowly climbing up the ranks from being a dental assistant and eventually entering dental school, I assumed that Dr. A, more than any other dentist at that clinic, would understand what it was like to work at a dental office and not be the dentist. It seems that this idea has instead backfired because one who saw Dr. A would guess that Dr. A has no prior memory of life before becoming a dentist, at all.

I figured that I should give Dr. A another shot when I arrived this morning, but boy, was I wrong. Dr. A's attitude towards care and services was appalling. Not only that, but I felt as though Dr. A was displaying little respect towards the teams that were working, including myself. Location B received many, many (and can I emphasize many one more time?) calls in regards to toothaches all day. Triage forms were filled one after another -- each patient wanting to get in today, of course. Some patients more aggressive than others, some just flat out angry, and others condescending. That being said, it was the scheduling managers that were taking the calls, so I feel that the doctor has no reason to become upset by anything other than the fact that their workload may become a little heavier by having to read one page of paper and evaluating a situation, as they were trained to do in dental school.

Dr. A lacked professionalism in handling many of the situations in regards to the toothache patients. Though much responsibility weighed on Dr. A's duty of being the on-call doctor for the weekend, I personally felt as though Dr. A was trying to reject as many situations as possible. Whining in a raised voice about how patient X should not be calling this office or how patient Y should have completed this treatment when it was diagnosed, and letting out a disgusted sigh every time Dr. A returned only to find more triage forms. It was no way to represent yourself as a dentist, a caregiver.

Now I am not saying that Dr. A should be a saint and angelic or that she has nothing better to worry about, but at the very least, keep your cool. Everyone has lives, circumstances happen for everyone including the doctor, myself, and patients. With that being said, dedicating two and a half days to cover for your fellow doctors and be able to provide continuous care and service should never be an annoyance. It should be a privilege, one that many do not have.

There are other things that I felt were ridiculous and attitudes in Dr. A's treatment of her staff, but I think I have already went out of my way to vent on how disappointed I was in Dr. A representing the field of dentistry as a dentist. I have never once in my five years of being immersed in dental environments have I felt as inspired to always remember to be generous, modest, and reminded that dentists are caregivers than I did on Saturday. You never know who's watching...

December 3, 2013

By pure coincidence, I picked a day, this past August, that a year ago was the very day that schools accepted the first batch of students for the 2013-14 academic year for my DAT. I hope I'm not jinxing myself, 2013 has been a great year and I can only hope 2014 will be better.

I was just offered a float position at the largest local dental chain in my state today, one that I am a patient of, have shadowed at, and is a place that I could see myself working at as a dentist. After returning from my extended vacation of six months, I would be returning to a upgraded position that would still allow me the flexibility to continue to focus more on improving my dental application. I will start training immediately after my DAT.

I've been working hard since August, hopefully it will pay off on December 3rd. I just need to remind myself to Keep Calm and FOCUS! 

Hopefully, I will be posting more regularly after next week, as I start round three...

Thanks to all of my readers and those who have left encouraging comments. All are appreciated and inspiring!

Loss of hope, ready to start again?

It's almost August...Still no word from schools. I'm guessing I'm out of the running for the Class of 2017. I knew my chances where slim when I didn't hear any offers in December 2012, but I still held on to that small chance that I could get in this year and left the country to find myself and discover, once again, if this is what I wanted to do.

While I have reassured myself that I want to become a dentist, I have found myself in a rut that will set me back another two years. Even then, I can't guarantee myself a spot in a dental school, anywhere.

Obviously, I have not applied in this cycle. I don't think I can...I would if I could, but I have no personal statement, no letter writers, and not a lot to hold up a new app. But I am preparing myself, mentally, to apply again in June 2014.

If I don't get in this year, please give me the strength to withstand the family members and friends who question my decisions and ask why I am not doing anything for my future. I have finally got my mind on straight and am not ready to face interrogation of people who will only bring me down.

Wishing. Hoping. Praying.

Still waiting for that stamp of approval...
For that precious welcome notice...
To proceed...