Position:
Associate Endodontist for Advanced Endodontics in Santa Rosa
Career Highlights:
- Having the opportunity to go to UCLA dental school and learn dentistry from some amazing clinicians. Richard Stevenson, Henry Yamada to name a few - inspired me to pursue excellence in dentistry.
- My GPR at a small hospital in New York. I became neighbors and friends with Dr. @Diane B. Heller who I had the pleasure of learning endo from. She brought me to the NJAE - after which I decided to pursue endo.
- Being accepted into Loma Linda Endodontics program where I had the opportunity to realize my dreams and meet some amazing people in the endo field. Dr. Munce, Dr. Handysides, Dr. Silvestrin and Dr. Bakland all pushed me to think critically and devote myself to lifelong learning in endo.
Why Endodontics:
Critical thinking and problem solving. I love the challenge of being presented a complex problem and the process of developing a solution using your own knowledge and skills. I also enjoyed the opportunity to stay in touch with the restorative aspect of dentistry (though I kind of question this after all the large build ups I've been doing recently =))
Best Piece of Career Advice:
Think critically, think differently, question everything. Almost nothing in endo (or dentistry for that matter) is black and white.
Endo Challenge:
Endo is full of challenges. Knowing when to throw in the towel and cut your losses short vs. when to keeping trying is something I am constantly trying to figure out. Once I am able to see some of my long-term recalls, I think I can begin forming a better idea of how to make these decisions.
Reason for Becoming an AAE member:
To have the opportunity to interact and learn from other endodontists. Sometimes as a clinician you can get so focused on what you are doing, you don't realize there is a better/easier way to approach a problem.
Fun Fact:
I am trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon and compete in Triathlon.
Community Question: (A question that community members can respond to)
Where do you see endodontics in 20 years?
If you have a member you would like to recommend, please email your submission to communityadmin@aae.org