Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016 - 28

Let's Talk About That KF: How would you mentor a new and/or younger orthodontist beginning his/her professional life today, in regards to a pathway to success? GJ: The economic pressures on a new graduate are huge. In addition to potentially supporting a young family, a new orthodontist has the burden of servicing significant school debt and the prospect of incurring additional debt to buy into a practice or to set up an office. The traditional paradigms of associateship leading to a partnership are much harder to realize in the current economic environment. The pressures of servicing immense debt, the lack of opportunities to immediate income, and the competition for orthodontic patients from other non-specialist dental practitioners have pushed the orthodontic practitioner to rush patients into treatment, sometimes resulting in compromised diagnoses, treatment time, and patient care. I think the world is always ready for someone personable and caring who can provide health care that is timed and executed to patients' best interest and wellbeing. Take the time to get to know your patients, comforting them along the way to optimum results. If your patients think that you care, they will love coming to see you. If they love coming to see you, they will tell their friends. As those friends tell others, you ensure your continued success.No matter how you initially start and build your practice (social media, advertising, referral promotion), this is ultimately the key to success in healthcare. KF: Share with us some thoughts on your extensive volunteer service to professional organizations. GJ: Our profession is under constant attack from the regulatory and political arenas, which seek to govern the way we practice our profession and how we do business- all with the mandate to "increase patient access." If the orthodontic 28 profession is not at the table to help advise and guide those decisions, we are not going to be happy with the environment in which we are forced to practice. The biggest benefit we, as individual practitioners, receive from our professional organizations is advocacy for legislative and regulatory issues at the local, state, and national levels. My participation and leadership roles in organized dentistry have offered me a chance to meet a great number of fellow practitioners I would never have otherwise been privileged to know. By participating in organized dentistry as a volunteer, every member has the opportunity to use his/her expertise and knowledge well beyond the walls of our individual offices. KF: How has your long-term participation in a local study club enhanced your development as a clinician? GJ: I have been a member of an orthodontic study club for 35 years. Camaraderie with fellow orthodontic practitioners is enlightening. We all have common issues regarding staff, business systems, patient attitudes, etc. It is rewarding and comforting to find common ground and hear different perspectives in trying to resolve those issues. Everyone sees cases that are very difficult to diagnose or treat from time to time; it is interesting to hear from different practitioners how they would handle these types of challenging cases. Another advantage is coverage in the event that we as practitioners become incapacitated or unable to see patients. If I were unable to see my patients due to death or disability, the value of my practice would decline rapidly. In order to maintain that value and to fulfill the commitment we have made to our patients, the individuals in our orthodontic study club are committed to covering each other's practices until the member is able to attend to patients and the business of the practice; in the event of a death, this is significantly important.  PCSO Bulletin  Fall 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Fall 2016