TIP #132 – The Sixth Month (The Courage to Try Again) with Dr Erica Hwin

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FEATURE #85 – Finding the Right Job with Dr Nauvneel Kashyap

With job hunting season just around the corner, we’re teaming up with Nauv Kashyap to cover the top most commonly asked questions students and new grads have when it comes to finding the right job.

Even as times change, the challenges we face as new grads are evergreen. In this episode, we’re talking about the differences between dentist-owned practices vs big corporate organisations, rural vs metro considerations, how to excel as an associate, red flags to look out for in contracts and what to do when a job isn’t what it was promised to be. 

Nauv is a huge advocate for new grads, and is passionate about standing up for them and ensuring they are being treated fairly within their workplaces. There is so much to unpack in this episode and we’re really lucky to have Nauv’s insight on the topic.

TIP #114 – The First Month (The Mental, Physical & Social Exhaustion) with Dr Erica Hwin

Welcome to the first of a series of monthly catch ups with Erica!

Starting full-time work can be exciting, daunting, invigorating and exhausting all at the same time. It takes a lot out of you – mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.

In this episode, Erica shares the lessons she’s learnt in her first month so far and the mentality she is developing in order to stay positive and focused on improving her skills as a new grad.

In true ‘What I Wish I Knew’ style, Erica goes over 12 tips for fellow new grads and those currently in dental school to think about. How should you take that X-Ray? Should you use rubber dam? What if I hit the pulp? All this and lots more discussed in this episode!

FEATURE #79 – A Journey in Confidence with Dr Erica Hwin & Haydyn Bathurst

Happy New Year to our Dental Head Start family! To kick 2023 off, we wanted to touch base and share the big plans we have in store for you on The Dental Head Start Podcast.

Firstly, we’d like to welcome our superstar editor Haydyn Bathurst to the microphone for his official debut as our new student host! Haydyn has been a huge asset to the team and we’re excited to share his perspectives and advocacy for all the dental students out there.

With her shiny AHPRA registration in hand, Erica is now a new graduate dentist! In this episode, we’ll get to hear from her side of the table – her university experience, the lessons the podcast has taught her and how her first few weeks as a dentist have been. Join us as we dive into discussions about building confidence, exploring opportunities and the mentality we develop in order to navigate an industry as difficult as dentistry.

Thank you all for your endless support. Here’s to another bigger and better year!

FEATURE #78 – Overcoming Decision Paralysis as a New Grad with Dr Alex Khominsky

Hosted by Erica Hwin

It goes without saying that a trait of our industry is being high achievers. What comes with big dreams is often big decisions, and when faced with too many, we can find ourselves inflicted by decision paralysis.

What kind of dentist do I want to become, what kind of practice do I want to work at, what kind of people do I want to surround myself with? Do I want to specialise, do I want to go into research, do I want to become a practice owner or do I enjoy general dentistry for what it is? These are all decisions that can be very overwhelming.

In this episode, we speak with Dr Alex Khominksy about his journey in dentistry, from a dental student with a hunger for knowledge, working his first year in a tertiary referral centre before transitioning into private practice, then beginning his post graduate training in periodontics, all the whilst co-founding the General Dental Residency on the side.

New Grad Focus #3 – Finding The Perfect Job For You with Dr Stephen Dudgeon & Dr Eli Burger

When we’re about to graduate from dental school and looking for a job, we always hear how it is so important finding the right job for us that will allow us to rapidly grow both clinically and non-clinically as a new graduate dentist. But with so many job advertisements all touting the same perks and equipment, how can we filter out a job that may hold us back from growth from one that will maximise our first year a dentist?

Welcome back to the New Grad Focus series. My name is Phillip Nguyen and I am a first year graduate and today we are joined by Dr Steve Dudgeon and Dr Eli Burger who are co-CEOs of Avenue Dental, a group of practices on the Sunny Coast. And, they also happen to be my bosses and the guys I work for today. They have a passion for giving back to the dental community. They started the Australian Dental Graduate of the Year Award, the Mini-Residency Program as well as various other programs that help students and young dentists excel at the beginning of the careers. They are also passionate about how a supportive and fun workplace culture can lead to high quality dentistry and an outstanding patient experience. We discuss all the different factors to look for when choosing your first job out of dental school so if keep listening if you’d like to learn a few tips that may just help change the direction of how your first year will go. Enjoy the episode!

TIP #109 – Questions to Ask Your Practice with Dr Mitesh Vasant

There’s no denying that the job hunting scene post-Covid has changed dramatically, and it’s become a new grads’ market. In this episode, we welcome back Dr Cigdem Kipel who sits down with Dr Mitesh Vasant, both of whom are practice owners, to break down the nitty gritty questions graduates should be asking when joining a practice. 

What’s the culture and environment like? How might it influence the treatment you undertake? What’s the mentorship like and what can you bring to the table to contribute to the team? This is a great episode hearing from people sitting on the other side of the interview table, with insightful tips for new grads embarking on their dental journey

New Grad Focus #2 – Public vs Private with Dr Steph Ib and Dr Bianca Lee

During our time in dental school, most of us will only work in a setting treating patients within the public system. But the statistics show that about 90% of us will work in a private practice when we graduate. So do you know the differences between working in a public job vs a private job?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr Bianca Lee and Dr Steph Ib and we speak about the core differences of working in these different sectors and how they can change our growth pathway. We discuss topics like remuneration structures, work/life balance, opportunities to extend your scope and much, much more. If you are a final year student or new graduate listening to this episode, I hope you learn something new and perhaps it will open your eyes to working in a sector that you had not thought about much previously. Enjoy the episode!

New Grad Focus #1 – Your Checklist Before Starting Work with Dr Margaret Tran

The transition from being a student to a fully qualified dentist is one of the biggest periods of change we go through and it’s something that isn’t taught at all at university.
In this episode, Dr Margaret Tran joins us to go through all the essential things you will need to have organised before you start your first day of work. Not only do we go through the specific requirements of each license and number, but also the nuances of each application and how to minimise the delay in receiving each which will ultimately allow you to begin work sooner!
This episode is a must to listen to as it will make the transition to working so much easier, smoother and stress-free.

TIP #95 – Who Needs Insurance? with Bhupesh Kaphle

I’m young, fit and healthy…do I really need health insurance? Can’t I cheap out and just not buy travel insurance? What exactly is professional indemnity?

Just like tax, there’s a lot of different types of insurance. And when we haven’t directly experienced a sticky situation, it’s often hard to see the value of it or understand what they entail.

In this episode, Bhupesh Kaphle talks us through the basics of insurance and why it’s important. At the end of the day, you’d rather have your back covered, than to have regrets when things don’t go to plan.