Sponsor: DAN Archives - Dental Head Start

The Journey behind the specialist #2: The weight of knowing with Dr Joseph Ryan

September 4, 2026September 7, 2026Leave a Comment

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In this Specialist Series episode, Ahmed sits down with Dr Joseph Ryan to explore the journey behind becoming an oral medicine specialist. Together they discuss the challenges of training, the emotional burden of managing chronic disease, navigating uncertainty and the habits that separate good clinicians from exceptional ones.

The Unseen Curriculum: Formation Series #11 – Designing a Career Before Designing Smiles with Dr Christian Coachman

July 9, 2026July 28, 2026Leave a Comment

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In this episode, Dr. Christian Coachman, founder of Digital Smile Design, opens up about the long road from dental technician to influential educator.
Discover how humble confidence helped him navigate doubt, poor communication pitfalls in dentistry and the mindset shifts that turn uncertainty into lasting success. Learn practical lessons on mentorship, self-accountability, and building resilience for early career dentists.

The Journey behind the specialist #1: The Dark Days Behind Oral Surgery with Dr Thao Truong

July 4, 2026July 4, 2026Leave a Comment

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In this first episode of Ahmed’s specialist journey series, he sits down with Specialist Oral Surgeon Dr Thao Truong to unpack the pressure, sacrifice and self-doubt behind operating at the highest level of dentistry. From hospital training and specialist exams to carrying responsibility in high-stakes surgical environments, this conversation explores the dark days that shape clinicians long before confidence arrives.

The Unseen curriculum: Formation Series #7 – High Standards Without Self-Punishment with Dr Sam Gidaro

May 25, 2026July 9, 2026Leave a Comment

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In this episode, I sit down with Dr Sam Gidaro to unpack a tension many high-performing students and early-career dentists feel but rarely articulate: how do you pursue excellence without turning that pursuit inward?

The Unseen Curriculum: Formation Series #5 – The Multifaceted Clinician with Dr Waleed Arshad

April 10, 2026April 28, 2026Leave a Comment

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In this episode, Ahmed Issa and Dr. Waleed break down why dental school only teaches you the bare minimum to
succeed. Dr Waleed shares invaluable insights on integrating sales psychology to ethically simplify
treatment plans, exposes the messy reality behind perfect social media before-and-after cases, and
explains why becoming a multifaceted professional is the true key to standing out against corporate
competition.

The Unseen Curriculum #6 – the cost of becoming a dentist with Dr Michael Shambira

February 24, 2026May 15, 2026Leave a Comment

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If you are doing everything right on paper but still feel unsettled or unsure of yourself, this episode
is for you. We dive deep into the “hidden curriculum” of dentistry—the gap between your clinical
skills and the heavy emotional weight of new responsibility. We explore why most of your doubt isn’t
a lack of skill but a system calibration issue, and break down the three essential phases of career
growth: Formation, Integration, and Excellence.

Feature #99 – Mastering General Dentistry: From mistakes to mentorship with Dr Julian Dantes

February 17, 2026March 25, 2026Leave a Comment

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Dr. Julian Dantes joins Dr. David to discuss the honest journey from a rural “sink or swim” graduate
to a successful practice owner on the Sunshine Coast. Unlike the curated perfection often seen on
social media, Julian shares the raw reality of general dentistry, including his pivot from medicine
and the irony of failing a university “people skills” test despite being a people-focused clinician.

The Unseen Curriculum #5 – How to build mental resilience as a dental student with Dr Rebecca Smith

December 22, 2025May 25, 2026Leave a Comment

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What does it take to have two babies, work as a nurse, survive dental school, AND come out smiling? Dr. Rebecca Smith shows us that resilience isn’t about being tough – it’s about grace under pressure.

In this powerful series finale, we dive deep into the real meaning of resilience with Dr. Rebecca Smith, who walked one of the most challenging journeys through dental school imaginable. From fertility struggles and miscarriage to clinical mishaps and balancing motherhood with study, Rebecca shares the raw truth about bouncing back when life gets overwhelming.

Dental Business Head Start #4 – Inside the Legal Side of Practice Ownership with Dr Jesse Green

November 17, 2025November 17, 2025Leave a Comment

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Ever wondered what legal pitfalls could cost you thousands when buying a dental practice? Dr. David Keir and Dr. Jesse Green reveal the critical legal considerations every dentist needs to know before taking the plunge into practice ownership