Having access to mentorships is crucial for the development of young oral surgeons and dentists, providing them with key skills to succeed.
The resources and programs offered by a dental organization like Max Surgical Specialty Management can be a significant boost and benefit to individuals entering the dental industry.
Akeyla Brown, DDS, clinical director for DEI and community engagement at Max, recently connected with Becker’s to share the importance of mentorship and development for young professionals.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Why is mentorship so important for young oral surgeons when they’re first entering the industry?
Dr. Akeyla Brown: It smooths the transition. You’re not fully accustomed to working alone yet as a resident, and then going out to private practice. I think that’s a great way to transition. I also don’t think that you’re taught the business or the patient management side of private practice that you definitely need to learn, and having a mentor to facilitate that is extremely helpful.
Q: What opportunities can organizations like Max provide for young surgeons that they might not get in a different setting?
AB: It gives structure that you wouldn’t get in a smaller practice. It also gives you a wide variety of resources, and you have a huge team behind you. There’s a lot of diversity and experience. At Max, we have oral surgeons in different settings to expose younger surgeons to different situations. You have access to the C-suite executives that can really help you through the business side of things. There’s a lot of transparency so you can really clearly learn the business side, as well as the clinical aspect simultaneously. I don’t think you would get that with a smaller practice, and I don’t think you would get the level of support that would come with our mentorship program with a smaller practice.