Orthotown October 2020 - 8

embrace progress

"I envision a day when universities and facilities will serve as the
hub for advanced learning that will become more remote and
distance-based, with mentorship-type programs conducted by
the leaders in the field being offered to those enrolled."
it was my lab partner in physics who had
a father who was a dentist. He suggested
that I travel to his office one weekend to
visit with them. Less than a year later, I
was enrolled in dental school.)

Practice location and business
are big decisions
Many orthodontists agonize for months,
even years, deciding on the right location,
the right building and sometimes the right
practice partner. Many times, the selection
works out perfectly. Often times, even
though the choice may not have worked out
as planned, a successful career still results.
Based on my experience, you need to
be constantly on the lookout for change in
economics, demographics and technology,
and willing and able to chart a different
course over your years in practice. Yes, your
approach to the patients, neighborhood and
families needs to be flexible within your
comfort and personality profile. In the
end, if you're honest with yourself and your
patients, you'll be surrounded by patients
like yourself and staff that shares your and
your patients' values.

Let's talk about the current
situation in education
This pertains not only to professions
but also undergraduate degrees and even
trade and technical schools. COVID-19
has exposed the nature of higher education
like nothing before. What was seemingly a
necessary element of passage and maturing
is now being handled online for a good
portion of students in college. Millennials
and their younger counterparts, having
grown up in front of a screen, are adapting
to this change-probably much better than
their parents or educators.

8

Even professional education, including
dental and orthodontic programs, is being
hampered. On-location experiences are being
replaced with Zoom meetings, simulations,
and professors and educators delivering
their lectures from the safety of their own
houses. We experienced this year's AAO
annual session in virtual time. This is all
fine, but the cost curve doesn't seem to be
bending downward ... yet.
I predict that a gradual change in the
institution of higher learning is on the verge
of appearing forever, even if COVID is cured.
The student loan crisis was the stimulus
that began to change the landscape and our
perceptions. Now with excuses to not have
to pay for the privilege of attending various
facilities, we will witness a change in the
business model of higher education. (This is
not without the establishment giving it a fight
and attempting to protect the status quo!)
It is incumbent upon all of us to reimagine how higher education is delivered to not
only undergraduate students but also those
pursuing advanced degrees. Heck, if we are
on the verge of reimagining policing, I don't
think education will be far behind. Yes,
there are those who, despite the benefits of
research and invention, will claim that the
facilities and system as we know it cannot
change. I tend to agree, with qualifications.
As someone who continues to support my
alma mater and appreciates the opportunity
and privilege to teach, I don't believe that
education is doomed. However, before
the past decade, would you have believed
that Uber, Invisalign, Airbnb and other
scalable businesses could disrupt previously
untouchable institutions? If we are really
interested in expanding markets, then
education of not only orthodontists but
also staff will need to get closer to home.

Looking to the future
I envision a day when universities and
facilities will serve as the hub for advanced
learning that will become more remote
and distance-based, with mentorship-type
programs conducted by the leaders in the
field being offered to those enrolled. This is
similar to how orthodontic education was
carried out in the early 1900s.
Universities can also help with the
frustrating lack of job seekers in the professions by expanding their offerings to
supply support staff as well. (As we know,
many support and team members in our
field earn wages thousands of dollars more
than many with four-year degrees.)
Don't misinterpret these comments to
minimize the value of higher education!
I congratulate those of you who have
put into place training manuals to make
potential employees feel welcomed and
proud to be in a profession where we touch
so many lives and operate in a honest,
clean and safe environment. The point is
that expanded training beyond the typical
high school education may be beneficial
to our and other professions relying on
interpersonal skills, critical thinking and
technical expertise.
There are ample opportunities for the
right personalities to become employed in
various aspects of the orthodontic practice,
whether it be in marketing the business,
taking care of the patients or managing
the results of our efforts.
To paraphrase Candace Owens during
a recent podcast with Ben Shapiro: "I no
longer plan; I just do what I'm good at."
So we may all work to advance the training
of others to benefit our practice and the
life of our patients. n

OCTOBER 2020 // orthotown.com

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9/24/20 10:28 AM
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Orthotown October 2020

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