What does it take to become an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon? OR What does it take to become a Girldoc?
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| Posing in the hall of my Oral Surgery practice and office 250 Sills Road, Patchogue, NY 11772 CIRCA(2004) |
I asked a similar question on my blog many weeks ago. Looking to see if anyone had a good answer or any answer for that matter to this question. No one has of yet. Most people probably don’t know how to answer that question, but I can. I also have a nice Interviewing Technique worksheet to help you prepare for the process wether it be applying to Dental Schools, Dental Residencies or looking to land your first job experience as a Dentist, this will help you.
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| Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU)honorary Dental fraternity for academic excellence. Kappa Kappa Chapter Kornberg School of Dentistry. |
EDUCATION
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| American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS) 2007 certification |
For me, it started back in 1984 the year I started Dental school. Of Course acceptance into and graduating from Dental school is a major prerequisite. In addition, receiving honors and high marks is also an important stipulation, with induction into the National Dental Honor Society I like to refer to as (OKU), Omicron Kappa Upsilon. Acceptance into OKU is partly based on academic achievement and a GPA of the top 10% of the graduating class.
The other more important point here is that prior to entering into my final year of residency I spent the better part of the six years prior to this maintaining a high academic level, studying and immersing myself into my education and training. Whenever possible take that extra step and become Board Certified. This is the single most important step to take because it set you apart from the others. It's another process that weeds out the ones who are not capable of achieving this high level of standard
EXPERIENCE
Obtaining experience within my specialty was essential. During my General Practice Residency (GPR) at Charity Hospital and Louisiana State University Dental School I spent most of my training at this hospital and several others which were part of our training. Once I realized that I loved being in the hospital and that environment for helping patients. It was fast paced, third world like, rewarding and exciting, and I immersed myself in it. How many places do you know that runs out of penicillin? Charity Hospital was set up with Wards and was woefully understaffed with nurses, nurses aids, transporters, and ancillary staff just about everywhere. There was no IV team or Lab blood draw team therefore, if a patient needed attention immediately or a "stat" order, we had to take care of that order ourselves. Draw the blood and take it to the lab, push the patient over to radiology for their CXR, start their IV and hang their IV fluids and hook up their antibiotics if that’s what they required. Working with a mentor can help your chances, because they can attest to your skills and hard work.
I volunteered as often as I could by assisting the oral surgery resident while they were on call. While on the general dentistry service, people that required surgery I asked the reception staff to book those patients with me. Consider helping someone publish an article by offering your services to do med-line searches or help the writer of the article.
PERSISTENCE
Realizing it’s a long process that requires constant work to attain and maintain. “Recognizing why it’s an important character to possess and realizing it’s a special attribute in many of us. Dentists are typically driven individuals, and it’s what sets us apart from others in the process of our education and our careers. We tend to work hard to reach a goal and if it’s an uphill battle many of us dig in harder. Working to achieve something that isn’t easy to attain, but certainly worth the effort because we realize it’s important. It’s also easier when you have committed co-workers reaching for a common goal.” In addition, “The connotation of persistence can be a negative one of intimidation, harassment or creating duress. Those are not what we try to achieve and it can be a fine line between those negative connotations and the more positive kinds like: influence, persuade or insist. Persuading or lobbying our legislatures to modify the definition of the scope of practice in dentistry to remove mischievous language that creates uncertainty is one important issue.” Published by NYSDental Association April 2019
An important character trait to have which allows one to achieve any goal that requires years of preparation.
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| The Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Pledge |
PRESENTATION
Having a well organized curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter explaining why Oral surgery is the career you have chosen.
Having good letters of recommendation by fellow Dentists and if you’re desirous of completing an OMFS residency then have an Oral Surgeon write you a recommendation. Most Individuals of professional schools and residencies want to know that you are a team player and that you are reliable and a self-starter. These three attributes are important and hopefully your recommendation points out those qualities, especially if it’s a surgeon you have worked with and that has mentored you.
We all know the old adage, You only get one shot to make a first impression, so make it count!
The Girldoc😉
INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUE
I. Preparation for the Interview
A. Send a curriculum vitae/resume and a cover letter
B. Consider your position as an applicant
1. Evaluate your abilities (education, experience, ability to work with children, computers and familiarity with third party payment, employees . )
2. D.D.S. Questions:
-Why should you do well in this job?
-Why might you fail at this job?
-What about you personally makes you a good employee?
-What will you contribute to this office or institution?
-Have you ever been fired? why?
-What's the worst thing he/she could ask?
3. Your questions - What do you need to know to make a decision?
4. Research the office if possible.
5. Practice:
-Your answers to the dentist's questions
-Asking your questions
-Using a mirror, then practice with a friend as though you have both a very relaxed and a very formal interview
II. Interview Process
A. Phases (General)
1. Introduction - Handshake, smile, eye contact, plan to be the best thing that happens to this person all day
2.Discussion - Background, education, experience,
3. Matching - Discuss your goals in relation to this job
4. Closure - Discuss the follow-up
B. Follow-up
1. Send a thank you letter
2. If you don't get the job, find out why!
III. Types of Interview Situations
A. Directive - short and sweet
B. Non-Directive - you may take the lead, be prepared to philosophize
C. Consider time - is this early a.m.? squeezed in between patients?
D. Who interviews you? - D.D.S? office manager?
IV. Questions you should ask Employer/Partner
A. Salary Vs Production Vs Collections Vs 1099 :
Starting
Frequency of pay? Frequency of raises? Salary/commission or combination? Who does the billing?
B. Benefits
Profit sharing, Retirement and pension, sick leave
Health insurance, Disability insurance, Life insurance, Maipractice insurance
Continuing education - fees and days off Professional dues
Uniform allowance, Travel, Vacation, Board Prep
C. Hours
How much time alloted for each procedure?
D. Patient Care
Services routinely provided (traditional, expanded) Time per patient (recall, new)
Referral policies
Radiographs who takes them? Review facilities and instrumentation’s.
Office philosophy
Emergency time within the schedule
They provide a dental assistant that reviews Medical history, takes vital signs
E. Responsibilities:
Inventory Clean-up Assisting Radiology (tanks) Recall system Personnel
Office management/office staff
Who makes coffee and cleans bathroom?
Who confirms appointments and fills cancellations? Who should work when dentist is out of office?
Does the dentist check all hygiene patients before the patient is discharged? Who formulates treatment plans?
F. Other:
Is there a morning huddle each day before patient cared or regularly schedlued staff meetings?Who can call one?
Will there be a trial period? What is a typical day like?
What are the office policies for firing and resignation? Can you personalize the operatory?
Can you observe the dentist to learn new techniques? Who gets "fill ins" if you are out?
How long have the support staff been there?
V. Do's and Don'ts
A. Appearance
B. Non-Verbal behavior
C. Other:
Don't discuss previous employers
Don't discuss other applicants for the position Don't act like money is the most important factor
Don't linger
Don't pester
VI. Finding the right job - questions you should ask yourself
A. Motivators at work - challenge, achievement, responsibility, interpersonal relations, advancement, job security, personal life
B. Community - size, character, traffic, transportation, schools, religious facilities, cultural activities, housing costs, tax structure, recreation, neighborhoods, growth over past 10 years
C, Lifestyle - Evening patients? 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.? taking work home?, moving around or permanence, balance between work and personal life, family, friends, spouse.
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