Category Archives: Mentoring

The lingering paradox of Asian American dentists: Reflections on my AAPI heritage

When supermarket aisles were first taped and marked with unidirectional arrows to avoid crowd-crossing during the COVID-19 pandemic, I turned into an aisle without taking notice. An elderly woman bursted in my face: “You went the wrong way; I don’t know if you are sick!” Caught unexpectedly, I was shocked and angry and then realized that my Asian… Read More »

Finding your perfect match as an associate

There is no better feeling or accomplishment than finishing dental school. We all work tirelessly for hours a day just so we can make it to “the good side” or the days of working as a “real” dentist. But is working as a “real” dentist truly “the good side” when you land yourself a horrible associateship? When I… Read More »

Propelling membership to leadership: an interview in honor of Women’s History Month

In this post, Cathy Hung, D.D.S., interviews Renee Arace, D.M.D., in honor of Women’s History Month. Dr. Arace is the current president-elect of the New Jersey Dental Association. She is an owner of a successful general and cosmetic dental practice in West Orange and formally Verona, New Jersey. Dr. Arace is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University College… Read More »

What Black History Month means to me

February is Black History Month. During this time, the U.S. honors the contributions and struggles of African Americans throughout history. In recognition of Black History Month, Ms. Adediran participated in a Q&A for the New Dentist blog. Below are her responses. Q: Why do you want to become a dentist? A: As a first-generation college student from a… Read More »

Organized dentistry: What’s in it for me?

If you’re a new grad, you’ve definitely asked yourself this question about organized dentistry. “What’s in it for me?” If no one has said this to you before, I see you and acknowledge the challenges that you face as a new doctor. It’s a balancing act. You’re working long hours, gaining speed and proficiency, learning how to communicate… Read More »

‘Get out there and live’: Lessons from dental school and early career

Time, our most valuable commodity — along with our good health, of course. It’s hard to believe how many years have passed since my last first day of school: the day I started my fourth year of dental school. My D3 and D4 years seemed like they would never end, and I distinctly remember doing my clinic orientation as a… Read More »