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Diversity and Inclusion in Dentistry w/ Dr. Akshay Thusu image

Diversity and Inclusion in Dentistry w/ Dr. Akshay Thusu

S1 E14 ยท New Dentists on the Block
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49 Plays1 year ago

Akshay Thusu joins the podcast to discuss his experiences in dentistry and his passion for inclusion and diversity. He shares his journey from India to Texas and highlights the importance of the ADA Institute for Diversity and Leadership (IDL) program. Dr. Thusu also talks about his efforts to bring a Texas Leadership Institute to the state and the significance of mentorship in the program. He emphasizes the need for equity in dentistry and the importance of creating a safe space for patients of diverse backgrounds. Dr. Thusu believes that the future of the profession is limitless and encourages new dentists to speak up and make their voices heard.

About The Guest(s):

Dr. Akshay Thusu is a practicing general dentist based in San Antonio, Texas. Originally from Mumbai, India, he moved to the United States at the age of 15 and has been in Texas ever since. Dr. Thusu graduated from UTHSC San Antonio in 2015 and has been actively involved in organized dentistry. He has received fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentists. Dr. Thusu currently serves on the Texas Dental Association's Council on Membership, New dentists and Students, as well as San Antonio's District Dental Society's Diversity Committee. He is also involved in mentorship programs and participates in free dentistry events around the state.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Diversity is the first step, inclusion is the second step, but the ultimate goal is equity.
  2. The Texas Leadership Institute aims to provide mentorship and encourage diverse voices in organized dentistry.
  3. Dentists should strive to create a safe space for patients of diverse backgrounds and be empathetic to their needs.
  4. Speaking up is crucial in effecting change and making a difference in the profession.
  5. The future of dentistry is evolving, and there are endless possibilities for growth and innovation

Connect with Akshay Thusu: @thusu_dds

Connect with New Dentists on the Block: @newdentistsontheblock

Connect with Tanya Sue Maestas: @tsmaestas.dds

Full video on Youtube

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Transcript

Introduction to 'New Dentists on the Block'

00:00:01
Speaker
Welcome to New Dentists on the Block, a podcast featuring new dentists sharing their experiences in the world of dentistry, successes, challenges, and life in between, navigating dentistry together one experience at a time.

Meet Dr. Akshay Thusu

00:00:15
Speaker
On today's episode, we have my friend Dr. Akshay Thusu. Dr. Thusu is originally from Mumbai, India. He moved to San Antonio, Texas at the age of 15 and has been there ever since.
00:00:26
Speaker
Akshay graduated from UTESCA with distinction in dental education, and he has been awarded fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry, the International College of Dentists, and Dr. Thusu currently serves on the Texas Dental Association's Council on Membership, New Dentists, and Students, as well as San Antonio's District Dental Society's Diversity Committee. In 2019, he graduated from the ADA Institute for Diversity and

Mentorship and Community Involvement

00:00:51
Speaker
Leadership.
00:00:51
Speaker
He has served as a board member and membership committee member for SEDS. He serves as a delegate at the international level in AGD and at the state level in the TDA. Akshay mentors students as part of the Great Expectations mentorship program with the San Antonio District Dental Society and the fellow track program by the San Antonio AGD. He loves to get back to the community and participates in free dentistry events around the state, such as Texas Mission to Mercy, Smiles for Hope Clinic, and Dentistry for the Heart.

Inclusion and Diversity in Dentistry

00:01:20
Speaker
Akshay and I had a wonderful time reconnecting at the TAGD Master Track session earlier this year. We both are working towards our AGD Master Ship and the TAGD Master Track program is an excellent program that we highly recommend. In this episode, we take an opportunity to talk about a topic that we are both passionate about, inclusion and diversity. Akshay talks a little bit about his experience with the ADA IDL program
00:01:44
Speaker
talks about his efforts in inclusion and diversity in the state of Texas, and why we both feel that it's very important to be inclusive and diverse as a profession as a whole. Let's get to it.
00:01:57
Speaker
Akshay Toussou, welcome to New Dennis on the Block. How are you doing? I'm doing great. Thanks for having me. I am so excited to be here with you in person. We're in Austin, Texas at the THD Master Track. And we've been doing this for a few years now. It's a couple of years. Yeah. And we're slowly working our way towards our master ship. So really excited to be here. We both presented yesterday or earlier this week and that went pretty well. But actually, how do you feel about being here this weekend?
00:02:26
Speaker
I'm glad I'm out of my clinic. Sometimes it's good to be out in the real world.
00:02:33
Speaker
relishing the time you have with colleagues and friends like you. I think that's one great thing about the Master Track is you have made, we make a lot of colleagues and friends for life.

Educational Journey from India to Texas

00:02:45
Speaker
Absolutely. Texas is a big state, so it's very hard to connect with people in person. So when you come to these big conferences and you get to connect with people from El Paso and from San Antonio, like someone from Dallas and other people, like we have people coming from
00:03:01
Speaker
out of state like Washington, North Carolina, Indiana, and that you just make friends all over the country. Absolutely. So actually, please tell our listeners a little bit about yourself. So I'm a practicing general dentist in San Antonio, Texas. I graduated 2015 from a dental school in San Antonio.
00:03:22
Speaker
Originally, I am from India and I grew up there till the age of 15. And then I moved to San Antonio, Texas, went to high school there, college. You're repping your shirt today? I'm repping my UTSA shirt. You know, you got to show that I'm proud of where I went. Being from Texas, a lot of people are all about a UT, Baylor, A&M, Texas Tech.
00:03:47
Speaker
But sometimes people forget there are other schools in the state that give you just a great education at a much more affordable price. Absolutely. And you end up being a dentist just like them. So yeah, look at that. And yeah, you know, it's a college day, so I have my YouTube shirt on and we have similar colors. But we had a football team before y'all did. I remember when y'all stepped in. Yes, except we just beat them all the time. So like,

ADA Institute for Diversity and Leadership Experience

00:04:08
Speaker
you rather win more or you have a longer program? I'd rather win more.
00:04:14
Speaker
We're not here for that, so we will move on. But actually, and I met a handful of years ago in Chicago at the ADA. 2019? Yep. Or 18? 19. At the ADA IDL program, which is an excellent program. I think that we both highly would recommend anyone who's listening who's interested in the program to check it out and to definitely apply. I think that it was very transformative for me. I'm assuming for yourself as well too.
00:04:40
Speaker
Oh, yeah. I mean, it opened your eyes to a lot of things. Someone who is an immigrant from a different country, you think you would have experienced a lot of things already until you start talking to your colleagues from other parts of the country and you start hearing, wow, the experience, the story might be the same as mine as an immigrant or
00:05:03
Speaker
But their experience is totally different. And sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. But you realize that everyone has their unique path to getting to where they want to. And you learn the power everyone has within themselves to get to where they are. And I think the ideal is a great way to unleash that power within.
00:05:23
Speaker
Absolutely. The IDEL program, like Akshay mentioned, brings different people from across the country together and you get to make friends and hear their story. And during the program, you also get to develop a project that you would like to see and the project can range from, you did an oral cancer walk, correct? I did. Should we probably tell them what IDEL stands for? Yeah, please. I think they're going to help them. So IDEL is
00:05:45
Speaker
a national program started by the American Health Association. It's Institute for Diversity and Leadership. It's a program that started back in 2008. They have had hundreds, almost thousands of people graduate from that program.
00:06:00
Speaker
It is for any dentist, it doesn't have to be an ADA member. So if you are a dentist who is interested in being a leader and being a transformative leader, that's a great program. Both of us have been through it. And I think we can both agree. Yeah, and it's open for everyone. So I know that there's a misconception that it's just for minorities, but it's not. It's for everyone. And it really is great just to see a blend of cultures and backgrounds kind of come together. And I think the biggest thing is when you talk about diversity,
00:06:29
Speaker
Sometimes people just talk about diverse backgrounds and they don't realize you end up doing exclusion by inclusion. And that is something, you know, the ideal does a great job of avoiding to ensure like everyone is part of the conversation, even though.

Texas Leadership Institute Plans

00:06:44
Speaker
It is a people of diverse backgrounds. Everyone needs to be part of the conversation. Absolutely. Yes. Yes. So going back to what I was touching on, you do get to do a project during your time there. And so actually, did they walk? I did an oral cancer screening. And then I was screening my bed. I was going to walk and the screening was part of it. So it was like a dual thing that we do in San Antonio.
00:07:07
Speaker
with the San Antonio Oral Cancer Foundation. Very good, very good. And I had a YouTube channel to educate children on the importance of dental oral health and their workable activities and go check them out. We'll link them in the description if you're interested to see what those activities were. But pivoting over to this day and age, you have taken that vision of what the IDL is and have brought it to Texas. Will you talk just a little bit about that?
00:07:34
Speaker
Yeah, so the IDL program is, like we kind of mentioned, how it is structured. We wanted to ensure that it is also something that can be done at the graduate level. So we have been in talks with the ADA and have great support from them. And we are developing and kind of have almost gotten there. We're developing our very own Texas.
00:07:57
Speaker
version of the IDL is going to be called the Texas Institute, Texas Leadership Institute or the TDA Leadership Institute and you know we got presented at the house and you know everyone that got it was great feedback everyone is on board with it. It's just certain minor changes here and there. One thing we have made sure we do is we want mentorship to be a huge part of it.
00:08:22
Speaker
the idea does a great job. They have the Champions Network that we both are part of where we have quarterly calls and everyone from all around the country is there talking about their experience asking for help suggestions and people are just interacting with each other. This kind of has that
00:08:38
Speaker
built in the mentorship is kind of part of the program in addition to doing a project you have to kind of be willing to mentor the next upcoming class. That's awesome. And I think that will just create a family and it also kind of is similar to the the Greek in undergrad is the same kind of concept like in the big little concept yeah same one and
00:09:02
Speaker
Before you know it, you have generations just getting together and working together. So for, I'm assuming it's for Texans. It is a little bit more geared towards Texas. It is for specifically TDA members. So you do have to be a TDA member. That's the first requirement. The second requirement is for the project. We have every state has a strategic plan. So part of this is the project that is chosen by the
00:09:30
Speaker
attendees has to be part of the strategic plan for the next general association, because in the end it is a member-led organization, which means the members have to have their voices heard. And if there's something the members decide is a project that they think is there for serving our membership, whether it's in advocacy, is it in CE, anything for new dentists, for students, and it falls within the strategic plan.
00:09:58
Speaker
It is highly encouraged because in the end it is a member-led organization.

Challenges and Progress in Diversity

00:10:03
Speaker
I think it's a win-win. You know, I think that those who participate will benefit. They'll be able to share their voices, get some leadership training, get some mentorship, and at the same time the TDA will also be able to grow as well too with these ideas.
00:10:16
Speaker
I think that's the key thing is like there are a lot of voices in dentistry and there are a lot of voices that a lot of people hear. Right. And this is an avenue to encourage those who have that voice and for people to hear those voices.
00:10:30
Speaker
And organized geometry is made a lot of strides in it. It doesn't mean we are where we need to be, but the key is we are heading in the right direction. Perseverance is key in this aspect. I think we all agree with that. When it comes, it's a long game. It's not a race, it's a marathon. And I think we all have recognized that and we know that
00:10:51
Speaker
we have to look at the bigger pictures and kind of sometimes you might take one step back, but after that, you'd be taking three to four steps forward. Absolutely. And I think that if there's anyone out there who has been involved in organized industry before and maybe hasn't felt welcome, we want to make sure that you feel a welcoming place. And so if we can, us specifically, or anyone else that can do anything to help you feel welcome and welcome you back, please reach out to us and we will do our part. When can people apply?
00:11:21
Speaker
So we are still waiting on funding from our sponsors. We want to make sure we get that done first before we actually start asking for applications. So we're just waiting on that right now. We have looked at the structure of the program and everything, the speakers, the topics we'll be talking about.

Empathy and Understanding in Patient Care

00:11:42
Speaker
So all of that is taking care of the locations, the timeline,
00:11:45
Speaker
We have everything in place. It's just once we get that money and the sponsorship and we get a yes from that, before you know it, we will have our first class out there and they will be talking in person with each other and deciding what they want to do for their project and to help their fellow dentists. Exciting. Actually, in your opinion, why is inclusion and diversity important in leadership?
00:12:10
Speaker
So for me, I think both of us will agree. Like everyone talks about inclusion diversity, but I, I come from a different aspect. I come like the goal is actually equity. It's not to diversity is the first step. The second step is inclusion. But I think we all agree that equity is where we want to be. And we both have been trained by Ashley at the 80, uh, the IDL program. And you know, the best way to say it, you know, diversity,
00:12:39
Speaker
is being invited to the dance. Inclusion is being asked to dance, but equity is asking what song you want to get played. And I think that is the key in this field and this profession and in life in general. You know, we all sometimes don't feel like we belong somewhere, whether it is because you never had someone in your family who was a dentist or in the healthcare, maybe you're a first generation graduate, and I know
00:13:06
Speaker
coming from Utah to a lot of first generation. I went to UTSA in San Antonio. It's like a first generation school. So I didn't have anyone and I still don't have anyone in the dental
00:13:17
Speaker
a community, whether here or back in India. So it was totally new to me. And once you find that sense of belonging and after the belonging, you realize that, you know, they do care about my voice. They do care about my opinion. You realize what you can do and you unlock what you have within yourself, the potential. And I think that is the key in that is making sure everyone finds that their participation is equitable.
00:13:47
Speaker
I love that. And I hope that you have also felt welcomed and that your opinions and thoughts have been. I mean, I'm assuming yes, but. Of course. I mean, you will always have moments where you will have a little friction. I have.
00:14:04
Speaker
experience friction where I was in a board meeting and we talked about diversity and inclusion. And someone who was actually at a much higher position in that organization said that I was using a triggering word by saying diversity. And I looked around and I was like, okay, like you asked me for my opinion, I give you my opinion.
00:14:34
Speaker
I didn't mean to trigger you by saying diversity. I apologize for that. But it was a friction in the room. There's a lot of tension. And the unfortunate part of that is that that person is going to be leading an organization and it becomes kind of complicated when people have such opinion that I'm willing to
00:14:56
Speaker
look at themselves or look at the makeup of the changing landscape of a profession that you know we need to be more representative and
00:15:08
Speaker
it hinders growth as an individual, but also as for the organization and for the profession. Because when we are an organized industry, you know, we are not just advocating for people who are members. Yes, it is a member of that organization, but we are also advocating for our colleagues, other dentists, people who are hygienists, our profession, people in the lab tech industry, people who are assistants.
00:15:35
Speaker
We are advocating for our patients. Part of the diversity training isn't just for dentists. It is to ensure that the dentist can actually be relatable, be empathetic to individuals and patients of diverse backgrounds, people from the queer community, you know, how to
00:15:55
Speaker
handle individuals and how to talk to them and reach out to them and actually create a safe zone for people in the queer community. Nowadays, people are more vocal about, for example, the pronouns they want to be using. Last week, I saw a patient and it was the first time someone ever asked him
00:16:23
Speaker
what pronouns they wanted to be.

Evolving Dentistry and Technology

00:16:26
Speaker
And the person, his mom is a patient of mine. And we had a really deep conversation about how he didn't feel safe.
00:16:38
Speaker
in his own home in that not like wasn't being like abused or anything but just didn't feel supported that's a better word didn't feel supported in living the way he is and who he can truly be and it created a little bit more complicated situation
00:17:00
Speaker
because as a dentist, sometimes the parent is financially going to be helping out. So you have to talk about treatment. But then it's hard to talk about treatment when the patient themselves says, well, I don't want you to talk about my pronouns with my parent. So it gets a little bit more complicated. But the key, the story of that, I mean, the end of the story is like,
00:17:21
Speaker
they felt like, okay, I found a place where I know they will respect me. They find a safe space. They see me for who I am. And I think that was the key. And I mean, credit for that, I'll be very honest, goes to my ideal classmate, Dr. Michael Farmer. I think we know Mike. He is a dentist out in North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina. He just finished his presidency of the Charlotte Society. Great guy.
00:17:51
Speaker
Yeah, awesome project that he did. He did a great project and he did a project about a clinic in Uganda. So if y'all are looking at, maybe you can put a link to that. I don't know, like he's doing a project in Uganda and the biggest thing that he having that one-on-one conversation with him.
00:18:06
Speaker
and talking to him made me realize, okay, I need to be there for my patients. Part of being a healthcare profession is you're there for the patient. You're not just there to fix your teeth. We always talk about you're not treating teeth, you're treating people. And that is part of that. And I think that is something I see happening, and I've been fortunate enough in person,
00:18:33
Speaker
doing that in my office where I've had other patients that have said the exact same thing. You're the first person in healthcare who's actually asking my pronouns. Yeah, that's huge. I hope that we have more, I don't want to say forward thinking, but kind of just acceptable and receptive dentists out there just who are kind of welcoming and create that safe space in their office. We know that dentistry can be very invasive
00:19:01
Speaker
it can be very uncomfortable already and I think just to recognize a person when they come in and put them at ease it kind of goes a long way. Akshay where do you see the future of the profession going?
00:19:13
Speaker
Well, I think the people say that sky is the limit. I kind of don't like that phrase because then the limit is the sky. I mean, I would just say there is no limit, to be honest. And I think that is more apt with that. The profession is changing, yes.

Mentorship and Breaking Stereotypes

00:19:28
Speaker
But it is changing for the better. We are able to treat and take care of individuals with a lot of issues.
00:19:36
Speaker
and a multitude of issues and the spectrum of things we can do for them is changing. But here in Master Track, you're learning about how to make things efficiently, digitally, taking them into the new age. And I think that is the key is that it's not a revolution. It's an evolution of the profession. It always evolves. And the evolution of dentistry is headed in the right direction.
00:20:02
Speaker
someone who is from a diverse background. You know, I see people from who I can relate to being in leadership, but also what I see more than that is people inviting people into the profession. And I'll give you an example. Some of my mentors are not of a diverse background.
00:20:26
Speaker
like Dr. Jamie Bone, Dr. Jen Bone in Kerrville, Texas. They're my mentors. They're white. You don't, and they're in the country. People look at them and there's a stereotype. One of my other mentors, Bryce Chandler in San Antonio, he's white. But- Great people though. Great people. And I think people- So welcoming. So welcoming. I've had conversations with them in parking lots about organized industry, about patients, about business of dentistry.
00:20:56
Speaker
And I've learned so much from them. And I think sometimes people think that they see someone from a different background that they may not relate to them. But I think the underlying theme for everyone to remember is we are all dentists. There is a commonality in what we do. We all got in this for a reason. And we all share that reason and that passion.
00:21:21
Speaker
Regardless of who it is, I think there's no reason why someone cannot connect with another individual.

Family Sacrifices and Passion for Dentistry

00:21:30
Speaker
And I think that is the key. Someone opened the door for us. And we hope to continue to do that. It's like paying forward. And that's the goal. Absolutely. Actually, what fuels you as a leader?
00:21:43
Speaker
Well, I don't know. Maybe I don't have anything else to do in life. So that's my sort of elimination. No, for me, honestly, like it's seeing kind of comes from my parents. Now, like I said, I came when I was 15. But one thing is my parents, both of them, my dad and my mom, they literally sacrificed their entire career.
00:22:06
Speaker
My dad had his own company, was working in some of the big companies and all. And he stopped that. My mom was one year, two years away from getting a pension. She was teaching at the master's level at the university in Bombay. And she stopped that. So she could come here because the goal was, both my parents, their goal was that both their kids, my brother and myself, have an older brother. So we would get education.
00:22:31
Speaker
in the US. So they found out it's easier to own in dollars and spend in dollars. They also kind of had to make some life-changing decisions, which they did just for my brother and myself. So one of the reasons what fuels me is to make sure the sacrifices of my parents is worthy and it is not looked over. And I think my parents see that because I'm able to do what I do and I'm able to do what I love.
00:23:01
Speaker
is because of the sacrifices they made to ensure that I could go to school. When I came in high school, I would come home through a hot meal. The house is clean. The laundry is done. All I had to do was study, eat, be a teenager. And when you grow up, you start realizing the sacrifices of your parents even more.
00:23:23
Speaker
My dad and me still, he works 15, 16 hours a day doing market research and talking with people from all over the world, trying to finish his projects just so that we could live in a better school district. The mortgage was expensive, but he wanted me to live closer to home.
00:23:43
Speaker
sorry, closer to school so my travel wasn't there. When I went to undergrad, he made sure I stayed at home and the food was there and they would pack my lunches and everything so I could go to school.
00:23:56
Speaker
just focus on studying, come back. Same thing in dental school. They did that for me. So I could go to dental school, do whatever, go and come back. I didn't have to worry about money. I didn't have to worry about paying for anything. And you know, that's where my passion and my fuel is, is to ensure that there are sacrifices was worth it. And I am able to do what I'm truly passionate about. And I'm able to
00:24:21
Speaker
kind of paved the way if I can for others to follow. Our profession is changing and I hope like more younger individuals out there feel like they are welcomed and you know they get more involved.

Connection and Support in Dentistry

00:24:36
Speaker
Well, I always love hearing your story and I know how much you care about your family. I think that, you know, you and I are very much the products of the efforts of our families and we are both very grateful for that. I think that if I may say that I think another reason that you and I are very passionate and another reason, another thing that fuels us as leaders is the opportunity to connect with other like-minded and unlike-minded leaders who really want to see the profession grow,
00:25:05
Speaker
In the aspects of organized dentistry, but I think just like in the aspects of the profession in general We want to make sure that people have that face safe space in dentistry And that we be outlets for them even when they're going through a rough time. I know that you've been there for me during like tough time like actually helped me and You know, we've talked a little bit about we've had a one or two conversations I would say
00:25:29
Speaker
For sure. Yeah, I think that just like supporting each other, building that connection and support network in dentistry may be another reason that we are fueled. Yeah, I think we are fueled with that too. And I think the other key I would say is like, you know, you farm a camaraderie and you farm
00:25:46
Speaker
love for your friends and then it comes down to like you end up doing what you love right and doing things for what you love yeah like that will fuel you and I think that's what comes down to we both love the profession but we also love the people in that's right yeah yeah I think that also I feel like we enjoy or at least for me I enjoy doing the work that with the organizations that I'm involved in and
00:26:10
Speaker
But what I enjoy the most is coming to the meetings and reconnecting with the familiar faces, especially since we can't see each other on a regular basis. So that's something that I always look forward to, is coming to any meeting, wherever it may be, and just seeing everyone from across the state, and if it's a national meeting, people from across the nation. And meeting new people, too. And you realize, like, hey, there's another Tanya somewhere else over there. You need to connect.
00:26:34
Speaker
Yes, making those connections, I think, is huge. Akshay, is there anything else you'd like to share with our listeners today? I don't know. Is there anything that should I share? So many things. I don't know if you have enough time, but I think the key, I would say, I don't think we both agree on this, is speak up.

Encouragement for New Dentists

00:26:52
Speaker
I think that is the key, especially the new Dennis on the Block podcast, is speak up.
00:26:58
Speaker
you wouldn't, you will never realize the power of your voice. Absolutely. And I think that is the key is, you know, there will be people who will not agree with you and that's okay. Like I said, I was in a boardroom. I wasn't, they didn't agree with me and that's okay. You know, there are individuals in any place you go, no one is going to have the same thoughts and the same outlook, but it shouldn't stop you from speaking up.
00:27:26
Speaker
Obviously, be respectful, but speak up because before you may not realize it, but there's someone else in the room who may have the same thought and would want to work with you to accomplish the same objective.

Final Thoughts on Leadership

00:27:41
Speaker
And before you know it, three years, four years down the line,
00:27:45
Speaker
you have accomplished what you needed to and you move on to your next project and your next task and that's key in your growth as an individual, your growth as a dentist and your growth as a team member when you go back to your office like
00:28:02
Speaker
Encourage your team members to speak. I never say the word staff because to me staff is an infection So I always use the term team because in the end I agree with that being part of organized industry we are a team and that's what it comes down to and so, you know
00:28:24
Speaker
from that team whether it is back where you're practicing dentistry outside whether it is in your religious field or you know whatever passion you have cycling you know find that team that will push you to be the best version of yourself very well said actually if our listeners would like to connect with you or if they have questions about the texas leadership institute how can they find you
00:28:50
Speaker
So you can find me in San Antonio. But if you're not in San Antonio, you can reach out to me. I have an Instagram. I don't post much. But I do check it. It's tussou underscore DDS. Please reach out. Even if you're not in Texas and you have questions about the IDL program,
00:29:10
Speaker
anything to do with organized dentistry. Even if it's not dentistry, I think there are a lot of other things I like. I like K-pop. So one of the things we did during this track is I presented on K-pop. So, you know, that's the best part of presenting is I always like to put random things in my presentation that has nothing to do with dentistry. So there's other things you want to connect with, you know, please reach out.
00:29:33
Speaker
Is there anything I can do? Someone helped me. The least I can do is pay it forward and help someone else. So reach out to us, both of us that are accessible. Yeah, please do. And we can help you get to your goal. Actually, thank you so much for your time. It's always an honor and pleasure to see you in person, but also to chat with you. And thank you everyone for listening. Take care.
00:29:57
Speaker
Thank you for tuning into this episode of New Dentists on the Block. If you would like to connect with Akshay, you can find him on Instagram, Fusu underscore DDS. If you would like to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram at tsmayestas.dds. You can connect with podcasts on Instagram at New Dentists on the Block. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on YouTube and on all major podcast platforms.
00:30:20
Speaker
would love if you would leave a review for the podcast. If you have a new dentist or are a new dentist and you'd like to be on the podcast, be sure to send an Instagram message to at newdennis on the blog. We'll catch you next time.