//SUGANTHAN MAHALINGAM - MORE THAN WORDS E127

Podcasts
Written By Michelle Hyde
 

Andy and Chris are joined this week by Dr Suganthan Mahalingam, a general dentist based in the London and Hertfordshire area.

In this episode, Suganthan talks about his work offering both NHS and private services to patients and his passion for writing.

He reflects on his childhood and how he decided on a career in dentistry despite always being more interested in words than numbers and science at school. 

And he goes on to talk about his passion for writing, shares his views on how the recent explosion of AI will influence copywriting going forward and explains more about the writing he loves to do that ranges from marketing messages to poetry and song lyrics!

Topics:

-          Tell us about your childhood

-          How did you decide on a career in dentistry?

-          Explain more about your day to day work in a mixed practice in Hertfordshire

-          What sort of writing interests you?

-          The explosion of AI as a copywriting tool

-          What sort of writing do you do?

-          Within dentistry, is copywriting given the attention it deserves?

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//TOM CHASTON - INSURANCE WITH PERSONALITY E141
//TOM CHASTON - INSURANCE WITH PERSONALITY E141

Our guest this week on Dentology is Tom Chaston, co-founder of AllMedPro, experts in dental indemnity insurance.

In this episode, Tom chats to Chris and Andy about his early career and how he started his own insurance brokerage alongside Adam, his business partner, at the age of 24. He explains about the key challenges faced at the time when starting out in business, reflects on what he would do differently today and discusses some of the highs and lows faced to date.

He goes on to talk about his current work leading AllMedPro, a well-known name within dentistry, the services offered to the profession, and the decision to take on a VC backer in 2021 and what this has since enabled the company to do. Finally, Tom explains what the 3 core policies are that dentists should have as a minimum.

Topics:

- Tell us about your early career

- What have you learnt from your involvement in sport that has helped you in business?

- Starting your own insurance brokerage at 24 years old

- What were the key challenges starting a business?

- What would you do differently today?

- What’s the toughest thing you’ve been through & what impact did it have on your life?

- AllMedPro: what services are offered to the profession?

- Taking on a VC backer in 2021 & what has this enabled you to do?

- Are dentists good at keeping themselves well covered/protected?

- Aside from PI, what are the 3 core policies dentists should have as a minimum?

//MICHAEL ALATSARIS - FIND A MARKET IN THE GAP E140
//MICHAEL ALATSARIS - FIND A MARKET IN THE GAP E140

In this week’s episode of Dentology, Chris and Andy chat to Michael Alatsaris.

Michael is a dentist and founder of Ergoprox, the world’s first toothbrush designed for teeth next to dentures and large gaps.

In this episode, Michael chats about his early career, what drove him to study dentistry and his time spent as a dental practice owner running a private practice for some 9 years before he decided to sell up.

At this point, Michael’s career ‘took off’ in a completely different direction as he became an airline pilot and from there, he also took time to focus on his passion for product design which resulted in the development of the Ergoprox Toothbrush.

Michael talks about Ergoprox, the approach he took to bringing a new product to the market and how the business has grown to date with the toothbrush now generally available in dental practices across the UK.

Topics:

- Tell us about your early career

- What drove you to study dentistry

- Did dental school equip you well for being a dentist?

- Being a practice owner

- Why did you decide to sell your practice?

- Being an airline pilot

- Foscusing on product design

- The launch of Ergoprox

- What is the Ergoprox Toothbrush and what problem does it solve?

- How big is education when designing innovative products like this?

- Is the toothbrush now a generally available product in the UK?

- Would you change anything about your career to date?

//FIONA DWYER - AND NOW FOR THE NEWS E139
//FIONA DWYER - AND NOW FOR THE NEWS E139

In this week’s episode of Dentology, Chris and Andy chat to Fiona Dwyer, journalist and former television reporter and planning producer with over 30 years of experience in the media.

In this episode Fiona talks about her childhood and career to date and shares some of the experiences she’s had working in the media industry for the past 30+ years.

She talks about how her career started, reflects on how the industry has changed over the years and talks about some of the famous stars she has had the opportunity to meet and interview. She also shares some top tips on what makes a good news story!

Finally, she talks about her work within the dental sector, how PR is important for dental practices and how she has been working on The Magic Dentist campaign.

Topics:

- Tell us about your early career

- How did your media career start and what was it like back in those days?

- Who have you interviewed? What were they like?

- Are there general principles from being good journalist that we can all build into our lives?

- Does this require a certain personality type to do this?

- Is it a world of smoke and mirrors to get into the press of are there some top tips for doing this yourself?

- What is newsworthy?

- Is PR for dental practices more important than ever with Google reviews being focused on and the new CQC single assessment framework being very patient-focused?

- Working on The Magic Dentist campaign

- If you can take only one learning from your entrepreneurial journey- what is it?

//RACHEL DERBY - GOING TO THE CHAPEL E138
//RACHEL DERBY - GOING TO THE CHAPEL E138

In this week’s episode of Dentology, Chris and Andy chat to Rachel Derby, co-principal of Chapel Dental Cosmetic and Implant Centre in High Wycombe.

Rachel is also President Elect of the British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD) and a multi award winning dentist with over a decade of experience as a general dentist.

She chats about her experience at Manchester dental school, her early career days working in the NHS for some 7 years and the reasons why, in 2017, she decided to focus purely on private dentistry.

She goes on to talk about her ambition to be a practice owner, her experience being a first-time buyer and reflects on some of the highs and lows of practice ownership so far.

Finally, she chats about her role as the President Elect of the BAPD, what the role entails and what plans she has for her period of presidency.

Topics:

- Tell us about your early years

- Your experience at dental school; was it all that you hoped it would be?

- Working in the NHS for 7 years – did you enjoy this time and did it help hone your skills?

- Why did you decide to focus on purely private in 2017?

- Did you always have an ambition to be a practice owner?

- Your experience as a first-time buyer

- What’s been the easiest and hardest part of practice ownership?

- Did you feel equipped for the non-clinical aspects of running a business?

- BAPD; what are the big plans for your period of presidency?

//SONAYNA CHADRAN - STYLING LIFE E137
//SONAYNA CHADRAN - STYLING LIFE E137

In this latest episode of Dentology, Andy and Chris chat to Sonayna Chandran.

Sonayna is a dentist and lifestyle/body coach.

In this episode she talks about her childhood, her decision to study dentistry, the time spent at dental school and how she was determined to qualify.

Sonayna chats about her early days working as a qualified dentist and how the Covid pandemic provided her with an opportunity to reset and refocus on her own personal development – the key to which has been reaching out and gaining support.

She goes on to share insights on some of the support she received and explains how she now works one clinical day and uses the rest of the time to focus on her online health/lifestyle business.

Finally, she shares several time management strategies, each contributing to her own ability to balance her clinical responsibilities, business, home renovation project and impending motherhood.

Topics:

- Was dentistry always in the stars for you?

- Which dental school did you attend?

- Was dental school tough?

- Do you feel that developing a tenacity and resilience to qualify was a good thing?

- Do you remember your first (unsupervised) patient?

- What was your work pattern like pre-Covid?

- How did Covid provide you with an opportunity to reset?

- What sort of support did you get to help?

- What does your health and lifestyle look like for clients?

- Is this an area that the dental profession naturally lean into?

- Why are we so bad at prioritising our own wellbeing?

- Any time management tips?

//BRAD THORNTON - PERSONAL & BUSINESS GROWTH E136
//BRAD THORNTON - PERSONAL & BUSINESS GROWTH E136

This week Chris and Andy chat with Brad Thornton, Principal of Ivory Dental Practice in Leeds and serial entrepreneur and investor.

Brad is no stranger to the Dentology podcast, having been a guest back in November 2021.

In this latest episode he chats about entrepreneurship and balancing the need to stay at the forefront of clinical dentistry alongside developing broader business skills.

He shares his thoughts and advice on the importance of investing in non-clinical learning for both personal and business development.

And finally, he talks about his recent achievement completing an MBA from the prestigious University College London, how this has supported him as a dental business owner and gives his top tips to anyone planning to buy a practice who may need to develop skills in this area.

Topics:

- How do you define entrepreneurship?

- How do you balance the need to ensure you stay at the forefront of clinical dentistry but also develop broader business skills?

- Does a lack of business competence make owning and running a practice more stressful?

- Why is investment in non-clinical learning important for your personal and business development?

- Your MBA achievement

- How has this supported you in your role as practice owner?

- Any advice for those looking to buy a dental practice who feel they need to develop in this area?

- What are the most important skills for an entrepreneur to have?

//ABHI KRISHNA - IMPERFECTLY PERFECT E135
//ABHI KRISHNA - IMPERFECTLY PERFECT E135

This week Chris and Andy had the pleasure of chatting to Abhi Krishna, CEO of Carestack, the dental Practice Management Software company that has recently entered the UK market.

In this episode, Abhi talks about his childhood and growing up in India, his career and entrepreneurial journey and the stepping stones that led him to where he is now operating in the hi-tech and commercial world of the west.

He tells us more about Carestack, the problem it fixes in the UK dental sector and background to the strong company culture and vision.

He also talks about the new tech such as AI that Carestack is harnessing to allow dentists to run more efficient dental practices, how clients (aka ‘partners’) are helping to develop the business and what he believes the future holds for Carestack.

Topics:

- Tell us about your childhood in India

- Your career journey & the stepping stones that led you to where you are today

- Carestack – what problem does it fix?

- The vision and culture of the business

- How is Carestack harnessing new tech to allow dentists to run more efficient dental practices?

- How do your clients (partners) help develop Carestack?

- What is imperfectly perfect?

- Why are you impatient?

- What one day in your life would you like to re-live?

- What does the future hold for Carestack?

- What does success look like for you?

- One learning from your entrepreneurial journey

//SIMON THACKERAY - SAYING IT AS IT IS E134
//SIMON THACKERAY - SAYING IT AS IT IS E134

This week’s guest is Simon Thackeray, Principal and Clinical Director of Thackeray Dental Care in Mansfield and Secretary of the British Association of Private Dentistry (BAPD).

In this episode Simon chats about his childhood, the reasons why he decided to pursue a career in dentistry and talks about life as a practice owner having been running his own practice for some 27 years now.

Simon talks about why he decided to go fully private back in 2005, reflects on how since then, his practice has expanded and shares some of the learnings from his entrepreneurial journey.

He reflects on some of the key moments in his career where he’s seized opportunities, including his involvement in setting up the BAPD a few years ago.

Finally, he shares his thoughts on the future of dentistry, what things he would like to see change and how he feels social media could play a key role to advance the profession.

Topics:

- Tell us about your childhood and school years

- Was dentistry always a calling for you from a young age?

- Life as a practice owner

- Your decision to go fully private back in 2005

- Your learnings from your entrepreneurial journey

- Any key moments where you took opportunities?

- Your involvement in setting up the BAPD

- What are your thoughts for the future of dentistry?

- What one thing would you like to see change?

- How do you see social media advancing the profession?

//LUCIE SIMIC - OBSESS ABOUT PATIENT LOYALTY E133
//LUCIE SIMIC - OBSESS ABOUT PATIENT LOYALTY E133

This week Andy and Chris welcome Lucie Simic to the Dentology Podcast.

Lucie is a well-known dental business consultant, trainer and speaker and has worked in the dental industry for nearly a decade, helping practices increase their turnover and deliver exceptional customer experience with five-star service.

In this episode she chats about her early career days working in journalism before moving over to work as a practice manager before moving on to undertake consultancy work with practices around the UK supporting them on their own journey.

Lucie shares her thoughts on how the role of a practice manager has changed over the years, how she feels the mood in dentistry is at present and considers the key things she believes practices need to focus on in 2024 to thrive.

Topics:

- Tell us about your childhood and your early career days as a broadcast and newspaper journalist

- What did these industries teach you that’s proved to valuable transferable skills?

- Your first role in dentistry as a Practice Manager

- How has this role since changed?

- How do you gauge the mood in dentistry at present?

- What is the key thing practices need to focus on in 2024 to thrive?

//RITESH AGGARWAL - MENTALLY HEALTHY TOGETHER E132
//RITESH AGGARWAL - MENTALLY HEALTHY TOGETHER E132

Our guest this week is Ritesh (Rick) Aggarwal, Principal dentist of Edge Dental in Sheffield and co-founder of Psynergy Mental Health, a business dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being culture of organisations.

In this episode he looks back on his early years and what his inspiration was for becoming a dentist. He talks about the years he spent studying dentistry in Sheffield and how this time influenced his career path.

He goes on to explain more about his pathway to practice ownership and his ambitions to be a principal, as well as how he has created a positive culture within in his practice and how in part, this has led him to develop Psynergy Mental Health.

Finally, he tells Chris and Andy more about the links between a positive culture and mental health and the ways in which culture can be improved through a data driven approach.

Topics:

- Your early years

- What was your inspiration for becoming a dentist?

- What was it like to study in Sheffield?

- Tell us about your career pathway to practice ownership

- How have you created a positive culture in your practice?

- Development of Psynergy Mental Health

- Is there a link between a positive culture and mental health?

- Can culture be improved through a data driven approach?

 
Michelle Hyde
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