Chairside: Conversations about careers in dentistry: Recent Episodes
British Dental Association
Brought to you by the BDA, this podcast series explores the unlimited, unexpected and maybe even unknown opportunities that qualifying as a dentist open up to you. Join our host, Andrea Ogden GDP, as she chats to dental professionals from across the UK who discuss the paths they took that changed the course of their careers. Over six episodes we cover the topics that so many young dentists and undergraduates told us you wanted. We discuss everything from specialty training, starting a business, mixing up your career with non-clinical roles to undertaking FD/VT training, working with kids, the CDS and within prisons and even leaving UK clinical dentistry entirely. These are frank, honest and inspiring conversations that reveal just how much flexibility, opportunity and variety there is within the world of dentistry.
What if the job you studied so hard for no longer feels right? How easy is it to leave, and what opportunities are there for a dentist who doesn’t want to practise dentistry - or dentistry in this country?
One guest shares their reasons for leaving their clinical day job and how that change felt, and the other explains why they moved abroad and the obstacles to overcome.
Join us for an insightful conversation about this complex and at times, emotional situation.
Guests
Rachel Hart
Anam Raza
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead
https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden
Helpful resources:
Working abroad (bda.org)
Feeling disengaged as a dental associate? Tips to get your career back on track (bda.org)
Careers advice | National Careers Service
BDJ Jobs
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.
Have you thought about treating children? Or perhaps you’re pondering the prison service. Or working in the CDS? As undergraduates we learn the basics, but is it enough?
You probably already know that the community dental services perform more sedations and potentially more extractions than GDPs, but what else do you know about it? Without the experience of the more niche branches of dentistry, it’s hard to know if they’re for you.
We’re chairside with two dentists who open up about their careers, sharing the breadth of skills they gained and the challenges they met.
Join us today as we discuss this unique part of our profession.
Guests
Jinesh Thakrar, ex-prison dentist and current CDS dentist
David Drysdale, paediatric specialty registrar at GOSH and former CDS dentist.
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead
https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden/
Helpful resources:
Other career options (bda.org)
Community dentistry (bda.org)
Prison dentistry (bda.org)
Career Guide (bda.org)
BDJ Jobs
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.
We’re chairside with three dentists who have completed foundation training and have had vastly different experiences.
Learn about the course options available, and how they differ. Does a year-long course or a longitudinal option have an impact on the amount of support received? Does location really matter?
Join us for an honest and open discussion on Dental Foundation Training and Vocational Training in urban cities and rural highlands.
Guests
Afreen Rahman BDS 2019, Associate
https://www.instagram.com/drafreenrahman
Lucy Alderson BDS 2019, Longitudinal Foundation Scheme trainee
Meaghan Shankland BDS 2018, Dental Core trainee
https://www.instagram.com/meaghanshanklandd
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead
https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden
Helpful resources
After graduation (bda.org)
Getting your first job guide (bda.org)
Dental Foundation Training (bda.org)
Dental Vocational Training (bda.org)
Dental Core Training (bda.org)
Postgraduate qualifications – MJDF/MFDS (bda.org)
Transition from student to foundation dentist (bda.org)
BDJ Student (nature.com)
Postgraduate Training - COPDEND
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.
Fancy a portfolio career? What does it take to get the balance right? We ask three dentists who have each taken their passion for dentistry and developed an outlet outside of their clinical roles. From charitable work to dental education to committee involvement, we’re asking how these opportunities come about and how to manage having multiple work commitments.
Join us for an insightful conversation about what it’s like to mix it up with a portfolio career.
Guests
Ian Wilson BDS 1987, Co-founder of Bridge2Aid
Sumair Khan BDS 1996, Oxford Scheme Foundation Training Programme Director
Hannah Woolnough BDS 2006, Chair of Suffolk’s Local Dental Committee and Chair of the BDA’s English Council.
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead
https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden/
Helpful resources
Portfolio career (bda.org)
Volunteering abroad (bda.org)
DFT Educational Supervisor (bda.org)
Working abroad (bda.org)
Blog Home (bda.org)
Career Guide (bda.org)
Local Dental Committees (bda.org)
Helping domestic abuse survivors (bda.org)
BDJ Jobs
Bridge2Aid
Dental Volunteer Work: Giving Back to Patients in Need (colgatetalks.com)
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.
We chat with three dentists who run their own business and ask when is the right time to take the leap? What are the right motivations? What were the obstacles they encountered and ultimately, is it worth it?
Our guests have all taken risks to own their businesses including taking over an independent practice, building a ten-site empire and creating a digital start-up.
Join us for a frank and open conversation about entrepreneurship as a career choice in dentistry.
Guests
Lauren Harrhy, Practice Owner of Sparkle Dental Centre
Jin Vaghela, Clinical Director of Smile Clinic Group
Hannah Burrow, Creator of Kiroku
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead
https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden/
Helpful resources
Business continuity planning (bda.org)
Business names and brands (bda.org)
Business planning and managing change (bda.org)
Buying a dental practice (bda.org)
Webinars (bda.org)
24-7 counselling and emotional support (bda.org)
BDJ Jobs
BDJ Marketplace
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.
We’re chairside with two specialty trainees. We’re asking if there’s a better time to do it? How difficult is it to apply? How competitive is it? And can you take on other challenges at the same time? We cover academic research, starting a family and what do you really need to know before you take the leap into specialty training.
Join us for a frank and open conversation about this much desired pathway in dentistry.
Guests
Khadeeja Sayeed BDS, Manchester 2015
Payal Sharma-Birch BDS, London 2008 https://diamonddentalgroup.uk/
Host
Andrea Ogden, Undergraduate and Career Development Lead https://www.instagram.com/drandreaogden/
BDA members can access the following guides:
Specialty training guide
Maternity and adoption advice
Paternity leave
24-7 counselling and emotional support
Other helpful resources:
BDJ Jobs
British Orthodontic Society
Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors (COPDEND)
About the BDA
We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We have been protecting dentists since 1880. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.