An Impactful Trip

So, after being a dentist in town since the Carter Administration/ Late Disco, who knew year #44 would be more stressful than the inaugural in 1976? And seriously, just spinning the number emblematic of the NBA logo is a sobering exercise.

My trip way back to Year One was accessed by a far shorter journey. When I traveled up “The Ten” to Soto Street and arrived at the University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus and the Norman Topping Tower, the time machine was ready to roll.

Yesterday marked my third speaking opportunity with Impact Internships, a forward-thinking program for teens interested in health science and service careers. David Rayudu, the mastermind founder/leader of Impacts used a system otherwise known only to the late-Rod Serling when he chose me to be the voice of dentistry; and I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity.

During the summer sessions, I had the chance to engage two groups of exceptional high school students during their one-week journey through the program at my undergrad alma mater, Cal State, LA. The fall program’s structure called for a commitment of nine consecutive Saturday afternoons at the USC Health Sciences Campus. I knew the young students were in for a head start on life and the chance to approach their future in ways unknown to me twenty years into my dental practice.

And, when you’ve been doing something for 40-years, there’s no shortage of mistakes to share. When my audience didn’t gasp when I shared the big number, I knew I was gonna love them. When I learned multiple Arcadia High students were there along with two of the group attending my high school alma mater, Mark Keppel; it was icing on the cake.

During the last year, our practice has experienced what I’d generously like to describe as growing pains. We’ve expanded our space, equipment, and team. We’ve embarked on a year-long practice development investment challenged by an overload of structure, two knee replacement surgeries, the blessed arrival of a beautiful baby, great new team members, and the kind of growth in two team members that’s admittedly been overwhelming. At times, it’s felt like the time machine was spinning its wheels. For the first time EVER, I wondered if the logo number meant it was time to hang ‘em up.

But then I looked out at those fresh, smiling, interested faces; and, don't know about you, but they can melt my heart. I remembered how simple things were when I could have been one of them…and how clueless I was.

Today, dental school is a $500,000 investment. Starting a private practice, as once I did, runs an additional $500,000. At least the students saw the humor when I shared my ignorance of compound interest, worker’s comp insurance, and payroll taxes back at Day One of my Temple City Career (everything except insurance benefits have inflated 7-8 times since.)

We talked about the changing nature of dentistry, dental service organizations (DSOs), and “Teledentistry.” And yeah, do-it-yourself “Telecolonoscopy” did get a few laughs.

Mostly, we engaged about people; about working together and being committed to remain curious, open, and looking for opportunities to make a difference. I shared my team can make patients feel liked, understood, and safe almost on “Hello.” We discussed stuff like vision, purpose, and values. I shared the connection between oral health and general health and the opportunity to have the complete health training that can add decades to someone’s life because you recognized an airway challenge in a 4-year old. We talked about community. I showed a video.

The big screen wasn't operational and that was good because no one could use it to stream USC vs Oregon later that afternoon and evening.

So, David used his laptop, had all thirty students huddle up at the front of the room, and we played my presentation of the Top Restorative Invisalign case in North America for 2015. I added a little play-by-play as we saw a career Disney administrative assistant transform into a glamorous blues and jazz vocalist performing at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong. There was applause; I was a little choked up.

One of the students asked, “How did it feel to change a life?”

To paraphrase one of my early mentors, Walter Hailey, “The drive home was great…almost didn’t feel the wheels hitting the road.”

Thanks David. And thank you, Rod Serling.