1. One of my roles is to answer a lot of questions. As we all know in academics, there is no such thing as a “dumb” question. The worst situation is no question. Student residents who are often in the top 1% of their pre-doctoral DDS/DMD class can have days when they simply do not know what to do. It is not that they cannot perform or understand the necessary procedures in Endodontics, but they have not yet seen in their early careers enough of the Endodontic and/or General Dentistry cases to make an absolute correct judgement or decision. They will often ask me, “Hey could you look at this case…is it OK? What would you do? Should I do something different?” This can be a tough thing to walk into after the two-hour early morning drive and a long work week, but that is why you are here. You are needed. Give them an answer and a “bottom line” ASAP, and then immediately proceed to the second order, third order question to try to make them think. That’s what teachers do. Never just answer the question, always look at the x-ray or notes and expand the student’s thoughts to the next level. Ask the students questions…What would YOU do if given this situation. Flip things around, consider an opposite or alternative condition or treatment to include. Obvious knowledge to the day-to-day practitioner shared to the student, often for the first time, and the “Ah-Ha” moment is what teachers and students strive to achieve.
2. As you progress through your day, many people from multiple departments or pre-doctoral students will stop by and say “Hello” or wonder where they can reach somebody. You greet them and send them on to their correct paths. Phones ring, consults are directed, mundane situations pop up, but we are glad to help. It is what we private practitioners do all day every day. The students watch how we handle these situations without getting “rattled.”
3. Interacting with existing staff and faculty members is always refreshing. We have always “agreed to disagree,” and have tremendous respect for everyone’s opinion or thinking. We don’t see each other enough on a day-to-day basis, but over the years really get to know each other as a long-term professional relationship. It is amazing how we all remember each other. You may not always remember their name, but you know who they are from the janitorial staff or the President of the University. They seem to all pass through the department in one way or another.
4. The mandatory University of Florida continuation courses are to be maintained and are also relayed to my private practice staff to make sure that we meet the same standards of a major state university. We need to be like them. In the private practice setting there may be disagreements or unawareness to a university standard, but at least they are discussed and eventually entered into our office manual. Respect for each other can often be ignored, but my eyes and ears are always open to change and any issues of improvement are passed on for “the common good.”
5. Other ideas and concepts from similar private faculty members who also contribute to the University of Florida are shared. There is no competitive nature between us, we do not try to “outdo each other,” for our collective efforts have evolved to do some sort of common good to help the graduate students and each other. Many tips and thoughts as shared verbal exchanges in the course of teaching have transformed into major “game changers” into our day to day private practices because of unimpeded, objective thinking and scientific thought to improve our patient outcomes and our personal lives.
6. There are days where we as faculty or residents can feel useless…and that is OK. We are all human and could have a really bad day or moment. The science, technical skills and competition in a specialty program can be relentless. Family, spouses, children can often get in the way of an education. The residents need to know that sometimes their treatment outcome(s) may not be as perfect as they anticipated and is (unfortunately) part of the learning process. Suicides, drug/alcohol/family abuse, are obviously not the best choices for a student, but do happen. Extremely high achieving students can feel defeated, often for no reason…real or imagined. It is part of the grueling learning process. Often these students will consult a voluntary, “non-threatening” faculty about personal or professional issues. I can listen and provide comfort in their lives, casework or academics. You will get through this, learn how to work things out, and put things in proper perspective… all in complete confidentiality. An open door/friendly chat is always welcomed or is just a phone call or lunch date away. Those who have gone through an intense academic program know this feeling.
7. Lunch at UF is always fun. We never know where we will eat, but there are numerous places in Gainesville and on campus to go. There are known folklore that Dr. Russin will have his canned “Rockstar” drink for lunch to get him through his 9th to 18th hour day. One can a month. We all have a blast if together as a group, or could it be one on one. Established faculty will often ask our opinion on a specific problem or performance of the residents and staff. An “outside opinion” by part time voluntary faculty many times will provide the key to the puzzle. Historical stories and insights to early Endodontic practice are told to the residents and younger faculty, many of which were not even born yet by the time I started my private practice. Getting to know each other…there is never enough time.
8. Commercial vendors drop off their goods and materials to the residents and faculty to read, discover and practice. There is a tremendous amount of new materials, instruments and literature to explore. Often the process, procedure or instrument is months or years in advance of what eventually ends up (or not) in private practice. This has benefited patients both at UF and also in my private practice.
9. When I went through both Dental School at Ohio State, and my Endodontic Residency at Temple University there were many part time and volunteering faculty on staff. Their insight, leadership, mentorship and friendship were invaluable and a big contribution to my education both in dentistry and life. It is my turn to do the same and the personal rewards and satisfactions are immeasurable. It is immensely rewarding to run into a former student 15+ years later and it feels like just a week went by. We start again, where we left off, and reminisce as best of friends!
10. Everybody says, “Oh my, that round trip drive in one day must be pure hell.” Well, sometimes it is, but 95% of the time it provides some quiet personal time to think, reflect, listen to the car radio, podcasts, or make a few contacts via the amateur radio FM voice repeaters. I have learned about most of the small towns along the way and that part of North Central Florida has become somewhat of a second home. My daughter, Michelle, graduated from UF in 2016 and has since enrolled in Medical School at UCF in Orlando. During her years at UF, we got together for some after school dinners, trips to Walmart or Office Depot, etc. and spent some cherished time together in those formative years for her. I have driven either a Buick, Saturn, Plymouth Acclaim, VW Beetle and Eurovan, a Caddy DeVille, 3 Chevy Volts, and a Honda Accord. Close to 90,000 miles from TPA-GNV-TPA, and never got a speeding ticket! That one day a month has been good for the soul and has helped to keep my life in balance.
