Conventional Womanly Wisdom
Okay, so a few weekends ago I went to a convention. And how would you like to be this close to the Magic Kingdom only to wind up being surrounded by thousands of dentists and tens of thousands of sales reps?
The California Dental Association presented “The Art and Science of Dentistry” in Anaheim on May 14-17 and I just couldn’t help but reflect.
First thing I noticed was my official convention On-Site Guide. It was sealed by a wrap-around ad from the Bank of America. The headline proclaimed, “WE HAVE MONEY TO LEND.” Hmmm.
Then I noticed what should have been first (and would have been first without our uncertain economy and my warped sense of humor;) all the women. When I was a kid-DDS and attended the CDA convention I was way overwhelmed by the wealth of womanly riches in the profession I’d so astutely chosen. Today, my appreciation has more of the depth you’d expect from someone who’s practiced dentistry since Disco.
But early on, for me, going to the convention was like spring break from four years in a boy’s Catholic school. My dental school class of 120 students included all of two women. Today, the men-women ratio goes to 50:50. These days, my perception of all the women in oral health is a little different than spring break (but not totally.) Experience has taught me women make all the difference in dentistry.
Hate to sound arrogant but you just have to respect a profession that gets it. In dentistry, the practice vision comes from the owner and its development and reality comes from team members (code for women.) Women create the culture. And it’s probably no accident that 2/3 of the folks who are smart enough to find a happy dental home are women too. Why not? Don’t women also make about 80% of important family choices?
So I just might be the living, breathing, grunting epitome of the typical surface-polite male. I can read a map so who needs to ask for directions? Show me a picture; I don’t need to read any instructions. Sarcasm used to be a hobby. And I did use the past tense.
I’ve been a total project. My Mom made me a life’s work. My dental family away from home has provided on-the-job training for years and OM Dalila, Dental Assistant Extraordinaire Dani, Singing Dental Assistant Kolleen, and Twin Towers of Hygiene Jen and Peg should all get medals. And I’ve even had formal training in active listening for cryin’ out loud!
So if I’m a functioning adult with perception and organizational skills that succeed on a level at least comparable to Shaq foul shots or former-VP Cheney’s grasp of reality, it’s only because of the women in my life.
I’m surrounded by caring folks who relate to others the way Picasso related to scratch paper. Talk about making a difference in the health care experience.
As I toured the convention floor, one by one, I ran into four of our own sales reps from Patterson and Pearson Dental Supplies, Invisalign, and Care Credit. They each complimented me on my practice but saved special praise for my team. They used words like “warm,” “family,” and “happy.”
A beloved mentor once shared, “We’ve got the best job in the World. All we need to do is show up, empower our team, give some direction when you know you should…and then just stay out of the way.”
And these days I’ll often ask for directions even before panic sets in. I remain a work in progress.
The CDA presented “The Art and Science of Dentistry” last weekend. And women provide about half of the science and almost all of the art. So I’m a male but even I know when to stay out of the way.
