#233- Facio Ergo Sum with Michael Alatsaris
Dental Leaders Podcast
This week’s episode reaches spots other podcasts miss as Payman sits down with dentist-turned-inventor Michael Alatsaris. Michael shares his journey from a dissatisfied clinician and practice owner to a fulfilled product designer and entrepreneur, discussing the highs and lows of the painstaking process of bringing an innovative new toothbrush to market. Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:30 - Choosing dentistry 00:06:40 - Practice purchase 00:16:25 - Challenges of practice ownership 00:22:25 - Exit 00:27:00 - Product design 00:30:50 - Problem-solution 00:38:25 - ErgoProx 00:44:00 -...
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Mind Movers #21 — Dr Alex Eskander
Dental Leaders Podcast
Mind Movers brings things home this week as Rhona has a heart-to-heart with her father, Dr Alex Eskander, a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist. Dr Eskander shares his inspiring journey from Egypt to the UK, his experiences as a junior doctor in the NHS, and his transition to private practice. The conversation delves into important topics such as the importance of egg freezing, increasing rates of fertility issues, the psychological impact of infertility, and the option of adoption. Enjoy! In This Episode 00:01:45 - Backstory 00:05:50 - Journey to the...
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#232- Brimful of Asha with Selvaraj Balaji
Dental Leaders Podcast
Selvaraj Balaji shares his journey from growing up in rural South India to the UK, where he is now a successful implant dentist at the helm of a small group of practices and implant training academy. Selvaraj discusses the challenges of getting started in the UK, the philosophy behind his Academy of Soft and Hard Tissue Augmentation (ASHA) Club UK for advanced implant training and finding a healthy work-life balance. Enjoy! In This Episode 0:02:05: Backstory 00:04:00: Moving to the UK 00:24:00: Surgery to general practice 00:35:22: From VT to implantology 00:41:12:...
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Mind Movers #20 — Jamie Clements
Dental Leaders Podcast
Take a deep breath and tune in as Jamie Clements explores the transformative power of breathwork Jamie shares his journey from the tech industry to breathwork coach and founder of The Breath Space, discussing the scientific and therapeutic aspects of breathwork for improving physical, mental, and emotional well-being. He offers practical advice for integrating breathwork into daily routines and insights into how it could improve focus and reduce stress in dentistry. Enjoy! In This Episode 00:00:05 - Importance and applications of breathwork 00:09:05 -...
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#231- Down Under with Pete Niesiolowski
Dental Leaders Podcast
Pete Niesiolowski provides a glimpse into a dental journey that has taken him from the UK to Australia, and back. Pete discusses life down under, the challenges of transitioning from NHS to private care, and thoughts on the overlap between implant provision and cosmetic dentistry. Enjoy! 01.20 - Backstory 15.20 - NHS to private practice 21.15 - Australia 27.00 - Discovering cosmetic dentistry 29.30 - Practice ownership 31.30 - Implant journey, training and experience 51.15 - Blackbox thinking 01.13.20 - Fantasy dinner party 01.07.30 - Thoughts on the...
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#230- Zak Kara’s Smile Story
Dental Leaders Podcast
Payman Langroudi sits down with Zak Kara, co-founder of Bounemoputh-based Smile Stories, to explore the philosophy and practices behind his success. Zak shares insights into the importance of teamwork, thoughts on patient communication and why some conventional dental words and phrases off limits during patient consultations. Zak also explores patient journeys, creating a practice ambience and his practice-growth philosophy. Enjoy! In This Episode 01.00 - Private dentistry and the patient journey 04.55 - Smile Stories 11.00 - Patient selection 20.00 - Personal and...
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Mind Movers #19 — Emma Marshall
Dental Leaders Podcast
Emma Marshall, the CEO of Movement is Medicine, chats about the profound impact of movement on mental and physical health. Emma shares her journey from facing severe health challenges and exploring various mainstream and alternative therapies to discovering the healing power of movement and dance. She discusses the importance of integrating physical with mental health support and using movement as a vehicle for catharsis and trauma recovery. Emma also touches on the societal pressures and misconceptions around health and advocates for more accessible and...
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#229- The TC-Owner—Laura Horton
Dental Leaders Podcast
Laura Horton relates her journey from dental nurse and TCO to practice owner and growth consultant. Laura gives a clinic-eye view on the invaluable role of TCOs in shaping patient experience within the practice, shares wisdom on team growth and development, and discusses the highs and lows of practice ownership. Enjoy! In This Episode 00.50 - Backstory 07.00 - Nursing, TCO and consultancy 12.00 - Practice workflow insights 17.20 - Practice ownership 29.25 - Professional relationships and career development 35.00 - The TCO role 44.00 - Team training and...
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Mind Movers #18 — Paul Sculfor
Dental Leaders Podcast
Mindset coach, charity founder, model and former boxer Paul Sculfor discusses the challenges of transitioning from the ring to the catwalk and thoughts on self-acceptance, sobriety and the pressure of being in the spotlight. Reflecting candidly on his struggles with addiction, Paul talks reveals how sobriety has transformed his life and relationships, arguing passionately for the need for genuine self-discovery. In this Episode 01.00 - Backstory 11.50 - From boxing to modelling 23.55 - Coping mechanisms 33.20 - The ongoing impact of addiction 44.00 - Sobriety 47.00 - Substances Vs plant...
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#228- Platinum Bond—Sarika Shah
Dental Leaders Podcast
Sarika Shah shares her journey from childhood in Kenya to becoming the principal of a successful Docklands-based practice. She discusses her transition to the UK for education, her decision to pursue dentistry, and the highs and lows of practice growth. Sarika explores the importance of patient care, team management, and overcoming obstacles, with insight into the unique challenges faced by women in dentistry. In This Episode 02.25 - Backstory 08.20 - Discovering dentistry 11.35 - University 18.20 - Professional journey 31.30 - Practice ownership and growth 42.35 -...
info_outlineIn this week’s Mind Movers, Tara Francis recounts a tumultuous year of study at dental school while struggling to live up to her parents' high expectations, followed by the eventual realisation that dentistry wasn’t her calling.
Tara also explores the challenges of delegating and letting go in business, career lows and highs, and the many links between her passion for facial aesthetics and mental health.
In This Episode
01.46 - Leaving dentistry
05.44 - The Middle-Eastern Experience
13.47 - Transitioning to facial aesthetics
18.06 - Aesthetics and mental health
21.37 - Control and letting go
26.11 - Low points
28.43 - Image and aesthetics
32.22 - Finding balance
33.59 - Teaching vs practice
36.08 - When things go wrong
44.45 - Toxicity and resilience
50.48 - Alternate careers
53.41 - The aesthetics industry
57.01 - Introverted entrepreneurs
About Tara Francis
Former dentist Tara Francis is a facial aesthetics practitioner and founder of Enhance by Tara. She is also a London Academy of Aesthetic Medicine (LAAM) trainer.