Page 19 - GP fall 2023

Leading by Example

Author: Amrita Rohit Patel, DDS, FPFA, FICD
(reprinted from AGD Impact, July 2023)

When I reflect upon my journey in this ed in several community-based oral cancer me. There is a definite shortage of instruc-
profession over the last decade, the most screening events and am gratified to see tors and faculty members at predoctoral
fulfilling moments are always the ones that that many of them occur in conjunction programs and residency training facilities
I have spent giving back. Being able to with health fairs, where attendance is al- in most states. Many of these appointments
serve others is undoubtedly one of the best ready high. Many of the people I saw had are on a volunteer basis and will allow
abilities we have as dentists. The trait that never seen a dentist, and I am confident you to teach for just an afternoon a week
unites us all is that we prioritize paying our that the suspicious lesions we noted and re- in the clinic. If I had to choose an activity
good fortunes forward and using our skills ferred for examination and treatment would in dentistry that I enjoy the most outside of
to help others in as many ways as possible. otherwise never have been caught. clinical practice, teaching would be it. As
There are a multitude of ways to give back. technology and methods change, reviewing
Some involve helping those in need, and I had my first experience with a Mission of basic principles and the reasons why our
some involve helping the next generation Mercy event in Colorado in 2019, where I dental systems work the way they do is the
of dentists. saw a large school auditorium transformed best part of my week. As I do this, I find
into a comprehensive dental treatment fa- myself remembering lessons from my den-
Volunteer Service cility. So many patients needed care that the tal school days (including an instructor who
Dental care can be costly. As a result, many lines often began in the early morning and always told us that we make — not take —
people in our communities do not make stretched around the building. The days we impressions on patients). Integrating those
oral health a priority. Dental insurance is a worked were long, and I lost count of the lessons into the way I teach patient care has
benefit that has been offered to employees number of people we treated, but it remains enabled me to provide the best educational
in larger corporations, but it has remained to this day one of the best experiences of experiences for my students — and the best
largely unchanged in terms of annual max- my dental career. There are several such care for their patients.
imums and types of covered procedures programs around the country. National
since its inception in the 1970s. Even today, Children’s Dental Health Month occurs in Your skills and your experiences can help
a single complex procedure can cause a pa- February and corresponds with Give Kids a a person live a longer and healthier life.
tient to use all their benefits for an entire Smile programs in most states. Even third- There are so many opportunities to give
calendar year, thus making even preventive and fourth-year dental students can help back, and some could be right in your com-
visits unaffordable. As a newer graduate, provide screenings and preventive visits in munity. Dental schools, charitable drives,
I have seen the impact that this can have coordination with local dentists and facul- national campaigns and hospitals — these
personally, professionally and emotionally. ty members. Many of the children I see at are all places where your time is well spent.
Opportunities to give care without stagger- such events are at high risk for caries and It is my hope that the next generation of
ing costs often fill a gap in the healthcare have no dental homes. The treatments and dentists continues to see the good in caring
system and help people who might not have interventions they receive are the first step for others in this way.
received care otherwise. toward setting them up for success in their Leadership
journeys of lifelong oral health. If any of
I have taken part in volunteer and mis- these programs are something that you are Amrita Rohit Patel,
DDS, FPFA, FICD, is
sion-based work both in the United States interested in, a great place to start is your in private practice with
and across the world. The first lesson I local dental school or community health her father, endodontist
learned was that charity does not have to clinic. Rohit Z. Patel, DDS, PC,
exist on a large or grand scale to make a in Westchester County,
difference. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Volunteer Teaching New York. To comment
Month, and the oral cancer walks that I As an educator, I can confidently say that on this article, email
did as a dental student through the streets the interactions I have had with students impact@agd.org.
of Harlem, with survivors and fundraisers are some of the more impactful ones I can
to navigate, especially for a newcomer like Leading by Example
walking with us, were my first exposure to remember. Academia can be a tough world
this. I have since attended and participat-
By Amrita Rohit Patel, DDS, FPFA, FICD

hen I reflect upon my journey in this profession over the last career. There are several such programs around the country.
Wdecade, the most fulfilling moments are always the ones that National Children’s Dental Health Month occurs in February and
I have spent giving back. Being able to serve others is undoubtedly corresponds with Give Kids a Smile programs in most states. Even
one of the best abilities we have as dentists. The trait that unites third- and fourth-year dental students can help provide screenings
us all is that we prioritize paying our good fortunes forward and and preventive visits in coordination with local dentists and faculty
using our skills to help others in as many ways as possible. There members. Many of the children I see at such events are at high
are a multitude of ways to give back. Some involve helping those in risk for caries and have no dental homes. The treatments and
need, and some involve helping the next generation of dentists. interventions they receive are the first step toward setting them up
www.nysagd.org l Fall 2023 l GP 19
for success in their journeys of lifelong oral health. If any of these
Volunteer Service programs are something that you are interested in, a great place to
Dental care can be costly. As a result, many people in our com- start is your local dental school or community health clinic.
munities do not make oral health a priority. Dental insurance is a
benefit that has been offered to employees in larger corporations, Volunteer Teaching
but it has remained largely unchanged in terms of annual maxi- As an educator, I can confidently say that the interactions I have
mums and types of covered procedures since its inception in the had with students are some of the more impactful ones I can
1970s. Even today, a single complex procedure can cause a patient remember. Academia can be a tough world to navigate, especially
to use all their benefits for an entire calendar year, thus making for a newcomer like me. There is a definite shortage of instructors
even preventive visits unaffordable. As a newer graduate, I have and faculty members at predoctoral programs and residency train-
seen the impact that this can have personally, professionally and ing facilities in most states. Many of these appointments are on a
emotionally. Opportunities to give care without staggering costs volunteer basis and will allow you to teach for just an afternoon a
often fill a gap in the healthcare system and help people who might week in the clinic. If I had to choose an activity in dentistry that I
not have received care otherwise. enjoy the most outside of clinical practice, teaching would be it.
I have taken part in volunteer and mission-based work both in As technology and methods change, reviewing basic principles
the United States and across the world. The first lesson I learned and the reasons why our dental systems work the way they do is
was that charity does not have to exist on a large or grand scale to the best part of my week. As I do this, I find myself remembering
make a difference. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and the lessons from my dental school days (including an instructor
oral cancer walks that I did as a dental student through the streets who always told us that we make — not take — impressions on
of Harlem, with survivors and fundraisers walking with us, were patients). Integrating those lessons into the way I teach patient care
my first exposure to this. I have since attended and participated has enabled me to provide the best educational experiences for my
in several community-based oral cancer screening events and am students — and the best care for their patients.
gratified to see that many of them occur in conjunction with health Your skills and your experiences can help a person live a longer
fairs, where attendance is already high. Many of the people I saw and healthier life. There are so many opportunities to give back,
had never seen a dentist, and I am confident that the suspicious and some could be right in your community. Dental schools,
lesions we noted and referred for examination and treatment charitable drives, national campaigns and hospitals — these are
would otherwise never have been caught. all places where your time is well spent. It is my hope that the
I had my first experience with a Mission of Mercy event next generation of dentists continues to see the good in caring for
in Colorado in 2019, where I saw a large school auditorium others in this way. )
transformed into a comprehensive dental treatment facility. So
many patients needed care that the lines often began in the early
morning and stretched around the building. The days we worked Amrita Rohit Patel, DDS, FPFA, FICD, is in private practice with her father, endodontist
were long, and I lost count of the number of people we treated, Rohit Z. Patel, DDS, PC, in Westchester County, New York. To comment on this article,
but it remains to this day one of the best experiences of my dental email impact@agd.org.

agd.org/impact 7