Sarika Shah - Flourishing E177

DENTOLOGY - The Business of Dentistry

In this episode, hosts Andy and Chris chat with Sarika Shah, a dentist and principal of Platinum Dental Care, discussing her remarkable journey from Kenya to the UK.

Sarika shares insights about her childhood, the influence of her parents, her decision to move to England for education, and her eventual choice to pursue a career in dentistry.

Sarika shares her journey from being an international student to becoming a successful dental practice owner. She discusses the importance of keeping options open during her education, the challenges she faced in securing a dental position, and the significance of mastering clinical skills before venturing into the business side of dentistry.

Sarika emphasises the entrepreneurial spirit within the dental field and the transformation of her practice, Platinum Dental Care, into a thriving business. She also highlights the crucial role of dental care professionals and the need for collaboration within the dental team.

Finally, she shares her personal journey of balancing family life with running a business and talks about the significance of self-care, personal leadership, and the need for mentorship and community support for women in dentistry.

Topics:

- How did your parents set you up for the future given you grew up in Kenya and moved to the UK when you were 16 to finish high school?

- Did you always know you’d be a dentist?

- You qualified from Manchester and then did your VT in Norwich – what was dental school like and why Norwich?

- Did you seek out any business education in the early years?

- Were you always destined to be a principal?

- What more did you need that being an associate couldn’t deliver?

- What did the practice look like when you bought it compared to what you have now?

- Is there a general misunderstanding inside the profession (which impacts on patient understanding) of the value that therapists (and to a lesser extent hygienists) bring the party?

- Since buying your practice you’ve also become a mum, how did this change things for you?

- This year you launched Flourish as a Female – tell us about this?