Introducing PDA ’ s DIVERSITY , EQUITY , INCLUSION Committee
Rohini Bhatia , DMD Dr . Bhatia is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and she completed a prosthodontics program at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center in New York .
What do you consider as your best career accomplishment so far ? I love being a dentist , mom of two boys and wife to my amazing husband , and I attribute much of my success to having amazing mentors in life and in dentistry . My dad was my first mentor and I have loved practicing with him for the past 13 + years . Professionally , I am proud to have completed my Prosthodontics specialty training through the prestigious VA / NYU dental program in New York City . I am also very honored that I was elected as the first Indian-American President of the Academy of Stomatology and to be contributing to the PDA ’ s Diversity and Inclusion Task Force .
Where do you aspire to be in five years ? In five years , I hope I can inspire more friends , patients and youth to consider dentistry as a career . I enjoy connecting with patients and building relationships with their families , as well as keeping up with current trends in dentistry . I have found that creating a comfortable space for patients helps me tailor my skillset as a dentist to deliver high quality care based on the evolving standard of practice as well as each patient ’ s individual needs .
Favorite work-related product ? It ’ s so hard to choose just one product because it is a lot of fun to utilize new technology within dentistry . I love my DSLR camera and use it daily for documentation and observing how patients respond to treatment over time . I also love our intra-oral emerald S Scanner and form labs 3-d Printer because it provides a tangible experience for patients to understand the future impact of dental technology
What advice do you have for dental students and new dentists ? Find mentors , invest in yourself , and join a local study club . Dentistry can be a lonely profession ; however surrounding yourself with other dentists and a supportive team is critical for becoming a successful dentist .
What is the biggest challenge that is facing dentistry as a field , diverse dentists , PA dentists ? New dentists graduate into a very challenging practice environment as they are dealing with a multitude of challenges such as managing student loan debt , practice debt , and organized dentistry . These hurdles are not going away and it ’ s getting tougher to practice as a solo practitioner in the current environment . I ’ m so proud of the diversity and inclusion task force . We need to educate and expand our dentists in PA by offering more webinars , clinical events , and team trainings for all dental professionals in PA .
28 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL