Collaboration is innovation

During the AAE Annual Meeting in Chicago in May, surrounded by a record-setting crowd of the brightest minds in our specialty, I was reminded of the overwhelming dedication and hard work we put in every day to save teeth and improve experiences for our patients. It is that commitment to excellence that drives us to constantly adapt and evolve in our field.

This year’s AAE made it abundantly clear that of all the changes we’ve experienced, one seems here to stay: We thrive when we work together.

In our post-pandemic world, endodontists are hungry for human interaction, flexibility, and time outside of the operatory for what matters most. The rampant burnout in the dental world is finding a foil now that we’re starting to acknowledge there is strength in numbers and great power in working alongside our peers, whether under one roof or virtually with groups that span the country or world.

These realizations will echo in our industry for years to come, as they produce longevity in our careers, increase the quality of our work — and the quality of our lives. Collaboration is the ultimate key to unlocking new possibilities in endodontics.

Mentorship is one of the most important forms of collaboration, and it is critical for the future of our specialty. Whether it’s generational or symptomatic of the world we live in, today’s students and new clinicians crave leadership and coaching and are actively seeking them out. They are embracing the opportunity to grow as professionals, rather than just aiming to produce more than the competition as quickly as possible, as may have once been the case.

As experienced doctors, it is our responsibility to pass on our knowledge and skills to the next generation of specialists. We owe them that care and consideration; it is a valuable opportunity to help ensure that young clinicians are well-trained, confident, and passionate about their work, and to assist them in honing their professional and personal attributes. We can provide guidance and support, helping them to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with starting a career and mold them into better leaders.

And they can help us. The opportunity to mentor is a two-way street; those young minds can be of benefit to even the most seasoned professionals. Doctors fresh out of residency come to the table with a new library of knowledge and experience that might not have been afforded to us because the research was not yet fully developed. That knowledge can be disseminated to doctors who may have been doing things one way for a long time. That is — you can learn as much as you teach, so long as you are humble and open.

So, let’s embrace collaboration as an important form of innovation — just like a new technology or clinical breakthrough — and welcome the opportunity to work with each other and to share our experiences with a younger generation. By working together, we can continue to learn and grow throughout our careers and provide next-level oral health care to those in our communities.