Turn your dreams into reality

Editor’s intro: MedMark Media’s Publisher Lisa Moler shows how Shaquille O’Neal’s philosophy for reaching out and helping people can translate to the path to fulfillment for an endodontic practice. 

Recently, I had the exciting experience of interviewing Shaquille O’Neal for our publications. Shaq’s sleep (and health) have been impacted over the years by his sleep apnea, and our discussion primarily focused on his journey to finding a solution. Fortunately, we also had time to delve into his philosophy of life, his path to fulfillment, and future goals. Two of his basic tenets of life resonated with me, so much so that I wanted to share them with you in this issue’s message.

First, Shaq noted that one of his favorite quotes is from Dwight D. Eisenhower, a former U.S. president and five-star general: “The greatest leaders are the ones smart enough to hire people smarter than them.” How true. While you bring the clinical knowledge to the practice, surrounding yourself with the best and the brightest opens up your world to ideas, insights, and talents beyond your own in other important areas. Thankfully, we have done that with the team at MedMark Media, and recommend that our readers should also take advantage of all of the experienced people who can expand your practice’s management, clerical, social media, and even clinical options in this very competitive specialty.

Second, Shaq developed his life’s mission from another concept that he learned from his mother. He had given her some material gifts, to which she responded, “‘I don’t want these, Baby; I love you very much. What have you done to brighten up someone else’s day?” This reinforced what we try to practice every day. We know that taking care of business is our daily focus, but we also need to focus on taking care of others — and what better way than changing lives through our life’s calling! For me, it is improving dentists’ and patients’ health through bringing to light the important concepts and breakthroughs of our profession through our authors and advisors. You can expand patient care possibilities through CEs, our articles, webinars, DocTalk Dental videos, or any of the many educational options available in this quickly changing dental industry. While you’re at it, let your patients know how your practice is capable of changing or improving their lives! Use your social media, smartphones, and websites to spread the word.

We’d like to spread the word about a few articles in our Fall issue of Endodontic Practice US. Dr. Casper Jonker’s article on negotiation of an S-shaped canal with an EDM-machined instrument addresses the challenges that the management of curved canals bring even for the most seasoned clinician. Drs. Jorge Vieyra and Fabian Acosta illustrate their technique for treating a tooth infected with dens invaginatus and apical periodontitis. After reading these articles, subscribers who pass the quizzes can obtain 4 CE credits! A comparative study by Drs. García, Alfie, Rodrqíuez, and Goldberg compared the time required by three different endodontic file systems with three different types of kinematics to penetrate the gutta percha until reaching the apical limit. And, our Practice Profile shines a spotlight on a band of four Young brothers who are realizing their dream of partnership in practice.

While my interview with Shaq mainly focused on his nighttime sleep, we ended up discussing how to make every day count — a topic which always is our goal for all of you and your teams.

To your best success!

Lisa Moler

Founder/Publisher

MedMark Media

Shaquille O’Neal ‘s philosophy on helping others is a great way to connect with your patients. Read Dr. Joel Small’s article “Practice integrity, part II: selling the experience” to see the importance of seeing your practice through the patients’ eyes