Episode Details

- From Meeting Dentists At The Gym, To Oral Surgery Resident - And This Is How You Do It Too

- The TRUTH About GAP YEARS!

- How To Ace An Interview Starts With Self-Awareness: Pay Attention To Building This Quality Using These Methods

Questions:

00:39 – Why did you choose the specialty that you are in right now?

02:19 – Did you always know you wanted to do oral & maxillofacial surgery, even as a pre-dental student?

04:54 – Would you recommend gap years to students who aren't sure about their career path?

06:06 – Should pre-dental students only do dentistry-related things during a gap year, or should they explore hobbies and travel?

08:18 – Is one of your tips for a great interview to connect with the admissions officer on a personal level?

08:57 – What made you stand out as a pre-dental student and when applying for residency?

12:53 – Do you have advice for people who struggle to create deep connections with others?

15:10 – How are you approaching your DAT and dental school applications?

20:05 – Is PreDent Mentor Map your project, or is it something you just promote?

24:52 – What do you like most about your specialty, and what do you find the most difficult?

31:59 – What is the single best advice you’d give to pre-dental students?

Quotes & Wisdom:

On Choosing a Specialty and Career

"If you're confused, you need to put yourself in that environment to find out."

"An interview is a conversation. You connect with people on commonality, common ground, shared experiences. It's not all just dentistry, dentistry, dentistry."

On Taking a Gap Year

"A gap year is the only year you're gonna have left ‘free’ to do what you want ever again. I wish more people would seize that opportunity."

"Travel. Go see a country. Work as many jobs as you can. Pick up new hobbies. This is your time to explode and explore."

"If you make the most of your gap year, it makes you a more well-rounded person—and that shines through in interviews."

On Standing Out in Applications and Interviews

"People like to say either/or. The answer is actually both. You gotta do it all."

"Your grades and DAT scores are important, but they are not the only thing that matters in your application."

"You don’t want them to just check a box after your interview; you want them to remember you."

"Do those weird things that define you—those unique things make you memorable."

On Navigating Dental School and Residency

"The dental profession is changing, and you have to adapt. The industry isn't what it was 10 years ago."

"If all you have is a hammer, everything becomes a nail. Not every patient needs an implant, but the system sometimes makes it seem that way."

On Career Success and Life Perspective

"When someone tells you it has to be either this or that, remember: You can actually do both."

"Don't bottle yourself into a little box—if you trust yourself, you can take on more than you think."

Final Advice for Pre-Dental Students

"You’re going to feel imposter syndrome at some point, but you are going to be just fine."

"Seize every opportunity, and don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back."

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

- Dose of Dental Podcast #130

My watch in this episode = Citizen Ecozilla

- 3.2025

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