Dr Paul Midha opens up about his experience on BBC One show The Apprentice and what it was like representing dentistry on such a public platform.
Please tell us a bit about you and your journey into dentistry.
My name is Dr Paul Midha. I graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2018. It’s been quite a unique journey for me. Around a year or so after my dental foundation training, I landed an amazing job opportunity in central London. I live in Leeds so it was a tough decision, but I decided to split my time, working half the week in central London and the other half in Leeds.
The commute was challenging at first, but the chance to work at a prestigious dental centre alongside professionals like Dr Sanjay Sethi and Dr Nik Sethi was too good to pass up. This experience motivated me to purchase my first practice, Vici Dental, in Leeds city centre about two and a half years ago.
Now, we’ve expanded to a second practice. Patient experience is my priority, ensuring they feel comfortable and cared for. I’ve also been fortunate to have mentors like Dr Jin Vaghela and Dr Kish Patel who introduced me to lecturing and played a significant role in my career.
Their support even encouraged me to apply for opportunities like The Apprentice. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the smile group for their unwavering support. Their guidance has been invaluable in shaping my career.
Why The Apprentice?
One thing I firmly believe is that if you’re not growing, you’re just standing still. I’ve always challenged myself to step into uncomfortable situations because that’s where personal growth happens. It’s like the QRS T line in an ECG; if you’re not pushing yourself, you’re flatlining.
So, when the opportunity to be on The Apprentice arose, I was determined to seize it. I vividly remember watching the show with my parents the night before my business studies exam when I was just 16, thinking, ‘One day, that’ll be me.’
Now, 13 years later, it’s happening, and it all feels surreal, like life’s just a dream.
How was the experience?
I’ll share my experience so far, focusing on what’s happened so far (just after episode one).
The first task, as seen on TV, felt surprisingly similar in person. Watching it made me more nervous than actually participating. It’s mentally challenging, but in a good way. Nobody knows each other yet, and we’re all trying to find our footing in the process.
There are actually a lot of healthcare professionals in it this year. This diversity and inclusion aspect of The Apprentice makes it stand out, giving us the chance to meet people we wouldn’t typically encounter in our daily lives. It’s been an incredible experience in itself.
How does it feel to be representing dentistry on such a public platform?
I always considered this aspect heavily because, for me, the dental profession is highly respected, probably one of the most respected in the UK. There’s definitely pressure not to portray it in a negative light.
Throughout the process, I was true to myself, but it was always in the back of my mind. I can only hope that I represented the profession well.
What do you hope dental professionals watching can take away from it?
One of the biggest things for me is inspiring those younger, maybe even in dental school, to pursue what they truly desire.
I encourage them not to fear taking risks or leaps of faith. Even if they don’t always succeed, those failures often bring the most growth. Personally, I’ve learned the most from my defeats. For those older than me, I simply hope they enjoy the journey.
You can catch Paul on The Apprentice every Thursday on BBC One at 9pm.
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