Riaz Sharif describes how his upbringing in foster care and studying abroad helped to make him a better and more confident dentist.
I learnt to believe the most rewarding trails are the ones we make for ourselves, the ones that provide us with growth and personal development. Those are ones we can leave behind for others to follow and inspire. Personal development is an ongoing journey of self-improvement and self-discovery; it’s the lifelong pursuit of becoming the best version of oneself. After all, what could be more important than that?
My journey was like everyone else’s I knew growing up and I aspired to enter the world of dentistry, never predicting dentistry as one of my life long career options.
I grew up in east London in Hackney and was immediately placed into a several foster care homes. I remember being that young little boy with an extremely disruptive childhood and entering my teenage years, it only continued. Without having boundaries and expectations as a child or even a functional stable home, this could only lead to wrong decisions and negative consequences. Also having a non-educational background, academic success was definitely not on my list of achievements or desires.
‘One particular foster father stood out from my childhood, and continued to guide and influence me way into my teenage years. His name was David and his interest in the medical field began to rub off on me. He would regularly encourage me to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry, which felt like a huge long shot.’
I remember being introduced to a boxing coach in my early teenage years who encouraged and introduced me to the world of boxing. Before long, I was fighting competitively at the junior amateur boxing association fights at the famous Bethnal Green’s York Hall and collectivity accumulated a successful large amateur fight record. Fitness and boxing for me got me through some huge struggles as a young boy and allowed me to leave life’s worries behind.
One particular foster father stood out from my childhood, and continued to guide and influence me way into my teenage years. His name was David and his interest in the medical field began to rub off on me. He would regularly encourage me to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry, which felt like a huge long shot.
Regardless of all my struggles growing up, I eventually managed to gain a place on a course on the biomedical material science course at Birmingham University in hope to later gain postgraduate entry into dentistry. David attended my gradation at Birmingham University in 2012 but unfortunately never saw me gain the degree in dentistry as he passed away from cancer in 2017. He was my best friend, a lovely man, and I was lucky to have him in my life.
‘Life changing’ experience
Studying dentistry abroad was definitely not on the list of chapters I had in mind but hey, I went with it. Postgraduate entry seemed to be a slim option for me in the UK but fortunately I had a friend who was studying in Budapest for the six year dental medicine degree. I managed to pack up my bags and pluck the courage to move abroad to Budapest in Hungary.
As daunting as it was, I can only say I hated the first months to a year there. The struggle was unreal, the language barrier, the intensity of the examinations, the frequency of the exams to progress semester by semester though the years of dentistry was nothing but brutal. However, it was life changing at the same time.
Vivid memories of studying endless hours for a mid-term or a final examination to only turn up and be told to repeat the exam the following year because I couldn’t remember the Latin terminology for a group of muscles located in the most awkward depths of the leg.
The anatomy final in my third year of dentistry definitely had me in sleep deprived tears – not only because of the preserved formaldehyde bodies perfectly laid out for students to be examine but also since every examination in dentistry abroad was conducted in a speaking format with what seemed to be an intimidating group of doctors and dentists. Learning Hungarian to be able to work in the hospitals was a must, so overcoming the language barrier had to be done.
Comfort zones
I funded my way through university by training local people and students in gyms in Budapest. Towards the end of my degree, the hope to finally become a dentist was shattered. My marriage broke down, my foster father David died and I failed to complete the final examination. The committee at the faculty of dentistry chose to dismiss me before my last exam in 2017.
I wasn’t in a good place at all and chose to head back to London. I managed to collectively take the credits I had completed in Budapest and have them transferred to a university in Slovakia with the addition of four years to complete the dental degree. I’m not sure by now how many people would have just quit or chosen another path in life but for some reason, I wanted to prove to myself that I’d complete what I started.
In 2021, I gained the degree in dental medicine. I continued my first mentoring placement in the UK at Mydentist in Poole where I currently work as a private dentist. I hit the ground running! This last year’s involved an interest in a range of courses, having not long ago completed my postgraduate diploma in aesthetic and restorative dentistry.
Studying abroad most definitely allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone as opposed to studying in the UK. The accumulated experiences are not only reflected in my current dental work but also my growth as a young dentist. If I had the option to select my path of studying abroad again or the UK, without a doubt it would be overseas.
Have the confidence
The story only highlights the events that happened over the last 10 years or more. But each chapter and downfall only shaped and moulded me as a strong-minded individual, and reflects my current work ethic as a dentist and what I have to offer both now and in the future.
I do believe there is a strong stigma with young dentists having enough confidence to brand themselves as self-employed individuals in whatever cooperation or private practice they work at. I chose to take on the mindset of an associate dentist a few years into working that I am a ‘business working within a business’. I am the only person who can steer my career pathway early on, especially moving from NHS to private dentistry.
Marketing and branding yourselves using social media as individuals is essential. Breaking that fear and anxiety of showcasing and promoting your before and after work, and highlighting patient testimonials on social media, is not only important to demonstrate your skillset as a young dentist but also to boost your reputation and recognition for welcoming new patients.
Having been fortunately selected as a finalist as this year’s Private Dentistry Awards and Dentistry Awards not only boosted my esteem and confidence as a young dentist but has encouraged me to keep steering this journey forward. Not just for the benefit of my patients’ health but also my own ability to provide excellent dentistry.
Be yourself
If I was to reach out and have a say to budding dentists or young dentists, it would be to never give up on the plan, however hard it may be or appear at the time or the struggles you will endure. Dentistry can be an extremely challenging career, but you can thrive by embracing new challenges and opportunities. These opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognise them.
Invest in finding suitable mentors who can guild you to take correct routes and prevent you from making big mistakes early on in your career. Continuing to learn and up skill with dental courses is essential; new skills will differentiate yourself from the crowd, allowing you to produce high class, quality dentistry. As mentioned, my disciplined habits came from having a fitness oriented background from a young age. Making time for hobbies and other activities can help you feel better. Switching off is important for balance your life!
And lastly one of the largest life lessons I’ve personally learnt on my journey to date and my best advice to anyone reading is never be afraid to be yourself. Being yourself in this world and leaving your unique mark in dentistry is what the profession needs. It will only make you grow as a successful clinician.
Life is meant to be experienced. Put yourself out there. Do things you’ve never done. Live a life where at the end you will have no regrets.
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