Riaz Sharif shares how he overcame rejection and a difficult start in life as an east London orphan to win at the Private Dentistry Awards.
In 2025, I was honoured to receive the accolade of Young Dentist of the Year – South West and Wales at the Private Dentistry Awards. For someone who qualified from a small town dental school in Slovakia amid the uncertainty and disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, this recognition felt both surreal and profoundly humbling.
The decision to submit an entry was not an easy one. For a long time, I questioned whether my journey truly belonged on such a platform. My career had been shaped by setbacks, detours and unconventional choices rather than linear progression.
What ultimately gave me the confidence to apply was not the pursuit of accolades, but the response I received after sharing my story openly on dental podcasts and professional platforms. Colleagues reached out to say that my honesty around failure, resilience and perseverance had reignited belief in their own journeys.
The application itself became a reflection of everything my journey had involved. It captured not only my clinical development and postgraduate training, but also the values that underpin my approach to dentistry: ethical care, lifelong learning, patient centred outcomes, mentorship and personal growth.
It was never about presenting a flawless career. Instead, it was about demonstrating commitment, integrity, resilience and, most of all, authenticity.
Finding the right path
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