Interview with Dr. Paul Goodman

If you could ask yourself the four greatest decisions you could possibly make in the ever evolving field of dentistry, what would they be? Dr. Paul Goodman of Dental Nachos best describes the “four biggest decisions of [our] lives – as finding a job, buying a practice, hiring an associate, and selling a practice.” We know that dental school focuses greatly on didactics and clinical knowledge but rarely addresses these four big questions which can greatly impact any new dental professional’s career. Understanding that dentistry is essentially an integral portion of healthcare designed within a business model is vital in realizing that clinical knowledge should be supplemented with the familiarity of how to run a business. Dr. Goodman explains that his coaching outlet, Dental Nachos, is an excellent medium to bridge this gap in educating fellow dentists and helping navigate these difficult questions. Dr. Paul Goodman began his dentistry journey in 1999 after graduating from Villanova University and going on to attend the University of Pennsylvania to receive his DMD in 2002. Goodman considered his time at the General Practice Residency (GPR) program at Einstein Health as one of the best decisions he has made in his career, describing it as the perfect transition between dental school and the real world. Having completed 3 years in his GPR program focusing on implantology, Goodman felt that his education was greatly enhanced by this experience. He felt that the decision to continue in this program rather than to immediately enter the workfield was influenced greatly by his father, a dentist who encouraged him to further learn in a supportive environment before entering private practice. Currently, Dr. Goodman focuses his efforts on helping new graduates with Dental Nachos, a network of dental professionals and students that are able to consult one another and help each other by growing connections and sharing knowledge. The culinary inspired name of Dental Nachos comes from Dr. Goodman’s “passion/obsession with Mexican food,” in addition to the idea that nachos are meant to be shared and enjoyed with other people around you. Dr. Goodman stresses the importance of staying connected and building a network from day one in dental school. Dentistry is a profession beyond clinical measure. It encompasses many different aspects that go far beyond the didactics that are taught in dental school, the main highlight being communication. Learning how to really speak for oneself and for others is an ability that can take us far in our career. Emphasizing that “opening the space” for having these authentic discussions with oneself is incredibly important, Dr. Goodman feels that success in dentistry should be coupled with the self-awareness to recognize the gaps in one’s knowledge and address finding a balance between the perfect clinical practice and learning how to survive and thrive in the real world of dentistry. There’s a crossroads between efficiency, productivity, and providing optimal care. We as dentists must be able to balance these in a way that benefits our patients’ time and health, all while maintaining the success of our business. Dr. Goodman described that there is an intensity in the real world of dentistry that most students are not accustomed to when they first graduate. It’s easy to get caught up in perfecting a class II preparation when we have many hours to do so in school. However, it’s important to know how to provide the best clinical care for a patient in a realistic amount of time. Dental school really drives the idea that perfectionism is a trait that goes hand in hand with our career, but really we have to be able to provide care in a way that does not impact our ability to adapt and prioritize the health and comfort of our patients. One of the most surprising moments from the interview came when Dr. Goodman posed the question: “Have you guys started looking for a job yet after dental school?” As second year dental students, this came as a slightly shocking inquiry. Dr. Goodman continued by telling us that we were already too late, already behind in our efforts. He claims that looking for a job after dental school starts day one, and applying for a job starts six months before you need it. This discussion further prompted Dr. Goodman’s message about the importance of networking and communication while in dental school. We asked Dr. Goodman if he had any final recommendations for dental students, and he said the best piece of advice he could give would be to “work on your words.” He highly recommended a YouTube video called How To Speak by Patrick Winston. Winston was a renowned professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who specialized in Artificial Intelligence. Winston begins his talk by saying that “students shouldn’t go out into life without the ability to communicate. And that’s because your success in life will be determined largely by your ability to speak, your ability to write, and the quality of your ideas. In that order.” This message clearly aligns with Dr. Goodman’s professional values, and he believes it to be a great source of knowledge for those interested in improving their communication skills. Dr. Goodman initially described himself as being an “enthusiastic, energetic, and exhausted” man of many different roles in the dental profession, as well as being a dedicated husband and father. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Goodman enjoys history, television, coffee, watching his seven-year-old play soccer, and spending time with people. With the creation of the Dental Nachos community, Dr. Goodman was able to combine both his personal and professional interests and contribute to the success of future dental professionals.