The Dental Head Start Podcast

Hosted by Dr Michael (Mike) Shambira In this episode of the Formation series, Mike sits down with Dr Michael Frazis, Director of Education at Ripe Global, to explore the blind spots that shape early-career growth in dentistry. Drawing from years of teaching and mentoring clinicians, Michael Frazis shares insights on ambition, judgement, efficiency, and the common traps dentists fall into when trying to progress too quickly. The conversation focuses on developing calibration, building competenc

Hosted by Ahmed Issa Ahmed Issa sits down with Dr Rand Younes to explore the journey behind the title. From arriving in Australia as a young immigrant with little English, to becoming dux of her school, launching a mobile dental service at just 17, and building a career grounded in purpose, service, and impact. Together, they unpack the defining chapters that shaped her path: the challenges of dental school, training in rural New South Wales, the early clinical experiences that exposed the dee

Hosted by Dr Michael Shambira and Ahmed Issa Stepping out of dental school and into a thriving practice can be entirely overwhelming, but itdoesn’t have to be. In this feature episode, we sit down with Dr. Sam Gidaro to explore the realities of clinical life, the pressures of practice ownership, and how to find the perfect mentor to accelerateyour growth. Dr. Sam shares his exact process for thorough patient assessments, navigating the complexities of full-arch implant therapy, and how new gra

Hosted by Ahmed Issa Real growth in dentistry is built in discomfort. In this feature episode of the Formation Series, Ahmed Issa sits down with Dr Waleed Arshad to explore confidence, mentorship, mindset and what it takes to grow into a well-rounded clinician. Not about shortcuts.About becoming who the profession demands of you. Connect with Ahmed and Dr Waleed on instagram @waleedarshadd @drahmedissa Key moments (00:00) Introduction and Path to Dentistry (02:49) Unlearning the Dental Schoo

In this episode of the Formation series, Dr. Mike Shambira talks with Dr Matt Hedge, a cosmetic dentist on the Gold Coast, to unpack what it actually means to learn well in the early years of dentistry. They talk about staying teachable, building confidence without rushing it, and finding the balance between ambition and humility. Matt shares how surrounding yourself with the right people, seeking feedback, and taking a self-directed approach to growth can quietly compound over time. This isn’

Hosted by Dr Erica Hwin When I see dentists producing amazing work in various specialties, the first thing I want to know is how they were able to build their skills to that point. Knowing the skills Dr. Maria Avis holds, I had the opportunity to unravel her dental journey. In this episode, Maria walks us through her experiences in dental school, and more importantly, how her graduate job positions set her up to become the comprehensive dentist she is now. Maria is a business owner of her priv