Breaking Barriers: Drs. Laura and Erin's Journey as Female Leaders in Dentistry

10/16/24 • 44 min

Welcome to another episode of Love Your Practice. I'm your host, Dr. Laura Mach. In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back a very special guest and dear friend, Dr. Erin Sheffield.

Erin and I go way back, having known each other for nearly 20 years. Our paths first crossed when I started a Yahoo group for pre-dental Mormon women, seeking to connect with like-minded individuals. Erin's leadership skills shone through early on as when she was the President of the Women in Dentistry Club at BYU. Recognizing her potential, I encouraged her to apply to the University of Iowa Dental School, where she thrived with a well-deserved scholarship.

Fast forward to today, and Erin has achieved remarkable success in a field where women are significantly underrepresented. As an oral surgeon, she is part of the mere 8% of women in this specialty, making her voice and experiences all the more valuable.

In our conversation, we delve into the challenges and barriers faced by women in medicine and dentistry. We explore the stark gender disparities in oral surgery and discuss how a lack of proactive initiatives to recruit and support women may contribute to this imbalance. Erin shares her insights on the societal privileges that can lead to a lack of awareness and initiative in addressing these issues.

So join us as we navigate the complexities of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and learn from Erin's inspiring journey.

Highlights from this episode:

Setting policies and boundaries
Adapting office schedules for better patient/staff outcomes
Mindset, gratitude and self-care
Delegating and systems
Economic impacts on the dental field
Gender bias in the medical field and the importance of female representation

Resources and links mentioned:

Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s email: [email protected]
Laura’s website: LoveYourPractice.net
Laura’s podcast: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura’s Facebook pages:

Find Dr. Sheffield online:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drerinsheffield

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drerinsheffield

DM Dr. Shellfield if you’re interested in her February retreat. [a luxury wellness retreat for Women Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons] You can also learn more and sign up here to attend. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevate-summit-2025-tickets-1043083108657?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Podcast and promotion produced by Blue Dot Digital Marketing.

Welcome to another episode of Love Your Practice. I'm your host, Dr. Laura Mach. In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back a very special guest and dear friend, Dr. Erin Sheffield.

So join us as we navigate the complexities of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and learn from Erin's inspiring journey.

Highlights from this episode:

Setting policies and boundaries
Adapting office schedules for better patient/staff outcomes
Mindset, gratitude and self-care
Delegating and systems
Economic impacts on the dental field
Gender bias in the medical field and the importance of female representation

Resources and links mentioned:

Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s email: [email protected]
Laura’s website: LoveYourPractice.net
Laura’s podcast: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura’s Facebook pages:

Find Dr. Sheffield online:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drerinsheffield

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drerinsheffield

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Podcast and promotion produced by Blue Dot Digital Marketing.

Previous Episode

Spit Happens: How Salivary Testing is Changing Dentistry Forever

In this podcast episode, I welcome Sarah Mueller, a dental hygienist with a unique career path, now working with Swish Bio on salivary testing. Sarah shares her journey from clinical practice to leadership roles and emphasizes the transformative potential of salivary testing in dentistry. She explains how this testing identifies specific pathogens, allowing for tailored patient care. Our discussion covers the challenges of implementing new technologies in dental practices and the importance of adaptability and strong leadership. Sarah also highlights educational initiatives and onboarding processes for practices interested in adopting salivary testing.

Highlights from this episode:

Sarah’s Unique Journey: From clinical practice to leadership roles and now at Swish Bio, Sarah’s career is a testament to the power of adaptability and innovation in dentistry.
The Power of Salivary Testing: Discover how salivary testing can revolutionize patient care by identifying specific pathogens and tailoring treatments to individual needs.
How It Works: Patients simply swish a solution, spit it into a tube, and send it to the lab. The results, color-coded for easy interpretation, provide a clear picture of oral health.
Implementing Change: Learn about the challenges and rewards of integrating new technologies into dental practices. Sarah shares practical tips for making the transition smooth and effective.
Leadership and Adaptability: We discuss the importance of strong leadership and emotional maturity in embracing change, and how female practice owners are often leading the charge.
Educational Initiatives: Sarah is passionate about educating dental professionals on pathogens and their impact. Stay tuned for her upcoming lectures and resources.
Onboarding with Swish Bio: Interested in salivary testing? Swish Bio offers complimentary tests and personalized onboarding to help practices get started.

Resources and links mentioned:

Swish Bio https://www.swishbio.com/
Sarah Mueller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-mueller-rdh-068b8810b/
Email: [email protected]
Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s email: [email protected]
Laura’s website: LoveYourPractice.net
Laura’s podcast: Love Your Practice!
Laura’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura’s Facebook pages:

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

Podcast and promotion produced by Blue Dot Digital Marketing.

Next Episode

The Power of Coaching: A Rural Dentist's Path to Personal and Professional Growth

In today's episode, we have a special guest - Dr. Kaitlin Haag, a general dentist and practice owner from rural Nebraska. Dr. Haag shares her remarkable journey from being a student in the Rural Health Opportunities Program to unexpectedly becoming a 50% owner of a dental practice right out of school.

She openly discusses the challenges that came with taking on significant responsibility early in her career, from managing substantial loans to dealing with the departure of senior partners who were expected to provide mentorship. Despite the obstacles, Dr. Haag found ways to keep her work engaging, like expanding into pediatric airway treatment.

However, as a young female dentist, Dr. Haag also struggled with feelings of inadequacy, negative self-talk, and the pressure to balance patient care with the business realities of insurance plans. She shares how learning to recognize and challenge her own limiting thought patterns was a turning point, enabling her to recommend ideal care more confidently and find greater satisfaction in her work.

Dr. Haag's story highlights the unique pressures faced by women in dentistry and the importance of seeking support rather than struggling in isolation. Her insights on managing self-doubt, communicating with patients, and finding work-life harmony will resonate with many listeners.

Stay tuned for an enlightening conversation about navigating the challenges and triumphs of building a rewarding dental practice as a woman. Dr. Haag's journey reminds us that who we are is truly enough.

Highlights from this episode: