8 minute read
A Career Built on Asking ‘Why Not?’
A Career Built on Asking ‘Why Not?’
In candid conversation with NYSDA News, Dr. Franklyn Aguebor explains why now is not the time to abandon efforts at diversity and inclusion.
The NYSDA Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, tasked with leading the Association’s observance in February of Black History Month, annually selects a NYSDA member who can speak to the meaning and importance of the observance to profile in the NYSDA News. This year’s designee is Dr. Franklyn Aguebor, D.M.D., founder and CEO of Smile Design Dental Studio in New York City.
Dr. Aguebor is a native of Benin City, Nigeria, who was raised in Atlanta, GA, where he also practiced dentistry before relocating to New York. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and dental degree from Augusta University College of Dental Medicine in 2016. He completed advanced training in general dentistry at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and holds certification from the American Board of General Dentistry.
Dr. Aguebor describes his approach to the practice of dentistry and offers insight into his philosophy of community service in the conversation that follows.
Q. Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a dentist and what inspired you to pursue this career?
Dr. A. When I reflect on my journey to becoming a dentist, I think about my why in life. Many people who come from my community, who fall victim to the hardships of life due to socioeconomic disparities ask, “why me?” Instead of adopting this mindset, I decided to think of things differently. Why not strive for excellence? Why not be great? Why not be an educator, mentor and helper to the community? I wanted to pursue a career that would allow me to use my academic talents to serve my community on a grand level. Because of this, I chose to pursue a career in healthcare. Given my affinity for the sciences and my artistic nature, dentistry was an obvious fit.
I soon learned that dentistry offered more than I expected. Over the years, I’ve been able to develop a platform that allows me to educate large numbers of people, drive awareness about oral health and its connection to the body and provide mentorship opportunities for up-and-coming doctors. As healthcare providers, we are tasked with not only showing compassion and empathy for all patients, but also with providing care that positively impacts their overall health. Through my craft, whether it’s treating a patient in pain or completing cosmetic work, the feeling of instant gratification fuels my passion. I truly love serving the community and making a difference in my patients’ lives.
Q. How do you see DEI programs evolving within the dental profession, and what challenges do you think they face?
Dr. A. In today’s world, or at least the dynamic of our nation currently, it is unfortunate that DEI programs are being eliminated. Diversity, equity and inclusion directly align with American values. Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another. When we add inclusion, we empower people by respecting and appreciating what makes them different. I feel like DEI programs are being compromised now, but given the opportunity, they could really be a powerful tool within the dental profession.
Q. As a dental professional, how do you promote diversity and inclusion within your practice or community, and what steps can other dental professionals take to contribute to a more inclusive profession?
Dr. A. I actively promote diversity and inclusion within my practice first and foremost by making sure my entire staff is culturally competent. What is cultural competence? It is a very powerful tool in your practice and in life that makes you more culturally aware and helps you tailor not only dental care to the patient’s needs, but human care as well. This means being a genuine individual who treats every patient who walks into your door equally no matter how they look, how they are dressed or how they speak. More so, the team is sensitive to patients’ cultural needs and what hardships each person may face.
My major advice for other dental professionals looking to contribute to a more inclusive profession would be to embrace cultural knowledge, sensitivity and competence. This would improve the quality of care for all patients, especially those who bring so much tradition, diversity and culture to our communities. Other ways to enhance inclusion would be to have your office forms or questionnaires written in different languages. Patients who don’t speak the primary language feel more at ease if they see things in their language. Also, being involved in the community and taking advantage of volunteer opportunities or outreach programs will take us out of our comfort zone and allow us to empathize with people from different communities. Most importantly, have the office represent what our community looks like. Step away from a homogenous staff and, instead, have people from different walks of life working in your practice.
Q. You receive sponsorship from Crest to conduct free dental screenings for underserved communities. Can you share more about these initiatives and their impact?
Dr. A. Working with the Crest and OralB team fuels my appetite for service to the community. I see joy in so many forms when we provide access to oral care, education and oral health products to those who need it the most. One of our biggest initiatives is called “Closing America’s Smile Gap.” It includes a favorite event of mine, the back-to-school initiative. Kids in underserved areas are evaluated and provided with a dental home. Not only do they receive oral health education and products like toothbrushes and paste, they also receive book bags and school supplies. It is a fun environment that includes face painting and a bounce house. You see the endearing smiles when you interact with the children. You see gratitude on everyone’s face because they actually see that we care. That feeling is second to none and extremely monumental.
Q. If you could implement one major change to enhance the dental profession, what would it be and why?
Dr. A. Mandatory mission trips, national or international. This would allow dentists to experience different cultures and gain insight into how their craft can make a difference on a community level. I vividly remember my first mission trip. It was to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Day one, we were in the village and had a steady flow of people coming for services. By day two, the entire community flooded our chairs. You could see that access to care was a big issue, so they were extremely thankful for any amount of work that could be accomplished. Something about being a servant to the community was entirely fulfilling and gave me instant gratification. Being among so many people who needed me to put on that cape and be their hero meant the world to me. It provided me with an unforgettable, life-changing experience. I feel that if more practitioners in the dental profession experienced something of that caliber, it would ignite more compassion and service to the community in many of them.
Q. Is there any other information or message you would like to add to this interview?
Dr. A. The best life advice I can give is “practice makes permanent.” Everyone typically says practice makes perfect. When you think about it, we are never truly perfect because we are capable of making mistakes. Even people given the title “the greatest of all times” can fail, but the best thing about that is they eventually rise and are still victorious. With dentistry, I have to practice constantly to elevate my skills and make it permanent. Attaining a skill set at a higher level fosters confidence and comfortability, so when I do practice, it is seamless and I know exactly what I am doing. By no means am I perfect, but I do things to the best of my ability and strive for the highest quality. My craft and skill set is permanent.
