Without mindfulness, she adds, the key to unlocking the breakthrough door might elude you.
Orthodontist Greg Asatrian of Los Angeles’ Asatrian Dental Corp. is chief resident, in his third year at UCLA Orthodontics. He specializes in working with children and adolescents – “changing how patients see themselves,” he observes.
Concurrently, he’s earned a graduate degree in oral biology through online study at night and over lunch breaks. His prior work in a research laboratory for more than seven years led to 36 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, and 50 presentations worldwide.
Unknowingly, Asatrian had stifled himself from achieving the professional goals of his field. He’d broken out with his remote practice in multiple facilities, an innovative and financially attractive move, but that didn’t do enough.
He realized that he loved communicating about dentistry in a blizzard of activities. He happily answered questions with explanations. He also quietly noted positive comments about the clarity of his lectures and public speaking.
His dental school roommate and classmate advocated for his own passion, YouTube, to mix dentistry and social media. This dovetailed with Asatrian’s hobby in videography and editing.
What motivated Asatrian to use social media for communication about dental health? “A number of patients ask about do-it-yourself braces or aligners,” he remarks. “ I encourage them to go see a local orthodontist for a thorough evaluation and proper treatment planning.
“This development built up over the years,” he says, as he learned more and more about himself professionally and the power of good communication. Then, widening his reach in his dental practice, he leaped into social media.
Asatrian founded a YouTube channel drawing 20,000 subscribers and nearly two million views in its first year. He devotes many nights and weekends to filming, and early mornings to responding to viewer communiques. Creating community exhilarates him.
“It’s funny,” he says, “because at work you’re expected to be professional and look proper, but online you can be so much more authentic and just be yourself.” This joy of engaging with viewers he never anticipated.
Professional growth for Asatrian ultimately depended on innovating, breaking out of structures and communicating about his subject matter on an emerging vehicle.
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