Massachusetts Dental Society Features Two GSDM Alums

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) alumni Ariel Bales-Kogan DMD 03, DPH 06, ORTHO 07 and Sergio Guzman PERIO 01, PERIO 02, DMD 03 were featured in the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society‘s (MDS) 2009 Ten Under 10. Since 2005, MDS has been honoring ten member dentists annually who have been in the profession for 10 years or less and have made significant contributions to the profession, their community, organized dentistry, or all three.

In the article highlighting this year’s Ten Under 10 both doctors explain why they chose dentistry as a career.

"It may sound corny, but I really admired my dentist, Dr. Brown, when I was a teenager," said Dr. Bales-Kogan, an orthodontist who works in private practice in Beverly, Brockton, and Natick. "Although I had many dental problems growing up, my dentist always made me feel comfortable and at ease. When I spoke with my friends about my experience, they all seemed to have a common opposite experience." Dr. Bales-Kogan continued, "There it was, the "ding" moment of my career…I, too could make people feel better about going to the dentist."

"It was always clear to me that dentistry would allow me to have the flexibility to balance my professional and my personal lives," said Dr. Guzman, a periodontist who works in private practice in Back Bay and Brookline. "Self-employment, as well as the earning potential that dentistry could offer, was also appealing to me. It would allow me, as an independent entrepreneur, to be my own boss and to maintain my own hours." Dr. Guzman continued, "And, of course, the potential for serving others while receiving a great deal of personal satisfaction put it on top of my list."

Dr. Bales-Kogan also shared how he has tried to remain involved in organized dentistry after graduating, adding, "Immediately after graduation, I really wanted to take some time off to focus on my transition to private practice, in fairness to all my employers. Now that I believe I have found some good equilibrium, I have started to venture out again and get involved in organized dentistry. I have become a member of the Massachusetts Association of Orthodontics, and I am hoping to get more involved with the MDS Standing Committee on the New Dentistry in the near future."

Dr. Guzman reflects on his career thus far by saying if he could do anything differently he would, "study a lot more."

"It has always been a goal of mine to teach my students how precious the time at school is," adds Dr. Guzman. "There is no better time to learn, since you usually have zero additional responsibilities and all the time to dedicate to your studies. Even though I did study a lot, there were always times that I could have done more."

"It is wonderful to see two GSDM alums spotlighted in the Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society," said Dean Jeffrey Hutter. "Our graduates are part of the future of the profession and the fact that they understand the value of organized dentistry so early in their career is a credit to the faculty and staff of GSDM."