It’s a lesser known fact. But expat dentists exist in plenty around the world.

These are dental practitioners who have been educated in one country and migrate to another, unable to practice their art due to regulatory restrictions.

The frustration is tangible and I, for one, identified as an expat dentist for many years.

Dentists who’ve gone through & spent on a formal education, identify as good doctors, want to work, yet can’t practice dentistry, might leave them feeling worthless.

This leads to either settling down in family life (a common issue for trailing spouses, who are mostly females) or start the application process to re-enter the system, which can take years.

In the USA, a foreign trained dentist is required to pass an examination to get a chance to repeat 2 years of an education that they already possess, whilst paying hundreds or thousands of dollars, to receive a title they already had.

In Switzerland, one only becomes eligible to re-enter the education system, if the applicant or their spouse/partner/guardian have completed 5 years in the country. Once eligible, they send a CV to the selected university, to request for a chance to get admitted in Year 3 of the education model directly.

Unfortunately, in my experience, I was provided with a waiting list with no explanation on how the list is formulated. I was informed that I need to reapply the following year in hopes that my rank will be higher up in the waiting list and that there is no guarantee whether this attempt will be successful or not. Keep in mind that I had already waited a 2 years, learning French, until my spouse to hit the 5 year mark, in order to apply.

The alternate solution was to start from year one again at a dental university (taught entirely in French). I opted out, because it made no sense. I know many dentists though, who start again at year one.

Whatever, option an expat dentist chooses, it brings frustration, as ageing never stops and one is acutely aware of each year that passes by, with zero financial growth.

In my first two years of having migrated to Switzerland, after a childhood of ample travel, I wanted to settle down and live life at one location for a change. But I was broke and was entirely dependent on my partner financially. As much as I have nailed my decision to marry a wonderful man, I could never be comfortable with the fact that I was not financially independent.

I started hitting many career events at dental universities, showing my face where I met many expat physicians and dentists in a similar boat, all of whom were men interestingly. I was the only woman.

They jokingly said they’ll drive an Uber probably if nothing turns up, to which I said that I’ll be a happy paying customer if they can take me to more universities and help me get a seat in the classrooms.

These were smart doctors and we were all in the hustle together, never to meet again.

I sometimes wonder what they opted for in the end.

As for me, I had many more years of hustle ahead of me. Unsuccessful attempts at getting into masters programs, simultaneously dealing with family tragedies, applying for jobs and carefully storing each rejection letter in my cupboard to remind me of my story.

An expat dentist usually goes for 2 options when applying for jobs:

1. They can either enter the Pharma sector
2. They can enter the medical device industry

Most apply for anything they can get their hands on and some start their own businesses (I had an Etsy shop).

But the inherent void of not being able to practice the art of which one is confident, leaves a void that most people, unfortunately, give up on.

When expat dentists apply for jobs, it’s not an easy transition for them as they’re used to working in clinics. The corporate job application process is a completely new experience for many. Even if they land a job, it’s not an easy onboarding for doctors, who aren’t accustomed to the so called “common” tools of corporate.

Unable to confidently ask for help, fearing that it might be a ‘stupid’ question, they struggle in silence, googling a lot of terms and IT related questions, until they get into the flow.

When I did finally land my first job, I distinctly remember how I was completely unable to sit from 9 to 5. Clinic work is dynamic and movement is key for a dentist to maintain their high energy levels to keep patients happy. Think about your own dentist. They’re most probably agile yet calm in demeanour. You put a person like that at a desk in front of a laptop for 8 hours, their bodies are at war with them.

Until the body just gives up and they become one of the others.

But don’t get me wrong. That’s what they signed up for. It’s a job that they’ve been selected for and that they’ve earned after much turmoil. So they MUST deliver.

Though most never get called for interviews, because their CVs aren’t of corporate standards (because they don’t know how to make one) and too “dental” in nature, within an algorithm that is meant to capture Phds, masters degree holders and ISO standards as keywords.

With my own personal frustration adding on, from the fact that I wasn’t being called for interviews, in a country that hones some of the biggest names in the dental tech space, I had to change strategy.

I printed business cards with ‘medical device enthusiast’ on it, handed my 15 month old to my husband and started hitting conferences. Eventually I landed an interview, 5 years after moving to Switzerland to receive the question “There’s a 5 year gap in your CV. Why’s that?”

There are a few moments in life when one’s innards convert into Viola Davis or Oprah and one’s brain shouts “Well, ain’t that a great question. Lemme tell you Why”, yet as a good woman, I smiled and answered these questions with grace to the best of my ability. I was still darn proud of myself.

I got an interview!

5 years later, having founded my own company. Via NamNR Pro’s Global Dentists’ Pool, all dentists (including expat dentists) are provided an opportunity to upgrade their skillset via our corporate readiness program & Medtech fundamentals training via our learning platform, and be armed with the tools they need to position themselves better for corporate roles.

Life is unpredictable, up-skilling oneself even as a clinician is good investment.

These are smart doctors who bring a unique mix of skillsets to the table for dental device companies to take advantage of. That’s part of how I designed the Pool’s purpose & vision.

One’s long term values guide them on life’s journey and an expat dentist is a rare breed, that is often forced into a hustle mindset, only to come out stronger on the other side.