Introduction

Doing your residency as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can be incredibly challenging. You’re required to work long hours and deal with stressful hospital environments, all while trying to master an endless array of tasks and lessons. But it can also be a deeply fulfilling time, especially when you are able to form lasting connections with co-residents and pursue your unique clinical interests. Joining us today to share their pro tips for succeeding in residency are Drs. Sebastian Graca, Benjamin Palla, and Steven Licht, all of whom are currently in their final year as chief residents in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Tuning in, you’ll hear them share their expert advice on excelling in your first year of residency, the importance of building strong relationships with co-residents, and the benefits of choosing a busy residency program. They emphasize the importance of asking questions and mastering fundamentals while finding ways to decompress outside of residency. The discussion also covers key areas like effective communication, selecting the right program, finding your niche within oral surgery, and even the art of how to make a spectacular roast video! Whether you're about to start your residency or intrigued by the world of oral surgery, this episode provides a wealth of insights to enrich your journey. Join us for a comprehensive exploration of residency success, communication, and camaraderie, and launch your oral surgery adventure with confidence!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Meet today’s guests, Drs. Sebastian Graca, Benjamin Palla and Steven Licht.
• Tips on how to excel during your first year of residency.
• The most challenging aspects of residency and advice on how to adapt.
• Learning how to communicate effectively with co-residents.
• How to pick a residency program where you’ll get plenty of experience in the cases you’re interested in.
• The value of getting along with fellow residents and supporting one another.
• Effective ways to teach less experienced residents.
• How to balance fulfilling your requirements while ensuring younger residents get their necessary clinical experience.
• The benefits of attending a very busy residency program.
• Residency as an opportunity to find your niche.
• A reminder not to take things personally as a resident.
• Details on the impressive roast video that their team of residents created.
• Sebastian, Benjamin, and Steven answer our rapid-fire questions!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Sebastian Graca — https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-graca-dmd-ab710a73/
Sebastian’s email — spgraca2@uic.edu
Dr. Steven Licht — https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-licht-dmd-45763564/

Steven’s email — slicht7@uic.edu
Dr. Benjamin Palla — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-palla-a563a4112/
Benjamin’s email — palla1@uic.edu

Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ 

Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059