Dental Leaders Podcast #278 The Naked Soul — Sharon Walsh
In this deeply moving episode, Sharon Walsh shares her journey from being a successful private practice owner to experiencing a devastating personal and professional crisis that led to practice loss, divorce, alcoholism, and a seven-year GDC case.
With remarkable candour, she discusses her path to recovery, spiritual awakening, and finding meaning beyond material success.
Her story is one of resilience, acceptance, and the profound understanding that sometimes we must be completely broken to discover our true selves.
In This Episode
00:01:05 - Career beginnings and building a private practice
00:03:40 - Practice dynamics and associate challenges
00:07:05 - Passion for dentistry and professional development
00:12:50 - The catalyst for breakdown
00:15:00 - Mental health crisis and practice loss
00:20:15 - Descent into alcoholism
00:24:25 - Marriage breakdown and personal struggles
00:47:50 - Homelessness and hitting rock bottom
00:49:20 - Recovery and spiritual awakening
00:56:35 - Blackbox thinking
01:00:50 - The loneliness of dentistry
01:06:10 - Fantasy dinner party guests
01:13:00 - Last days and legacy
About Sharon Walsh
Sharon Walsh is a dentist who built a successful private practice near Rochdale after transforming it from "a shed" into a beautiful, patient-focused space.
A passionate clinician with expertise in restorative dentistry and prosthodontics, she worked alongside some of UK dentistry's most respected figures.
After experiencing a life-altering crisis in 2017, she has emerged with a deeper understanding of life's purpose and now shares her story to help others facing similar challenges.