S5 E8: Standing up for dental colleagues with Nishma Sharma
Jun 24, 2024
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Nishma Sharma, a GDP and Diversity in Dentistry Action Group founder, discusses her journey in dentistry, advocating for EDI and addressing discrimination. Topics include challenges in the profession during COVID-19, prioritizing mental health, and embracing self-care in dentistry.
Nishma Sharma highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in dentistry to combat discrimination.
Nishma Sharma emphasizes the significance of mental health awareness and self-care in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Deep dives
Nishma Sharma's Career Journey into Dentistry
Nishma Sharma narrates her journey into dentistry, revealing that she initially aimed for a law career but ended up in dentistry to appease parental expectations. Despite feeling out of place initially, she persevered through university, battling depression and loneliness, to eventually find her passion for dentistry through practical experience.
Transition from Clinical Dentistry to Non-Clinical Roles
Transitioning from clinical dentistry to non-clinical roles, Nishma Sharma reflects on her burnout and decision to leave her Chief Dental Officer position due to exhaustion. She focuses on mental health awareness within dentistry, emphasizing the importance of taking breaks and acknowledging personal limitations to avoid neglecting familial responsibilities.
Advocacy for Diversity and Addressing Discrimination in Dentistry
Nishma Sharma emphasizes the need for diversity and inclusion in dentistry, co-founding the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group to address underrepresentation and discrimination. She advocates for fair patient access and highlights the profession's responsibility to combat classism and elitism, encouraging individual awareness and action for a more equitable dental landscape.
Importance of Kindness and Self-Care in Dentistry
Encouraging kindness and self-care in dentistry, Nishma Sharma underscores the significance of being compassionate to oneself and others. She urges practitioners to prioritize mental well-being, appreciate the privilege of their profession, and find balance between work and personal life, fostering a culture of self-compassion and holistic care in dental practice.
Join the conversation on equity, diversity, and inclusion in dentistry on this week’s episode of The Eastman Dental Podcast! In episode 8, Nishma Sharma talks us through her career journey and the importance of EDI in healthcare. A GDP with an extensive clinical and non-clinical dental portfolio, Nishma helped found, and sits as Chair, of the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group. She shares her stories and insights to understand and combat discriminatory problems within dentistry.