Becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is not an easy task. It takes years of grueling training, during which you’ll undoubtedly experience many failures and setbacks. It can be especially tough if you take an unorthodox route to becoming one. In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Ashkan Mobini to talk about the non-traditional journey he took to becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and how he found the grit to continue despite the immense obstacles he faced. When he first graduated in 2011, Dr. Mobini knew he was interested in becoming an oral surgeon but student debt and the opportunity to pay it off while working as a dentist encouraged him to delay that decision. In our conversation, Dr. Mobini explains what it was like applying for residency two years after his initial training and why this posed so many obstacles. We hear why he was no longer considered a good residency candidate in 2013, and why he pursued a non-categorical internship to become a better candidate and obtain a residency. He shares why it was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do, how he found the strength to persevere, and why he’s so glad he did. We also discuss what it was like obtaining his residency after two years as an intern and why it’s so important to maintain a good perspective on yourself and be tenacious in your desire to become what you want to be. Tune in for an honest conversation about what it takes to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, why it’s okay to take a non-traditional journey to get there, and why perseverance pays off!

Key Points From This Episode:

Introducing today’s guest Dr. Ashkan Mobini.
Learn about Dr. Mobini’s training and how he became an oral surgeon.
The obstacles that Dr. Mobini faced on the path to becoming an oral maxillofacial surgeon.
The unorthodox path that Dr. Mobini followed to becoming an oral maxillofacial surgeon.
Why Dr. Mobini decided not to apply to a residency after graduating in 2011.
The challenges that Dr. Mobini faced due to applying for residency two years after graduation.
How being a Canadian citizen affected Dr. Mobini’s studies in the US.
How pursuing an internship improved Dr. Mobini’s opportunities as a residency candidate.
How Dr. Mobini prepared for his CBSE and what it was like taking it.
The difference between a categorical and non-categorical intern.
The challenges of persevering as a non-categorical intern.
Why doing a second year as a non-categorical intern helped Dr. Mobini become an excellent residency candidate.
Dr. Mobini answers our rapid-fire questions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Ashkan Mobini on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashkan-mobini-10411236/

Dr. Ashkan Mobini’s email address — ashkan.mobini@gmail.com

Toronto Oral Facial Surgery — https://www.tofs.ca/about

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones — https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break-ebook/dp/B07D23CFGR

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

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/?hl=en

Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Seekers of Knowledge 019 - Tafseer of Surah ash-Sharh