what else can you do with a DDS?

[airwolfrocks999]

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I graduated from dental school last yr. For the following summer, I started attending a GPR program, which I eventually quit.

I'm currently in the NYC area and there really aren't much opportunities in the way of someone who has a dental degree. At least in the hospital of my former GPR program, I know that physicians and surgeons are regularly recruited by large investment banking, consulting, medical research firms.

Right now, I'm temping at a call center for a local company for some living expenses while I'm trying to get my life back in order. It's a crappy job alright but it's actually paying off my bills for now.

What should I do? Are there any other places ( besides anything dental related ) that can recruit dentists and train them for another job?

 

[1992Corolla]

Teacher of sciences at high school or college level? Anatomy? Biology?

I would be hard pressed to find a job unless you had some other education in a field related to that type of a job.

Do you have experiance in anything else besides dentistry?

 

[Regmata]

You didn't realize that you didn't want to be a dentist until after you graduated and half way through a GPR?

I suppose you could try to get a job selling dental supplies, but I don't know who would want to hire a DDS who hates dentistry and doesn't have much experience. You could go back and get your JD and work as a lawyer specializing in dental matters. You could do research for a dental company, open a dental lab or teach. All in all, most of your opportunities are going to involve dentistry...

What is it that made you decide it isn't for you?

 

[dWiz]

why don't you look for an associate position
i'm puzzled, what were you expecting to do once you graduated?

 

[OceanDMD]

I graduated from dental school last yr. For the following summer, I started attending a GPR program, which I eventually quit.

I'm currently in the NYC area and there really aren't much opportunities in the way of someone who has a dental degree. At least in the hospital of my former GPR program, I know that physicians and surgeons are regularly recruited by large investment banking, consulting, medical research firms.

Right now, I'm temping at a call center for a local company for some living expenses while I'm trying to get my life back in order. It's a crappy job alright but it's actually paying off my bills for now.

What should I do? Are there any other places ( besides anything dental related ) that can recruit dentists and train them for another job?

My first suggestion is to move out of NYC. The cost of living on top of paying off your debt is unreal. Is there ANYTHING you like about dentistry? You know you can taylor a new practice anyway you want. Part time associateships are much easier to find in rural locations. Maybe you just haven't actually been in a practice environment that is appealing to you. That doesn't mean it isn't out there. You could part time associate 4 days a week, and work on a startup doing what you like, taking CE, etc etc the other two days. GO to dentaltown and read some old threads posted by a guy named Ryan Swain. He hated dentistry, left what he was doing to do a start-up in a niche practice. The niche being short term ortho with cosmetics. I think you are crazy to blow 300k in education expenses for a profession where there is so much flexibility and so much income potential. You just graduated and really have not learned anything about dentistry.

As far as other careers, you could go to the dark side of insurance claim reviewing, and teaching, but then again so could Joe Shmo down the street.

 

[cel083]

I graduated from dental school last yr. For the following summer, I started attending a GPR program, which I eventually quit.

I'm currently in the NYC area and there really aren't much opportunities in the way of someone who has a dental degree. At least in the hospital of my former GPR program, I know that physicians and surgeons are regularly recruited by large investment banking, consulting, medical research firms.

Right now, I'm temping at a call center for a local company for some living expenses while I'm trying to get my life back in order. It's a crappy job alright but it's actually paying off my bills for now.

What should I do? Are there any other places ( besides anything dental related ) that can recruit dentists and train them for another job?

Well, in the state of Texas I think you can become a hygienist. How about getting specialty training, if possible? How about this question: What do you want to do?

 

[reapply2007]

There are literally hundreds of jobs for the taking. The only limitations are the ones you create. www.manpower.com

 

[airwolfrocks999]

actually, I was thinking of jobs along the lines of being a medical researcher, investment banker, or a management consultant. These are some fields commonly entered by MDs, JDs, and PhDs who don't want to pursue their primary careers.

I'm not getting a response to my resumes for these positions. I guess a dental degree isn't as flexible and prestigious as other terminal degrees.

 

[blankguy]

actually, I was thinking of jobs along the lines of being a medical researcher, investment banker, or a management consultant. These are some fields commonly entered by MDs, JDs, and PhDs who don't want to pursue their primary careers.

I'm not getting a response to my resumes for these positions. I guess a dental degree isn't as flexible and prestigious as other terminal degrees.

They are probably looking for somebody who has experience in the field. Without any experience that DDS may not mean as much to them.

 

[12YearOldKid]

I doubt having a DDS is going to open many doors for you in corporate America. I think most of your options are going to be at least somewhat dentally related. You cold become a practice broker. Does being an academic researcher interest you? It should be fairly easy to find a dental school willing to take you on, though you would probably have to teach at least a little bit.

Is more school out of the question? Law school is only 3 years and your DDS would give you some unique insight into representing dentists. AirWolf DDS, JD. Does that sound good?

You must really hate dentistry to choose working at a call center over practicing. You could work 1 day a week as an associate dentist and probably make equal or more than you are making at a call center full time. If that is enough to pay your bills you could then spend the rest of your week starting your own non-dental business. ...or the rest of your week hitting the pavement looking for the job your really want. ...or just sitting around eating ramen noodles and playing X-box.

Dentistry is 100X better outside of the dental school / GPR setting. You might find you could tolerate just 1 day a week of clinical dentistry while you are looking for your place in life.