Today’s guest is Dr. Alan Felsenfeld, here to talk about how he has found meaning in his dynamic career through mentorship, community work, best practices, and building good relationships with patients and fellow residents. Dr. Felsenfeld is currently retired but still very active in the community, and he is still affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center where he was a full-time faculty member since 1995. Prior to that, he was in hospital administration, after which he trained to be an oral surgeon at County Hospital in Chicago and then went into private practice in the East San Gabriel Valley. Dr. Felsenfeld has made many pivots in his career and we talk about the motivating forces behind these changes, hearing him weigh in on the value of staying fulfilled. For him, teaching, leadership, and giving back to the profession were major driving forces, and he talks about how his choices lead him closer to these activities, thereby keeping him motivated and inspired. We also get into some of the technical sides of surgery, talking about the correct use of instruments and some of the difficult cases Dr. Felsenfeld undertakes in his capacity as an affiliate at a university medical center. We also have a great discussion about Dr. Felsenfeld’s abilities to communicate so well, and he speaks about how far humor, jargon avoidance, and not taking himself too seriously can go in daily relations. Tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief history of Dr. Felsenfeld’s training and current affiliation with UCLA.
• Advice for young surgeons who want to give back despite post-medical school debt.
• Dr. Felsenfeld’s path into academia and how he stays motivated on a daily basis.
• How Dr. Felsenfeld bypasses the political aspects of working in academia.
• Having several career pivots and why Dr. Felsenfeld gave a lecture on reinventing yourself.
• A closer look at why and how Dr. Felsenfeld transitioned from hospital administration into oral surgery.
• Dr. Felsenfeld’s memories of training in Chicago, his co-residents, and the fun times they had.
• Mandibular tori, implants, extractions: Surgeries Dr. Felsenfeld performed recently.
• Common mistakes Dr. Felsenfeld sees younger surgeons make; correct tool usage.
• Difficult cases Dr. Felsenfeld deals with and how these cases are often referred to universities.
• Communication tips: Having good humor, avoiding jargon, not taking yourself too seriously.
• Things Dr. Felsenfeld does to take his mind off his job; why he loves flying small planes.
• How difficult but important it is to stop performing surgeries once you get too old.
• Dr. Felsenfeld’s experiences with his grandkids and what they are interested in.
• Final words from Dr. Felsenfeld about how to find meaning in an oral surgery career.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Alan Felsenfeld

UCLA

County Hospital Chicago

The Dental Board of California

AAOMS

Dr. William Flick

Dr. Charles Bertolami

Dr. Grant Stucki Contact — 720-775-5843