00:00:00 Nate welcomes Dr. Erin Sheffield, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Quincy Medical Group. Dr. Sheffield shares her experiences growing up in Utah and her current hobbies, including learning to ski as an adult. She admits to being embarrassed about not having tried skiing until recently and shares the humbling experience of being outperformed by her young children. Despite the concerns about getting injured, she enjoys the thrill of learning something new and encourages her husband to try new social situations, which is outside of his comfort zone.

00:05:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield discusses her experiences playing women's lacrosse, a non-contact sport known for its intensity and finesse. She explains that while men's and women's lacrosse have some differences, both require skill, speed, and focus. Dr. Sheffield shares her experiences playing lacrosse at Brigham Young University (BYU) and Iowa, where she helped build the program. She also emphasizes the importance of using a mouthguard to protect against injuries while playing. Despite not playing for over a decade, she encourages listeners to pick up their sticks and practice, acknowledging that it may be rusty but still enjoyable.

00:10:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield shares her experiences of having to prioritize her time between her career and family, leading her to put aside hobbies like golfing. She then talks about attending the Physicians Financial Summit in Chicago in 2024, which aims to help physicians prepare for a prosperous retirement, despite the misconception that it's just a free dinner event. Dr. Sheffield also shares her unexpected passion for scuba diving, which she discovered during a PE class in college and turned into a family hobby. She became a Dive Master in Utila, Honduras, and later an instructor in Thailand, but faced challenges in finding opportunities to teach diving back in Iowa.

00:15:00 In this section of the podcast, Dr. Erin Sheffield shares her experiences with scuba diving and teaching the sport to her family members. She expresses her enjoyment of diving in the Caribbean, particularly in Utila, where she has completed over 100 dives. She also mentions her fondness for snorkeling and recalls her experiences in the KML, Cayman Islands, and Hawaii. Dr. Sheffield explains that diving in the Caribbean offers unique experiences due to the differences in topography and the variety of animals. She reflects on how scuba diving has evolved from a sport targeted towards extreme sports enthusiasts to a more accessible and safe activity for the general public. Despite having minimal diving vacations in the past decade due to her dental practice and family commitments, she is excited about an upcoming diving trip and her children's first diving experience. The conversation then transitions to discussing the unique educational path of oral surgery, which begins with dental school and requires a special exam for applicants.

00:20:00 Dr. Sheffield discusses the challenges and unique aspects of becoming an oral surgeon. Oral surgery requires rigorous academic preparation during dental school, followed by hospital-based surgical residency training. There are two tracks for this training: a single degree track that lasts four years and a dual degree track where students become MDs, adding two years of medical school. Anesthesia training is a significant part of oral surgery, making oral surgeons among the most highly trained individuals in anesthesia besides anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists. Oral surgeons use anesthesia daily to ensure patient safety during procedures, often acting as their own anesthesia providers in private practice. Dr. Sheffield focuses on the tooth and jaw portion of oral surgery, spending most of her day on routine wisdom teeth extractions and larger cases such as denture removals.

00:25:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield discusses her career path in dentistry, specifically focusing on oral surgery. She shares how her interest in marine biology led her to consider a career in academia but ultimately led her to dentistry due to the flexibility it offered. She also mentions her fainting issue and how she overcame it with exposure therapy and encouragement from a female oral surgeon mentor. Dr. Sheffield explains that there were very few women in oral surgery at the time, but she was determined to succeed and balance her career with family life. She also touches on her inverse phobia of going to the dentist despite having good dental health.

00:30:00 In this section of "Making An Impact In a Male-Dominated Specialty with Dr. Erin Sheffield" the discussion shifts to the underrepresentation of women in the field of oral surgery. Dr. Sheffield expresses her passion for advancing women in this specialty, which has a disproportionately low female-to-male ratio of around 2.8%. The reasons for this skew are complex, with potential barriers to entry including the lengthy residency programs, lack of mentorship, and societal perceptions. Dr. Sheffield shares her personal experience of not encountering female dentists growing up, which influenced her own career choices. She also notes that while more women are joining the field, there is a lack of representation in leadership positions. The conversation highlights the need for continued research and efforts to address these challenges and encourage more women to pursue careers in oral surgery.

00:35:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield discusses her experience as a female dentist in a male-dominated field. She explains how her dental program was predominantly male, and she had never seen a female dentist growing up. However, she has had female dentists throughout her life since then. Dr. Sheffield emphasizes the importance of female leadership and mentorship in dental schools to encourage more women to pursue dental careers. She believes that seeing women in leadership roles can inspire younger female dental students to pursue advanced residencies and break the mold of the male-dominated dental world. Additionally, she discusses the challenges women face in balancing their careers with starting a family, as they often feel pressured to prioritize their careers over family life. Dr. Sheffield highlights the need for role models and mentors to help younger women navigate these challenges and inspire them to pursue their goals despite the historical and societal barriers.

00:40:00 Dr. Sheffield shares her personal experience of attempting to start a family while in training, dealing with infertility issues, and trying to balance her career and motherhood. She planned to undergo an embryo harvest at the end of her residency, but due to complications, she had to try to get pregnant on the first day of her job. This put her in a difficult position as she didn't know how to handle the situation with her new employer. She eventually froze her embryos and waited, going through multiple rounds of infertility treatments during her job. The privacy concerns and scheduling challenges were also significant. After finally getting pregnant with triplets, she had to navigate working while pregnant with twins, dealing with the loss of one baby, and figuring out child care. Overall, she found it challenging to balance her career and motherhood, especially during her residency and in private practice.

00:45:00 Dr. Sheffield elaborates on her experience as a mother in residency with twins. She expresses the challenges she faced during that time, including the difficulty of balancing her responsibilities at home and in her private practice. Dr. Sheffield describes the additional stress of having to navigate workplace issues, including pressure to return to work earlier than medically recommended after giving birth. She recounts how her refusal to comply led to harassment and eventual termination from the practice. Despite the legal actions taken and the challenges faced, Dr. Sheffield emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself and advocating for women's rights in the workplace.

00:50:00 Dr. Sheffield shares her experience of struggling to find employment in her field while being a new mother, which she believes may have been influenced by gender bias. She explains how she was fortunate enough to find a part-time position but acknowledges that this issue is not unique to her industry or situation. Dr. Sheffield discusses the challenges of addressing maternity leave policies in male-dominated fields and the importance of communication and transparency between employers and employees. She also emphasizes the need for employers to respect their employees' personal lives and values. Despite having full-time careers, Dr. Sheffield and her husband prioritize their family and encourage others to find their own way and not be afraid to challenge the status quo.

00:55:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield shares her experience of negotiating flexible work hours as female surgeons. She and her husband, both surgeons, decided to prioritize their personal life and sought a location with similar values. During interviews, they were met with resistance when asking for reduced hours. However, they found Quincy Medical Group, where doctors were allowed to tailor their schedules to their needs, enabling them to be present for their children. Dr. Sheffield emphasizes that not every situation allows for such flexibility, but encourages individuals to seek workplaces that allow for creative scheduling and prioritizing personal life. She concludes by acknowledging the challenge of balancing professional and personal responsibilities and the importance of quality over quantity in work hours.

01:00:00 Dr. Erin Sheffield discusses the importance of oral health and its impact on the rest of the body. She mentions a study linking mouthwash to increased blood pressure and the significance of the mouth's microbiome. Dr. Sheffield emphasizes that good oral health is essential for overall health, and many of the same principles supporting general health also protect oral health. She also highlights the importance of valuing oral health, as teeth and mouths are used daily for essential functions like talking, eating, and breathing. Dr. Sheffield also shares her personal experience with her son's thumb sucking and its impact on his jaw development and sleep quality, emphasizing the connection between oral health and sleep dentistry.

01:05:00 In this section, Dr. Sheffield discusses her interest in the field of sleep apnea and related oral health issues. She mentions the importance of M functional therapy, which involves adjusting the position of the teeth, jaws, and tongue to support the airway and facial development. Dr. Sheffield also emphasizes the significance of jaw reconstruction surgery for improving airway function and preventing issues like sleep apnea and TMJ problems. She laments that people often prioritize cosmetic concerns over functional ones when it comes to dental health, leading to decisions that may cause problems down the line. Dr. Sheffield also answers a viewer's question about wisdom teeth, explaining that they are likely a remnant of evolution and that most people have them removed due to lack of space in the jaw. She discusses the potential problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth and the preventive approach to their removal.

01:10:00 Dr. Sheffield discusses the importance of removing wisdom teeth preventively, particularly during the late teens or early adulthood. She explains that removing wisdom teeth at a younger age can minimize damage and complications, such as nerve damage, longer recovery time, and increased pain. However, in socialized medicine systems like the UK, preventive removal is not the norm, leading to later removal and higher risks of complications. Dr. Sheffield advocates for preventive removal and shares her personal experience of dealing with patients who have waited too long to have their wisdom teeth removed. She also discusses her professional goals for 2024, which include making her practice more personalized and increasing her involvement in the global aspect of her profession to serve as a mentor for other women in the field.

01:15:00 The host, Nate Crannell, expresses his enjoyment of the conversation with Dr. Sheffield and shares that he tried to make her laugh five times during the interview. Dr. Sheffield acknowledges the attempt and looks forward to seeing each other at The Physician's Financial Summit. They end the conversation by expressing excitement about the upcoming event and agreeing to keep in touch.