Hello, and welcome to the Becker's Healthcare podcast.
I'm Haley Reitker, and we are live at
the Becker's Healthcare fall 2024
future of dentistry roundtable.
I am thrilled today to be joined by
doctor Carolina Perdomo Ruiz, who who is a
dentist with the Global and Population Health Department
at Boston University, Henry m Goldman School of
Dental Medicine. Carolina, thank you so much for
being here. Before we begin, can I have
you introduce yourself a little further and tell
us a little bit about your background?
Good morning. Thank you for having me. So,
yes, my name is doctor Carolina Hordom Ruiz.
I'm a dentist with the, as you say
it, as the global population health department at
BU,
the School of Dental Medicine,
and currently
work, in in the school based program as
a dentist.
And what we do there is focus on
delivering compassionate care to diverse communities
and with focus on underserved populations.
My journey in dentistry has always been rooted
in a passion for making oral healthcare
accessible for empowering communities through education
and preventing care.
Well, thank you so much for that introduction.
I'm gonna go ahead and jump right into
my first question.
So what key experiences have shaped your leadership
journey in the dental slash DSO industry thus
far?
Well, several
experience
has influenced my leadership
approach in this field.
Working with the,
dental institution,
I have
the opportunity to lead initiative
and aim
on reducing health disparities in Latino and other
minority communities.
Additional to that, I volunteer to organizations
such as Massachusetts
Hispanic Dental Association
and the Remote Area Medical like RAM USA,
has reinforced my dedication to serving those in
need.
These roles has taught me that the importance
of empathy,
teamwork,
and the persistence when navigating challenges with the
dental health care.
Well, thank you so much for providing such
a valuable perspective.
Now looking ahead, what strategic initiatives are you
focusing on to drive both growth and enhance
patient care?
So that's very,
important,
question. So my focus in in on expanded
access to the preventive services and education,
which are the fundamental to improving
oral outcomes,
We are also exploring partnerships that will allow
us to offer more comprehensive,
culturally
competent care to communities.
For the growth
of our team is
prioritizing
sustainable patient centered approaches
that include enhanced
communication and engagement with patients
so they feel empowered and informed in their
care journey.
Well, thank you so much for sharing. And
on that note, I imagine there are a
lot of unique challenges that also come up
in the dental and DSO landscape.
Are there any particular issues that you and
your team are currently navigating, and how are
you addressing them?
One of the biggest challenges in the DSO
industry
is the shortage of affordable and accessible
dental care options,
especially for the marginated populations.
Another is the insurance
consistency
in high quality care across different clinics.
In response of our focus has been on
enhancing collaboration
with the local and national
organizations
to provide additional
resources and support to underserved
areas.
We also emphasize
the outgoing training and development for our team
to maintain
a high standard of care.
Alright. And before we wrap up here, what
essential qualities or skills should emerging leaders in
the industry cultivate?
Those emergency leaders should prioritize
empathy,
adaptability,
and commitment to lifelong learning.
In our industry,
understanding patients'
unique needs and challenges can lead to more
personalized,
effective care.
In addition to this, that the adaptability
is crucial
as they feel involved with the modern technologies
and approaches.
Cultivating
a grow mindset will allow future leaders to
stay
innovative and compassionate,
fostering a more inclusive and responsive dental care
system.
Well, thank you so much for joining us
today on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast.
Once again, we are live at the Becker's
Healthcare fall 2024 future of dentistry roundtable.
Carolina, it's been wonderful having you with us
today, and I hope you enjoy the rest
of the event. Thank you so much.