From a young age I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in dentistry. It started with the my orthodontic experience that boosted my self-confidence. I instantly knew that I wanted to be able to give others the confidence they deserve. Since starting my dental hygiene career I have been able to fulfill that dream. Inside the operatory I am extremely passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and judgement free environment for my patients. I have worked extensively with patients who suffer from PTSD, anxiety and dementia. I avidly research the advancements within our field; and work to find easy ways to make oral health care easier and less intimidating. In the past I have also been the key leader at organizing community outreach within my dental office. I have collected, organized, and donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthrinse samples to non-profits within my community that support women and children that are victims of domestic violence, as well as nursing homes. I’ve also orchestrated events at local free libraries where we read to children and provided them and their parents with dental hygiene supplies and education.
While my clinical career is extremely fulfilling it is also a mission of mine to provide that same care within the dental hygiene community. Graduating and starting my career during the Pandemic felt extremely isolating. I lacked much needed support and mentorship, and quickly became overwhelmed with my schedule. Within one year of starting my clinical career, I experienced career burnout. Starting my burnout recovery journey ignited my passion for creating community and spreading awareness on the importance of prioritizing our mental health as healthcare providers, as well as burnout education.
My personal and professional experiences lead to the development of my podcast and mentoring business that I call Sunday Scalies. Currently, the Sunday Scalies Podcast is where I connect with other hygienists who share their journeys and experiences with burnout and what they are doing to overcome it. We also discuss any career transitions that have taken them outside of the operatory. On the podcast, you can also find episodes that highlight products I have found helpful for minimizing both provider and patient anxieties. As a mentoring business, Sunday Scalies, offers mentorship and guidance to new graduates. Sunday Scalies aims to educate them on imposter syndrome, burnout, and the importance of professional boundaries. It also provides new graduates with resume building and interviewing tips, and a guide for transitioning to the one hour hygiene visit. Sunday Scalies ultimate goal is to provide them with tips and tricks to gain the confidence when it comes to starting their career.
The development of Sunday Scalies was made possible through my social media journey. I was able to create the community that I so craved and receive support and guidance from incredible individuals. This lead to writing and publishing articles in RDH Mag, Dentistry IQ, and RDH Connect. It also lead to the development of my burnout course for professionals which I have had the opportunity to present through platforms like Cloud Dentistry. Sunday Scalies is simply a way for me to give back to others hygienists and dental professional. I strive to provide the dental hygiene community with the support, guidance, and safe space that I felt I lacked when starting my career. It is a way for me to talk about the “hard” stuff as a way to foster a supportive community and space for both providers and patients alike.