Episode 59: Dr. Lauren Yasuda Rainey on Finding Your Place in Dentistry
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Show Notes
What happens when the dental career you worked so hard to build turns out not to be the one that makes you happiest? For Dr. Lauren Yasuda Rainey, the answer was discovering that there are many ways to make a meaningful impact in dentistry beyond owning a private practice. On this episode of The Technology Evangelist Podcast, host Dr. John Flucke welcomes Dr. Rainey for an honest conversation about dental practice ownership, career transitions, mentorship, dental education, and finding fulfillment in a profession that demands so much from its practitioners.
After more than a decade in clinical dentistry, including owning and operating her own fee-for-service private practice in the Bay Area, Dr. Rainey made the decision to sell her practice and pursue a different balance between patient care and dental education. She shares the challenges of practice ownership, from navigating the COVID-19 pandemic to managing the countless responsibilities that come with running a dental business, and explains how recognizing what wasn't bringing her joy helped her discover new opportunities within the profession.
Dr. Rainey and Dr. Flucke also explore the importance of mentorship, executive coaching, and building a supportive professional community. They discuss why dentists shouldn't feel limited to private practice ownership, how dental educators can multiply their impact beyond the patients they personally treat, and why maintaining clinical standards and following established protocols are essential to delivering consistent results. The conversation also touches on the pressures dentists face, the relationship between professional identity and personal fulfillment, and the value of learning from mistakes rather than facing them alone.
Whether you're a dental student exploring your future, a clinician navigating the challenges of practice ownership, or an experienced dentist considering a new direction, this episode offers a valuable reminder: there is more than one way to build a rewarding career in dentistry.
To connect with Dr. Lauren Yasuda Rainey, find her on Instagram at @rainydds or visit her website at laurenrainey.com.
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