#259 Survivor — Devinia ‘Coco’ Lavan-Iswaran

Former BACD president Andrew Chandrapal discusses his journey in dentistry, from his early days balancing dental school with music aspirations to becoming a respected clinician and educator.  He shares insights on the value of humility in dentistry, the impact of social media on patient expectations, and the significance of building trust with patients.  He also reflects on his experiences with the BACD and his approach to teaching. Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:55 - Early years 00:05:35 - Personal loss 00:07:35 - Dentistry Vs music career 00:09:40 - Ego and humility 00:16:50 - Social media 00:23:55 - Treatment planning and patient communication 00:31:30 - Full mouth rehabilitation 00:47:50 - Blackbox thinking 00:55:05 - Teaching and education 01:16:35 - BACD 01:22:20 - Quick-fire questions 01:27:25 - Fantasy dinner party About Andrew Chandrapal Andrew Chandrapal is an aesthetic and restorative dentist and former president of the British Association of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD).

Payman Langroudi sits down with Dr. Zohaib Ali, a specialist prosthodontist and leader in the bio-emulation movement in the UK.  They discuss Dr. Ali's journey in dentistry, his experiences with various dental techniques and technologies, and his thoughts on education and patient care.  The conversation covers everything from the challenges of NHS dentistry to the importance of clear communication with patients and the future of digital dentistry. Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:35 - Bio-emulative dentistry 00:07:15 - From Ireland to the UK 00:11:55 - Dental education 00:16:35 - Injection moulding techniques 00:21:25 - Financial crisis 00:24:35 - Specialisation 00:29:55 - Mental health awareness in dentistry 00:38:35 - Education, communication, and patient autonomy 00:49:50 - New technologies 00:54:55 - Responsibility 01:00:25 - Education: quality and variety 01:11:50 - Patient communication and treatment planning 01:19:35 - The Bio-emulation symposium 01:53:05 - Fantasy dinner party 01:54:30 - Last days and legacy About Zohaib Ali Zohaib Ali is a specialist prosthodontist interested in bio-emulative dentistry.

Dr Devinia Lavan-Iswaran (known as Coco) shares her inspiring journey from surviving domestic abuse to rediscovering herself and thriving as a dentist and mentor.  She discusses her multicultural upbringing, experiences in boarding school, and how she rebuilt her life and career after leaving an abusive marriage.  Coco offers insights into resilience, the importance of self-worth, and her passion for helping others through dentistry and charitable work. In This Episode 00:05:00 - Backstory 00:13:35 - Boarding school  00:24:05 - Study 00:26:50 - Early career 00:39:35 - Marriage, abuse and turning point 01:00:30 - Rebuilding 01:09:35 - Finding joy in dentistry 01:19:15 - Creating positive experiences for patients 01:25:45 - Blackbox thinking 01:29:10 - Charity work 01:33:30 - Fantasy dinner party About Coco Coco qualified from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1995. She currently works in private practice in Holborn, London.

Payman Langroudi meets Awaz Sharief, a young dentist with a special interest in minimally invasive endodontics.  Awaz shares her journey, personal challenges, and innovative approach to minimally invasive endodontics treatments.  The conversation covers clinical techniques, personal growth, faith, and the importance of emotional awareness. In This Episode 00:02:24 - Pulpotomy approach 00:05:35 - Back story 00:21:25 - Faith, belief, and finding meaning 00:24:35 - Personal growth 00:31:55 - Narcissism and emotional suppression 00:37:35 - Dentistry and teaching 00:43:45 - Work-life balance 00:55:50 - Women in dental education 01:01:10 - Fantasy dinner party and life advice About Awaz Sharief Awaz Sharief is a Greater Manchester-based dentist with a special interest in minimally invasive endodontics.

In this insightful episode, Dru Shah, a specialist periodontist and founder of the Dentinal Tubules network, discusses the state of dental education, personal growth, and the challenges facing the dental profession.  He shares his views on leadership, the importance of trust in dentistry, and the need for a more patient-centric approach. Dru also touches on broader societal issues, including multiculturalism and social integration. In This Episode 00:02:00 - Authenticity 00:04:35 - Reading and learning 00:07:10 - Repetition 00:08:35 - The challenge of engagement 00:16:35 - Learning styles 00:22:50 - Dentinal Tubules 00:25:55 - CPD and commoditisation 00:29:25 - Relationship-building 00:35:25 - Leadership and team management 00:41:35 - Awards and humility 00:44:45 - AI learning 00:52:50 - Career planning 00:57:50 - Dentinal Tubules Congress and future plans 01:03:55 - Unrest in the UK 01:15:55 - Multiculturalism, integration and breaking down barriers About Dru Shah Dhru is a specialist in periodontics and the CEO of Dentinal Tubules, an online training platform for dentists across the globe.

Rhona and Payman chat with Levi Levenfiche, co-founder of PerfectTed, Europe's first matcha-powered energy drink company. Levi shares his entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges of starting a business with family members, the impact of appearing on Dragon's Den, and the rapid growth of PerfectTed.  The conversation covers various aspects of running a start-up, from product development and marketing strategies to managing team dynamics and personal mental health. In This Episode 00:01:10 - Backstory 00:04:35 - PerfectTed origins 00:18:35 - Dragon's Den 00:27:20 - Product growth 00:31:50 - Business and family 00:37:35 - Marketing and brand building 00:41:55 - Perfect Ted roadmap 00:46:35 - Personal challenges 00:51:20 - Hiring and managing a growing team 00:56:50 - Thinking big 01:04:50 - Dentistry and confidence 01:06:35 - Business mistakes About Levi Levenfiche Levi Levenfiche is the co-founder and managing director of the PerfectTed organic matcha energy drink brand. 

Payman Langroudi chats with Giovanni Martino, a young Italian dentist practising in the UK. Giovanni shares his journey from studying dentistry in Italy to working in the NHS and private practice in the UK. Giovanni discusses the importance of continuing education, challenges and opportunities in dentistry and how his musical background has influenced his approach to dentistry. In This Episode 00:03:55 - Background with the Delta Academy 00:05:50 - Teaching and learning 00:08:45 - Work and the UK 00:14:00 - Music and dentistry 00:21:10 - Patient communication 00:28:25 - Study in Italy and Spain 00:37:35 - DJing 00:43:00 - Fatherhood 00:51:30 - UK Vs Italian dentistry 00:57:55 - Unrest in the UK 01:04:35 - Patient-driven orthodontics 01:15:45 - Adhesive dentistry and "aha" moments 01:25:25 - Thoughts on practice ownership 01:37:35 - Standardization and corporate dentistry 01:40:10 - Blackbox thinking 01:44:20 - Fantasy dinner party  01:45:54 - Last day and legacy About Dr Giovanni Martino Dr Giovanni Martino graduated with a Diploma in Dentistry from the University of L'Aquila, Italy, in 2017. He now practices in Bristol, UK.

Payman Langroudi chats with May Firoozmand, a young dentist who recently qualified from Bulgaria. May shares her journey into dentistry, her experiences studying abroad, and her perspective on life and service shaped by her Baha'i faith. The conversation covers topics ranging from her dental education in Bulgaria to her charitable work and future aspirations in dentistry. In This Episode 00:02:35 - Faith 00:07:35 - Family influence 00:14:50 - Study 00:19:20 - Oral surgery 00:23:25 - Bulgaria 00:29:35 - Charity and community  00:43:40 - Faith and personal loss 00:49:15 - Oral surgery career paths 00:54:15 - Mentoring and support 00:57:30 - Fantasy dinner party 01:00:25 - Last days and legacy About May Firoozmand May Firoozmand graduated in May 2024 from the Medical University Varna with a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine).

Dr Tara recounts her journey from a conservative upbringing to becoming a leading voice in sexual education and empowerment.  The professor and sex expert shares her personal experiences with marriage, divorce, and finding a fulfilling relationship, while also delving into topics such as sexual mindfulness, the impact of cultural norms on relationships, and the complexities of infidelity.  Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:00 - Background 00:04:35 - Religion, culture and sexuality 00:08:35 - Body neutrality and body image 00:16:50 - Academia 00:20:20 - Sexual chemistry 00:26:25 - Divorce and healing 00:31:30 - Relationships and monogamy 00:41:00 - Sexual mindfulness 00:45:45 - Pornography and ethics 00:52:50 - Toxic masculinity 00:57:20 - Celebs Go Dating 01:06:35 - Infidelity 01:25:50 - Future plans About Dr Tara Dr. Tara is a tenured professor at California State University Fullerton, where she teaches relational and sexual communication and quantitative research. She is also a researcher and appears as a sex expert on the TV show Celebs Go Dating. Dr Tara is also the host of the Luvbites by Dr Tara Podcast.

Payman meets Kunal Thakker, the founder of Tooth Club, a rapidly growing dental practice group in the UK. Kunal shares his journey from a career in banking to disrupting the dental industry, discussing his approach to creating a patient-centric experience, scaling a dental business, and the challenges of maintaining quality while expanding.  He offers insights into his marketing strategies, recruitment practices, and the importance of company culture in building a successful dental group. In This Episode 00:04:35 - Backstory 00:09:50 - From finance to dentistry 00:21:10 - Tooth Club 00:25:25 - Setting up squats 00:31:25 - Recruiting and retaining 00:37:35 - Measuring success 00:43:00 - Painless injections 00:49:55 - Management and structure 00:57:30 - Marketing 01:08:25 - Ethics and motivation 01:25:35 - Blackbox thinking 01:27:20 - Fantasy dinner party  01:28:20 - Last days and legacy About Kunal Thakker Kunal Thakker is a former executive director at Goldman Sachs and the founder of Tooth Club—a membership-based chain of dental practices.