The Missing Voices: Women Surgeons Kept from the Podium
Written by: Dr. Maggie Augustyn, FAGD, FICOI, FAAIP
Women make up 37.7%1 of dentists in the United States. Worldwide, it’s a little harder to pinpoint; we have estimates that vary greatly between 48% and 75%2. Female graduates in the United States have outnumbered males, with that number being 51.6%3. To some, the issue of male versus female practitioners in our profession might have gotten exhausting. To others, the imbalance that women feel in the profession is prevailing, having made little headway. This imbalance becomes glaringly obvious when we look at who gets invited to speak at the podium, at least in the following examples.
What got my engine revving recently on the issue were two widely publicized conferences, which I saw across all social media channels. One was an international conference on patients without teeth; the other was a business and tech conference in the U.S. The international conference had 15 speakers and was heavy on surgical procedures for the edentulous patient. The meeting planner invited two females to lecture from the podium.
The second, a U.S.-based business and technology conference, was even worse: 30 speakers, with less than 10%—just two women—on stage. These numbers weren’t just disappointing; they were infuriating. I couldn’t sit back and let this imbalance go unchallenged.
I had contacted the meeting planners of the U.S.-hosted meeting via email, Instagram, and LinkedIn with curiosity and to spark a conversation. I received no response. When I talked with colleagues about this imbalance in the ratio of speakers, the justifications that were directed toward the meeting planners had to do with women not performing high-end surgical procedures and not sitting atop the business and technology game. And my answer to those colleagues was: how hard did the meeting planners search?
I, in no way, want to trivialize planning a meeting—the intricate detail that goes into attracting an audience that has, as of recent, become shy to travel. But I also will not sit idly to excuse the lack of advancement in their thinking patterns. So, I decided to search for these non-existing forward-thinking female surgeons myself. Within a couple of weeks, I found myself at an implant course where, within moments, I had found not one, but two female surgeons who could have very easily been invited on stage to either meeting.
Breaking Through the Closed Doors of Surgery
I interviewed one of those surgeons, Dr. Amanda Sheehan, ABDSM, DICOI, FAACA, MAGD, LLSR. And that’s when this article took a sharp turn. This article was no longer going to be about educating said meeting planners on failing to do their due diligence. It has now become about showcasing the very turbulent and dangerous road that female surgeons navigate to gain respect and visibility in our communities—especially as general dentists.
Dr. Sheehan’s story is a window into the broader challenges faced by general dentists who dare to pursue surgery. Let’s start at the place of choosing to pursue surgery as a general dentist. What if one has evolved a thirst and longing for restorative dentistry and surgery, and chooses not to choose between the two? What if one believes that comprehensive dentistry can be provided in the hands of one clinician? This decision to learn and incorporate surgery into our general practice, in and of itself, presents tremendous, treacherous, and painful challenges. One of the biggest challenges? Lack of mentorship. Our specialist colleagues—not all, but many—not only refuse any kind of mentorship, they flat out close the doors to their operatories, preventing us from learning. And there are those—call it insecurity or scarcity mindset—that will even diminish the general dentist’s reputation within the community.
Dr. Sheehan was not immune to this kind of competitive and disparaging behavior. She remembers a conversation she had with an in-network oral surgeon. A subject of fees had come up, and the OS found out that Sheehan’s out-of-network fees were higher than his. The following day, a Google review posted on her page: “Beware, this dentist is not a specialist but charges specialist fees. Going to a weekend course does not make you a specialist.” Amanda called the specialist soon after to inquire about his involvement, which he denied. The review disappeared mysteriously shortly after the call. I assure you, Dr. Sheehan’s story is not unique.
Together We Rise: Inviting Specialists to Mentor and Guide
Let’s step back and sit with the above for a minute. Let’s unpack it. Let’s talk about how difficult surgery is to incorporate into our practices. Placing an implant has its own challenges: there is the anatomy, the surgical skill—but we might agree that certain parts of surgery may not actually be as technique-sensitive as placing a class II resin. And for the periodontists and oral surgeons reading this, I invite you to sit in our chairs and give it a go again.
The hardest part of surgery, however, is the case selection, the medical history review, dare I say the patient, the post-op and the complications, the long-term survival or success, the new literature. And on that—on those very things—we need one another, the experience of one another, we need mentorship, the experience of another practitioner. Performing surgery in a silo without mentorship is insufferably trying.
Now imagine performing this difficult task—not just with zero support from your specialist “friends”—imagine doing it with someone throwing rocks while you’re holding a handpiece. Specialists might argue that they see so many botched-up cases, they save so many general dentists, they simply don’t believe we are skilled enough to perform these procedures. This has certainly been the (let’s not call it an excuse) justification given to me when the doors were shut in my face.
But wouldn’t it be in the best interest of everyone—the patient and practitioner, and the relationship between the specialist and the general dentist—if the door that is currently getting slammed in our face were to be wide open? Wouldn’t that diminish the “botched” cases? Just a thought. The truth is, collaboration and mentorship could transform not just our practices but the entire profession. Yet, too often, those opportunities are withheld.
A Surgical Love Story
Part of the reason the specialist took down his Google review was Dr. Amanda’s reply to that review. Because when she countered, she let him know exactly who she was and how she’d been trained. She was not a weekend warrior who took one course and started placing implants—he was just ignorant to that fact.
She is a board-certified Diplomate in the American Board of Oral Implantology, a Diplomate in the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, a Diplomate in the International Congress of Oral Implantology, a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, a Fellow in the American Academy of Clear Aligners. She has a certificate in Dental Oncology and a certificate in Dental Esthetics (University of Minnesota), as well as a Lifelong Learning and Service Award. To date, she has almost 5,000 hours of continuing education.
Her love affair with surgery started in dental school, where she went on remote area medical trips. While most students went on one, she ventured on four. Following State University of New York at Buffalo, she completed a residency at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. She chose that specific residency to deepen her connection between what she’d learned in dental school and medicine. Her chief oncologist at Roswell taught her a very important lesson. She told her, “The worst thing you can be for a patient is indecisive.” Those words have carried her through many surgeries and do to this day.
As an associate, she cultivated her love for surgery and put every penny she earned into surgical curriculums. She went on many trips abroad to place implants. She purchased her own equipment. She used her own kits and instruments, while the owner got the majority of the profit. But it wasn’t as easy as I am making it sound.
The owner doctor also put roadblocks in Amanda’s way. She was told that she could only place implants if she found a specialist to oversee and mentor her. And with the story above, how hard could that have been? Somehow, however, she found one who was not threatened by her. The owner also specified that she needed to understand restorative dentistry, not just surgery. She did that, and she also taught the owner doctor how to perform surgery—to do socket preservations—raising overall production for the office, gaining nothing in return. Faced with constant roadblocks and limited support, Dr. Sheehan realized that if she wanted to fully pursue her passion for surgery, she would have to carve her own path.
Sheehan spent every dollar she earned on continuing education courses. She was gone almost every weekend—so much so that it became a running joke in the family: “Where are you off to now, Amanda?” Materialistically, her life did not look much different than it had in dental school. No fancy car, or purse—CE was the vacation of choice.
The roadblocks created in the associateship became so great that she ventured into her own practice purchase. Young and inexperienced, she purchased a practice because of the building that came with it, not because the philosophy matched hers. And that became another challenge to overcome.
She needed to re-educate the patients who were willing to learn, teach them about comprehensive dentistry, and hire a new team that would stand behind her. But she rose to the opportunity. Through unwavering perseverance, she overcame many obstacles and ultimately achieved success. Owning her own practice was another beginning of Dr. Sheehan’s journey. She continued to push herself, seeking out new opportunities to learn and grow.
The Power of a Guiding Hand
Her education didn’t stop with the weight of the new practice. In 2014, she began to walk a path with Dr. Randolph Resnik. This is where she first started to learn how to read CBCT scans—and she was amazed by how much more she had to learn. The idea that there was more to know didn’t dissuade her; it excited her. She dove deeper into her education with Dr. Resnik, who eventually became not just her mentor but one of her greatest cheerleaders.
Dr. Sheehan spent so much time studying at the (now) Resnik Implant Institute that she was eventually asked to become a faculty member—an honor she deeply valued. Despite this, the roadblocks didn’t stop.
With a mindset of helping everyone around her, she often spent time at the registration desk. Wearing her doctor name tag, she was frequently asked by visiting doctors and faculty to fetch coffee or registration materials, rather than being recognized as the fully trained, experienced, ready-to-mentor implant surgeon that she was. While she didn’t let these moments define her, they did change her. They sharpened her resolve, deepened her empathy, and gave her a clearer understanding of the barriers women in this field face every day.
But it was all worth it, because one person was always looking out for her—a person who had her back, who encouraged her, and who saw her more clearly than she saw herself: Dr. Resnik. He held her hand when she needed him and let go of it when it was time for her to fly. He pushed her at moments when she hesitated and wanted to stay safe, because he knew she was meant for greatness. There’s a rare kind of beauty in that type of relationship—that kind of mentorship that few of us are lucky enough to have in our lives.
The benefit of that bond exists on a deeply human level, not just a professional one, and it benefits both mentor and mentee. Those who close the door behind them, who operate from a scarcity mindset, shut themselves off from the very magic of passing on the joy of watching the next generation of doctors evolve. They lose out on the honor of passing the torch. It is their loss—a true loss to those who throw roadblocks in the way of clinicians thirsting for growth.
Executive Energy: Balancing Confidence, Compassion, and Identity
Dr. Amanda Sheehan represents many women. The roadblocks put in front of her are the same ones many general dentists seeking to become surgeons face, and they do change you. They harden you. Unlike specialists, general dentists learning surgery live multiple lives. We perform the drill-and-fill Monday through Friday and train in surgery on weekends, vacations, and after hours. This teaches us that time is scarce, so when you communicate, you get right to the point—and fast.
As a woman, the world uses that against you. You simply cut out the sugar-coating and deliver pertinent information in seconds. As a result, you’re told you’re too honest, too blunt, or insensitive. You’re told you lack compassion. You’re told you have too much authority and carry an air of arrogance. Not confidence—arrogance. And these are the very traits this same culture celebrates in male CEOs but does not permit women to have.
Surgery coursework is traditionally filled with—and taught by—men, so the soft and the pink must be turned off; emotion and compassion are frowned upon. Decisions must be made on the spot, and they must be made confidently. A strong armor, often perceived as arrogance, must be worn for women to compete on an even playing field. And often, that shell stays on.
I’ll speak from my own experience when I say this barrier does not translate well into personal life. In my marriage, I’m accused of treating my husband like an employee. I’m accused of being controlling—of behaving under the spell of masculine energy—the same energy that has granted me my surgical skills. And so, I’ve spent my entire career becoming what I always wanted to be, only to find it’s become a hindrance in other parts of my life.
In this, again, I am not alone. And the roadblocks continue. When I brought this up with Amanda—when we talked about it in depth—she said she took issue with the idea of masculine and feminine energy being at play or at odds. She said: “I prefer to call it executive energy.” And I think she might be onto something.
Because of Her: A Vision for the Future of Women in Surgery
At one point, while we were speaking about Amanda’s board certification, she said, “There is nothing special about me.” I wanted to jump through the Zoom screen and shake her awake. Wow, did she get that wrong. She really had no idea what she’d become.
As much as she represents many women, she also represents very few. She had no idea who she’d become to me and to the women in our field. It’s usually the older women who empower the young. Amanda is almost ten years my junior—and she inspires me. There is everything special about her. She is my hero. She is all the things I could not be. She is all the things I wasn’t strong enough to be—things I lacked the belief to imagine myself becoming.
But because of her—yes, late in my career—I can finally have that vision of myself, because she did it first. Because of her, I’ve fallen in love with dentistry again, and I do so every day.
And it doesn’t stop there. Amanda has already overcome roadblocks, and she’s still moving past others. Because of the ones she will undoubtedly take on in the future, a whole generation of female general dentists will be inspired to become surgeons. They’ll join the ranks of great surgeons like Dr. Sheehan for the right reasons, under the right mentorship, and with a lifelong commitment to learning—not as weekend warriors.
I met Amanda briefly before this interview and asked if I could talk to her. I didn’t know her. As I walked toward her, I had no idea that tears were going to flow. And yet, they did. I cried, thrilled for the new generation of female dentists, because they had the likes of Dr. Amanda Sheehan to look up to—someone within reach. She was not just knowledgeable, accomplished, fellowed, and board-certified. She was open. She was approachable.
I envied the new generation, because seeing the face of Dr. Sheehan wasn’t foreign or as uncommon for them as it had been for me. And I knew that, more than likely, those young women didn’t realize how lucky they were to be standing protected—ready to soar to new heights.
For a solitary moment, I felt saddened. A part of me wondered who I could have been if I’d had someone like her to look up to. And then I smiled. It didn’t matter—I had arrived here, now, and I couldn’t love it more. And the rest will arrive that much faster.
No matter the anchors Dr. Sheehan had to carry to get to where she stands, no matter the weights she bore, she is different. Unlike the generations before her—before me—where women at the top were molded to act stoic and cold, eternally masculine and detached, Dr. Sheehan is different. Whether by her own choice, or to balance—or discard—what had been ingrained within her, or whether it was Dr. Resnik who allowed her to come alive, she is different. She is welcoming. Yes, strong, commanding respect, and confident. But also helpful, kind, and giving.
And that’s why my tears flowed. Because in that one moment, I saw how far we’d come in the 25 years I’ve been part of this industry. Some might say it took too long—I say it happened in the blink of an eye. What I didn’t have, the new women of implant dentistry and surgery now have standing right in front of them, ready for the taking. They have Dr. Amanda Sheehan.
My only wish is that Amanda sees what we all see.
REFERENCES
- https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/us-dentist-demographics
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10865874/#:~:text=by%20nation%2Dstates.-,4,9
- https://www.ada.org/resources/research/health-policy-institute/dental-school-grads-gender-2021-2022
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Maggie Augustyn, FAGD, FICOI, FAAIP, is a Dawson-trained practicing general dentist, owner of Happy Tooth, author, and inspirational keynote speaker. Featured on 4 dental magazine covers and recognized by Dentistry Today as one of the top 250 leaders, she inspires others through her writing, helping them find healing and connection. Dr. Augustyn serves as the national spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry and as a faculty member for the Productive Dentist Academy. She contributes monthly to her “Mindful Moments” column for Dentistry Today and AGD Impact and writes for other publications as well. With unwavering compassion and a dedication to excellence, Dr. Augustyn addresses audiences ranging from a few dozen to thousands, guiding them toward fulfillment and meaningful impact. To contact her, email [email protected].
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Sergey Tinyakov/Shutterstock.com.
