Resident Spotlight: Quyen Pham, DMD

Compiled by Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter                                  

Dr. Quyen Pham is currently in her second year as an endodontic resident at NOVA Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. She is serving as the Chief Resident while in her final year. The Paper Point’s Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter recently caught up with her to learn more about her journey to endo and her very busy life!

The Paper Point: Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview and sharing your story with us, Quyen. Balancing residency while raising a family is no small feat. There are many residents who are doing the same, so I’m elated you are able to sit down with us! Let’s start by you telling us a little bit about yourself.
Dr. Quyen Pham: Thank you, Priscilla. Many times, I feel guilty for being given this credit, because it really takes an entire village behind me, supporting me, and allowing me to pursue an endodontic residency. However, it’s an honor and I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my story so thank you for having me!

My parents are immigrants from Vietnam and I am the first in my family to graduate college and pursue a doctorate. I mostly grew up in South Florida, but I went to the University of Florida for undergrad and dental school. Afterwards, I practiced as a general dentist in Orlando for 7 years and that is also where I started my little family before moving to Ft. Lauderdale for residency at Nova Southeastern.

The Paper Point: Did you always know you wanted to specialize in endodontics, or did that spark come later?
Dr. Quyen Pham: Oh, absolutely not! I didn’t have any interest during dental school.  During dental school, I didn’t feel like I was exposed to it enough to feel very confident that it was the only thing I wanted to do. When I began to practice, I knew I had an interest in root canals in general after my first year out, but not enough to ever think I’d go back and pursue a residency. Long story short, I was blessed with such an amazing first job. I was kept busy with your bread and butter and cosmetic dentistry. I loved it! And for me, it was almost always a predictable outcome on my end… I hardly ever “took work home”.  It allowed me such a great work life balance. Like what more could I ask for, right? But anytime I had an opportunity to do an endo case, I wanted to go for it! However, I didn’t like that if there were complications; complications as simple as not being able to find a canal or get to length, I didn’t know how to properly manage it.

I’ll never forget when I had my first two failures. A premolar where I missed a canal and a single canal #10. It humbled me and I became selective on which cases I would do. But the more selective I became on cases, the less cases I did. And the main spark? the fuel that really told me to pursue an endodontic residency? Becoming a mother. Once motherhood kicked in, I felt like I was balancing a thousand things. Synonymous to being a general dentist. As a general dentist, you can be the jack of all trades, but the master of none. I wanted something more for myself professionally, something that would allow me to have professional growth but also allow me to be the best mother I could be. I realized my favorite thing about dentistry is the biology behind it, relieving people of pain and creating the patient experience. That’s when I knew I wanted to master one thing that encompasses that… and that was endodontics for me.

The Paper Point: Wow, that makes so much sense! What would you say is the most unexpected skill you’ve gained from balancing residency while raising three kids?
Dr. Quyen Pham:  Switching seamlessly from having a professional demeanor with patients, to being a student with my co-residents, and then going home and being playful but then having to switch back to being the rule enforcer at home with the kids. I guess the skill is wearing different personality hats, all in a day’s work!

The Paper Point: What advice would you give to other moms thinking about entering or advancing in dentistry and going back to residency?
Dr. Quyen Pham: My advice is if you’re waiting for the perfect timing, the timing is now because there is no such thing as perfect timing. If I learned anything as a mom, or an adult, it’s that things never slow down! So if you’re mentally ready and have the support, there’s no better timing!

The Paper Point:  I love that! You’re so right about timing. It’s going to pass, regardless of what we do so we may as well go for what we want. What’s something about dentistry, especially endodontics, that you love so much you’d want your kids to know about it?
Dr. Quyen Pham: It takes great patience and is no easy feat, but it provides so much instant gratification being able to be that person who resolves pain and infection. We are the ones who get to the root of the problem ;). What else do I love? Rubber dams!! No longer dealing with the tongue and saliva!

The Paper Point: Haha, I know that’s right! I’m sure that you are extremely busy at the moment. Do you have any hobbies or routines that help you unwind, or are you fully in the world of teeth, kids, and residency right now?
Dr. Quyen Pham: Honestly, I love nothing more than just being with my kids. It is chaotic, but they are so much fun at this age! My break is when they’re sleeping beside me and that’s my time to unwind and admire their “sweetness.” I also use the time to catch up with the group chats, shop online, plan weekend events for the kids, and scroll endlessly on my phone until it’s way too late. Of course, I regret it the next morning!

Wow, I guess that is my routine. And I guess that’s considered my “me time” in this era. And then on weekends, I sleep in.

The Paper Point: Sleeping in sounds like a dream. Okay, so we’re dying to know. Which is more challenging: calming a nervous patient or getting your kids to eat their vegetables?
Dr. Quyen Pham: 1,000% getting my kids to eat their vegetables! There is just too much bribing involved. At least I don’t have to bribe my patients. 😀

The Paper Point: Graduation is just around the corner! What is next for you?
Dr. Quyen Pham: I’ll be returning to Orlando. It’s the city where I started raising my family and I am excited to return.

The Paper Point: Once you finish your residency, if you could plan a vacation anywhere to celebrate, where would you go?
Dr. Quyen Pham: I would want to go back to Japan! I love sushi. I just want to eat real authentic fresh sushi every day.

The Paper Point: Mmmm, that sounds delicious! Dr. Pham, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Do you have any final words that you would like to share with our readers?
Dr. Quyen Pham: Thank you for considering me and my story! It doesn’t feel like much to share, but when I reflect on it.. I’m proud that one day my kids can also hear about what mom does for work. My final words to any of our readers is to always stay current in our field and if it’s on your mind to pursue more, whether it be a new job, ownership, or residency, go for it! I think you’ll always know if you want more of something, so if you have the urge, don’t let anything get in your way. Especially when you become a parent, you tend to put yourself last. But if you fuel yourself first, you’ll be able to give the best version of yourself to everyone else around you.

Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter is a member of the AAE’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee.