Name: Dr. Shirley Stella Josephine R
Birth Place: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India
Educational Qualification: BDS, SRM University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2014 - 2019)
MDS, MGR University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India (2020 - 2023)
Languages you speak or write: Tamil and English
What do you do?
I'm a working dental professional specializing in Endodontics.
What prompted you to choose this profession?
I chose dentistry due to a combination of factors, such as an interest in healthcare, a desire to help people, and an attraction to specialize in the field of oral health.
What is the best part about being a dental student/professional?
The rewarding feeling of helping patients achieve and maintain healthy smiles, and the opportunity to build meaningful connections with them.
How do you like spending your free time?
I would like to spend my free time watching my favorite series with a cup of coffee.
Which is your favorite subject in dentistry and why?
My preference would be Endodontics because of finding fulfillment in the precise and detailed nature of root canal treatments, the opportunity to alleviate a patient's dental pain, or a fascination with preserving natural teeth.
Which is your least favorite subject in dentistry?
My least favorite would be Public Health Dentistry because of its extremely difficult content and my preference for hands-on clinical work rather than community-based work.
What are some studying tips you use to retain and understand things better?
Regular review sessions helped me to retain things in my mind for a longer term.
Which dental procedure(s) do you enjoy/anticipate doing the most?
Root canal treatment
What do you enjoy more, doing an RCT or extracting teeth?
I love performing root canal treatment because of the sense of accomplishment, the relief provided to patients' dental pain, and the ongoing learning aspects every day.
What are some challenges you face in your professional field?
Financially underpaid and lots of competition
How would your friends describe you?
Funny, trustworthy, and talkative
What has been the best/ most memorable moment in your dental school so far?
One memorable moment in dental school could be the first time I successfully performed a root canal treatment for a third molar.
Has dentistry impacted your food choices? Like, do you consume less sugary and sticky food items?
Yes, they have certainly. I'm a sweet tooth person but I have reduced my intake of sugary food items in my daily life.
As a dental health professional, what is your dental health care regime?
Brushing twice daily and scaling twice annually.
If given a choice, what alternate career would you have opted for?
I would have opted for something more adventurous as I love traveling and since I'm passionate about aviation, would have aspired to become a pilot.
Where would you like to work in the future?
I see myself continuing to develop my skills and expertise in dentistry. I am eager to take on more responsibilities and contribute to the field of healthcare.
What is your dream travel destination?
Las Vegas
Tell us a secret talent(s) that the world does not know about you.
Not much of a secret though, but I memorize things quickly
What are you not very good at?
Trusting people too easily.
A quote that resonates deeply with you?
Believe you can, and you're halfway there.