2,000 Miles Away /rom Comfort Led me closer to my core. A residency, a continent, and the rooms where the most meaningful growth quietly happens. Athena Zhong The Human INDSO INDSO I was sitting in a dental conference when the ques- tion first came to mind. The speakers were engag- ing the room with groundbreaking ideas on nutri- tion, salivary diagnostics, and glucose monitoring.
Around me, attendees placed continuous glucose monitors on their arms and synced real-time data to their phones. Conversations centered on how what we eat influences health far beyond the mouth. Almost instinctively, I thought: Is this the DSO. 'NDSO| be) future of dentistry? I had never experienced a lec- ture like this in dental school.
Instead of focusing on restorative techniques, I found myself drawn to something larger — oral health connecting with sys- temic health in ways I had not fully considered. The questions that began in that room kept expanding into new conversations and a clearer vision of the kind of dentist I wanted to become. These were the moments I had been seeking, even before I knew it. 2,500 MILES AWAY FROM COMFORT In my fourth year at the University of Toronto, I felt confident in my clinical foundation as I considered my next step. I had wonderful mentors in private practice and residency, both of which offered valu- able perspectives, yet no one could tell me which di- rection was right for me.
It led to a deeper question: What kind of dentist do I want to be? I wanted to pursue excellence, provide the highest level of care for my patients, and create an impact greater than myself. That curiosity pushed me to pursue a residency. I had never been to Los Angeles, but I was drawn to the well-rounded Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Growing up in Toronto, I had always been captivated by images of palm tree-lined streets and the cinematic scenes of Hollywood films. The idea of learning complex treatment plan- ning in a city that had only existed in movies felt surreal and exciting. As I packed, I began to recon- sider what I truly valued. Each item I left behind seemed to make space for a new version of myself.
With my life in three suitcases, I booked a one-way ticket and moved across the continent — one of the best decisions I ever made. On the first day of residency, our program direc- tor asked each of us to record our goals so we could revisit them at graduation. I shared that I wanted to refine my clinical skills, improve efficiency, and gain confidence managing complex cases. Residency delivered on all those goals.
My first case — a five-unit implant-supported bridge with a sin- gle crown — challenged what I thought I was capa- ble of from day one. However, I did not anticipate that the most meaningful growth occurred outside the operatory. It happened in rooms I did not yet know existed, and in moments where I felt out of place. Dental school gave us the foundations, and my school's faculty was exceptional in equipping us with the tools necessary to establish ideal tooth preparations and restorations.
What we learned was essential, yet a different kind of learning began after graduation. Patients bring expectations, fears, and health complexities that extend far beyond pro- cedures. Communication and adaptability become just as important as technical skill. At the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention, I saw firsthand den- tistry's role in overall wellness — discussions on the impact of pro-inflammatory diets on systemic in- flammation, the use of salivary diagnostics to guide periodontal care, and how continuous glucose mon- itors can benefit even healthy individuals.
This ex- perience offered a glimpse into a future that is not distant. And we have the opportu- nity to shape it. When a close mentor encouraged me to attend the Empower and Grow Conference hosted by Women in DSO, I initially hesitated. I knew little about the DSO model and was unsure whether I be- longed in that space.
Ultimately, I decided to go, and the experience changed my perspective. I found myself engaging with senior leaders from various organizations, thinking critically about systems, ac- cess to care, and the future of dentistry. Although initially intimidated, I was pleased by how genuine and supportive the conversations were. I began to see how ideas could scale into broader impact. “The most meaning[ul growth happens in the least expected rooms.” DR.
ATHENA ZHONG Then came a chance encounter. I was looking for a table at lunch when I noticed an open seat beside a group deeply engaged in conversation. They were having a surprisingly thought-provoking debate about the best way to grow hibiscus plants — which, as it turns out, is exactly how some of the most memorable discussions begin. We spoke about sun- light, soil, and how growing conditions differed across where we came from.
It had nothing to do with dentistry, yet somehow it brought us together. One woman had entered the dental field just five days earlier. Despite our different experiences, we connected deeply through a shared curiosity. She asked ques- tions without hesitation, and I found myself ex- plaining clinical realities I usually take for granted.
In return, she reframed things from a systems per- spective I had never considered. That conversation 2,500 MILES AWAY FROM COMFORT reminded me that contribution has less to do with experience and far more with a willingness to share, listen, and learn from one another. Whether or not you choose to pursue a residency, dentistry offers countless opportunities to expand beyond our comfort zones. Some experiences sharpen clinical skills.
Others build bridges and re- shape perspectives. Often, the most meaningful growth happens in the least expected rooms. We are entering one of the most transformative eras of dentistry, defined by oral-systemic integration, in- novation, and expanding opportunity. Through un- certainty, I discovered my core values: a commit- ment to continuous growth, the courage to embrace discomfort, and the determination to make a mean- ingful impact.
Moving 2,500 miles away from home brought me closer to the person I aspire to be — and to the question in that conference room: if this is the future of dentistry, how do I help shape it? Athena Zhong earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Toronto and is completing the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is active in research and leadership, having co-authored research posters, served as chapter president of the Student Professionalism and Ethics Association, and received awards from the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. Along with her sister, Briana Zhong, she co-founded Gifts That Smile, which has distributed thousands of care packages to underserved communities.