Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Lam.
Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always known I wanted to become a dentist since I was in middle school. My parents are from Vietnam and China, so as a kid, we frequently traveled there in the summer. I have always observed my family’s oral health in Vietnam and China and was curious as to why they didn’t have the best oral health. I quickly realized that early education would have been a preventative measure for their poor dental conditions so I wanted to make a difference and help them. After graduating from UT Health School of Dentistry, I worked as an associate for three years, with the motivation to save money to be able to open up my own practice. Before opening up Refine Dentistry, I spent countless months researching and thinking about my branding.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! It was a challenge adapting to college life. I had two Cs freshman year and my counselor basically told me to choose a different route. I took it upon myself to prove that I could not only keep pursuing dentistry but to pass all my classes with straight As. I ended up getting accepted to my top-choice dental school. Also, opening up a practice during the pandemic was not ideal, but I have been fortunate to be where I am today. On top of that, I am honored to treat my established patients and excited to welcome new patients as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My goal was to create a modern office space where people are not afraid of coming to the dentist. From the moment a new or existing patient walks through the door, I want them to feel comfortable and at ease. I know that coming to the dentist is many people’s biggest fear so I had to put myself in the mindset of a patient and what I would want coming to a dental office.
Creating TikTok and Instagram content was rewarding in ways of having my patients feel relatable to me. This also allows me to educate the audience on oral health in a fun way and give my team a breath of fresh air, share laughs, and create memories. I started doing TikToks during the pandemic, which I know was a hard time for all of us. So, if I could just make one person laugh enough to forget their problems then my day was not wasted.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Having a mentor does not have to be dental-related. My mentors are my dad and older brother. They have supported me through all obstacles. My older brother going to medical school and becoming an ophthalmologist inspired me to study and put in the hard work to succeed. On my not so studious days, seeing my brother encouraged me. My dad moved to the U.S. without money and with perseverance, he opened up an AC business. Eventually, he saved enough money to open a restaurant, which influenced my decision to open my private practice. As for networking, my advice is to reach out to as many dental professionals as possible. Through the power of social media, I found doctors I looked up to and wanted to do the same in my own ways.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@refinedentistry.com
- Website: refinedentistry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refinedentistry/?hl=en
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.richardlam?lang=en
Image Credits:
Nadeem Khan (@nadeemski)
