- Hack Dentistry
1Getting through (MDS)
I finished my BDS in 2010 (Annamalai University) and followed the herd like everybody else by starting to prepare for MDS entrance exams as I thought that was the only path I had to/could take. I got through and chose to do Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology in Ramaiah Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore.
2Honing skills
I always knew life after MDS was not going to be easy. In order to have better prospects after MDS, I tried to hone my research and manuscript writing skills. I worked very hard and published 16 papers (research and review), including my thesis, during my PG days, something I will always be proud of. Doing this diligently also helped me pick up patience, work ethic, grit and learning skills.
3Life after MDS
I managed to get a job as a Senior Lecturer in Ragas Dental College, Chennai after a few months. Somehow, being an academician was not what I had imagined. The monotony along with a low pay, made me quit my job. However, I feel I was rather brash and arrogant on hindsight. I would rather advice my junior colleagues to develop patience and be humble.
4Building HackDentistry
Thankfully the skills I honed during my PG days helped.
I decided to take a risk and build an unconventional career, to build an Ed-Tech platform for dental students. I worked hard, picked up some essential tech skills and with the help of a very good friend (Dr.Divakar Remigius, Periodontist and Clinician, Madurai) built a web platform called HackDentistry (www.hackdentistry.com). It took many years and sweat to create content and today HackDentistry offers,
I managed to monetize it (which I think is the most important skill). As a business HackDentistry has subscriptions from students in over 42 countries and continues to progress and grow steadily.
Who said a dentist is restricted to practice or academics?
Dr. Sanketh Sharathkumar
Oral Pathologist and Founder, HackDentistry
