Dr. Erin Sheffield @drerinsheffield - Dr. Gallagher's Podcast x Dose of Dental Podcast #157

Top 5 Topics:

- Fired for Getting Pregnant?!

- Paying Off Student Loans in 1 Year as a Surgeon

- Launching a Women-Only Surgeon Retreat That Changes Lives!

- Why Dr. Sheffield Quit Medicaid After Getting a 2-Cent Check

- The Real-Life Struggles of Women Surgeons Balancing Every Single Day (And You Don’t Realize)

Quotes & Wisdom:

05:32 – “When you’re a happy doctor, you’re better able to take care of your patients and your practice.”

06:45 – “We can really take back control of our lives and hopefully make our life the way we want.”

19:49 – “You should talk about maternity leave in your contract—but the second you bring it up, that’s sometimes enough to scare people off.”

48:50 – “Figure out who you are again—because you probably don’t know who you are outside of residency anymore.”

Questions:

00:04 – What are all these pictures and paintings in the back?

01:00 – As two surgeons, how do you and your husband manage family and work responsibilities?

02:34 – Where did you and your husband meet, and what’s the story behind it?

03:54 – Why did you choose to take Mondays off as an oral surgeon?

05:32 – What advice do you have for doctors feeling burned out in traditional practice models?

06:45 – What happened when you were fired after getting pregnant—and how did you handle it?

08:38 – Do you think a 10–7 schedule on Mondays could benefit patients and lifestyle balance?

10:51 – How do you approach implant marketing and building relationships with referring dentists?

12:37 – What was it like restarting a rural practice solo and paying off loans in your first year?

16:32 – How did you recruit your own replacement—and what happened after maternity leave?

19:06 – How do you navigate workplace drama and gender dynamics in private practice?

20:15 – Should you talk about maternity leave in your contract negotiation? Why or why not?

22:16 – What kinds of surgical procedures do you enjoy doing most right now?

25:33 – Can you walk us through a recent surgical case with unexpected challenges?

29:22 – Why don’t some hospitals pay oral surgeons to take call—and what can be done?

32:23 – Do you get offended if hospital staff call you “the dentist”?

34:40 – Do you take insurance or operate as fee-for-service—and why?

35:30 – Why did you stop taking Medicaid after receiving a 2-cent reimbursement check?

39:18 – What inspired you to start a retreat exclusively for women in oral surgery?

43:39 – What is the new podcast “Resting Stitch Face” about—and when is it launching?

Now available on:

- Dr. Gallagher’s Podcast & YouTube Channel

- Dose of Dental Podcast #157

My watch in this episode = Tag Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 16 Chrono

- 6.2025

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