New business education club for dental students debuted with online seminar
A new student-run organization at Schulich Dentistry is creating a space for dental students to learn about business and entrepreneurship opportunities within their future profession.
The Dental Entrepreneurship, Business and Innovation (DEBI) club has been active on social media since August, posting information related to human resources, finance and accounting, business law and more.
On September 26, DEBI hosted their first virtual speaker event, welcoming Dr. Jonathon Mahn, DDS’07, Adjunct Clinical Professor at Schulich Dentistry and an alumnus of the School, to share his expertise as a clinic owner.
Dr. Mahn is the co-owner of a Paris, Ontario based practice, managing more than 60 staff members. In his seminar, “Owning your Practice vs. Getting Owned by your Practice,” he shared the joys and pitfalls of practice ownership, the skills needed to be an owner, and the importance of having a vision for one’s career.
According to the group’s Instagram account, DEBI was created to address “a crucial need within dental education,” for students to graduate “equipped with the business acumen they need to navigate the dental industry.”
DEBI club president Nima Noyan, Dentistry Class of 2023, said the success of the first seminar was encouraging, and motivated the group to continue their seminar series. In October, the club hosted a second seminar with Dr. Shervin Rowshani, who shared his insights as a dentist and MBA graduate.
Noyan says the club will also continue to expand its online peer education efforts through their YouTube, Instagram and Facebook accounts, as well as an upcoming podcast.
