Dr. Leary is a graduate of The UOP Dental School, USAF General Practice Residency, and has been in Private Care practice for 18 years; mentor at Schuster Center for Practice Development, and Past-President Mid-Peninsula Dental Society.
Dr. Leary is a FACE foundation for advanced continuing education and Orognathic Bioesthetic Institute graduate, and is on the Board of Directors for OBI. He has Advanced Cosmetic dentistry training, and lectures on Case Presentation, Health-Centered Care, and Adult restorative dentistry. He is the Past President of the Rotary club, and has two sons who are engineers — one in SF startup, one on sub in the Navy.
His favorite quotes:
“True proactiveness comes from seeing how we contribute to our own problem.” – Peter Senge (click to tweet!)
“Unhappiness is not knowing what you want, and killing yourself to get it.” – Robert Fried (click to tweet!)
What he does for the dental profession:
Tim is a mentor at the Schuster Center. He’s also been very active in organized dentistry; he’s the chairman of the peer review in their component of the California Dental Association, for about 10 years.
Tim’s difficult time story:
Tim shares his experience working in the air force with an expanded duties dental assistant, where he worked continually bouncing between 2-3 operatories – seeing two patients simultaneously. Eventually, when he got his own private practice, he applied this similar style. And as the practice become busier, Tim finds it more and more challenging to deliver excellent care to his patients. He experienced the same in his career at the PRIDE Institute, where he was bouncing around so much, working on two rooms, and checking two hygienist. He eventually sought out Schuster center and found a mentor — that was a fit for him philosophically and personally –that would help him create the kind of practice that he wanted.
What is concerning him right now in dentistry:
Listen as Tim explains his two concerns:
- “Dentists over treat bug control, and they under treat force control.”
- “Dentistry is becoming more of a business, and less of a profession.”
The best advice Tim has ever received:
Dr. Mike Schuster gave him an advise to do a written review of findings. Tim says he experienced explosive growth in his practice when he started applying it; people were just blown away that a doctor would take the time to actually write down what he saw, what the long-term prognosis is, what the diagnosis was and what would be the recommendation.
The one habit that contributes to his success:
Patients are bombarded with consumer advertisement marketing. And when they come to Tim, the first thing he does – the only thing that he does – is make a recommendation that shows them how to help themselves. He doesn’t recommend treatment in their first visit.
By doing this, it makes both Tim and the patients feel good — and the patient’s trust level goes up very quickly. And as they come back and get more engaged in the process, then they are more likely to make prudent, long-term decisions.
Clinical/management pearl (tip):
- “Whenever you do an exam, call out the data as you are doing the exam in non-technical terms.”
- “Spend some time working on your practice, not just working in your practice.”
What is exciting him right now about dentistry:
Helping people get healthy and just getting to know people on a deeper level.
Giving back to the profession and having an opportunity to talk to dentists and their staff that are interested in implementing the health-centered, patient-centered model.
Internet / App resource that he feels is awesome:
Dropbox – a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily.
JotNot – an iPhone application that uses the phone’s camera to scan documents and pictures into electronic PDF files that can be saved on the phone.
Tim’s book recommendations:
“The 22 Non-Negotiable Laws of Wellness: Take Your Health into Your Own Hands to Feel, Think, and Live Better Than You Ever Thought Possible” by Greg Anderson
- Hardcover edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Kindle edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
“Next Medicine: The Science and Civics of Health” by Walter M. Bortz, MD
“Path of Least Resistance: Learning to Become the Creative Force in Your Own Life” by Robert Fritz
- Hardcover edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
“What’s Your Point?” by Bob Boylan
- Paperback edition can be purchased on Amazon here.
“Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences” by Nancy Duarte
His recommendations for those who are about to restart or start a new practice:
- Choose your model of practice. Don’t let the model you practice in for the rest of your life choose you.
- Who you are is more important than what you say.
Dr. Tim Leary can be reached at:
- Email: twlysh@gmail.com
- Phone: (650) 328-8544
If you enjoyed, I would really appreciate a review in iTunes & Stitcher!