Team Size
15
Revenue
Not disclosed
Location
Dubai
STart Date
2017
Today my interview is with amazing dr. Mai Abdelsalam, the founder of Orthodentistry from Dubai. Dr. Mai is all about spreading awareness through her specialty and not only drawing smiles but transforming lives.
INTRODUCTION
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND THE BUSINESS YOU STARTED.
As an Orthodontist, I am looking forward to being able to fully utilize my professional experience with patients & dig deep in studies to provide the best treatment and be able to implement the science to Examine, Diagnose, and Treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies.
I have a Bachelor degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Modern Sciences and Arts University in Egypt. I graduated with High Honors in July 2016 and became an American Dental Association Member in June 2017 after completing a full year internship and residency in a National hospital.
I have studied a full Medical nutrition course with Cornell University and graduated in July 2017. As well, I have finished a Graduate Basic Sciences program with Harvard Medical School studying Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Genetics in September 2017.
I started my specialization in Orthodontics in September 2017. I obtained my M.Sc. in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in Hamdan Bin Mohamed College of Dental Medicine (previously Boston Dental Institute of Research and Education). I am currently working in Dubai Dental Clinic in Dubai HealthCare City.
I won the first poster presentation award in the AEEDC 2020, on my master thesis research “The Reliability of three Dimensional Imaging as an assessment tool to detect airway dimensional changes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea patients-A systematic review and Meta analysis
I am now a member of the European Orthodontic Society (EOS), World Federation of Orthodontics (WFO), Emirates Medical Association (EMA), and American Association of Orthodontics (AAO). I am currently doing the membership of Royal College of Edinburgh (MORTH) as well.
WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO YOU STAY PRODUCTIVE?
I wake up at 6 am , usually do cycling around my house, prepare everything for my father who suffers from Alzheimer disease after which I go to the clinic and work there until 6 pm. At nights, I usually work on my master thesis research or do yoga at home before bed.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING YOUR BUSINESS.
I started Orthodentistry one year ago when I was still doing my Orthodontics specialization after one patient told me in the clinic “Dr. Mai we love to learn from you, why don’t you post all this information on social media?”. So I created Orthodentistry. Orto came from orthodontics and Dentistry from my background of 6 years working as a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT AND YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SINCE YOU STARTED YOUR BUSINESS?
Biggest achievement: I won the 1st place poster presentation in AEEDC2020 which is the biggest conference held in UAE and the middle east, for my master thesis research in (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) (OSA), which is a medical syndrome that is fatal and under diagnosed in the whole GCC population
Biggest challenge: to find time to address all the patients queries through answering their questions and recording videos to explain braces related procedure in #learnwithdrmai videos on Instagram and YouTube, to find time to do #livewithdrmai every month as per their request, and do #askwithdrmai every week with this routine schedule I have, but their love and appreciation always motivated me to do my best.
WHAT STRATEGY DID YOU USE TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? AND HOW?
I always listen to my patients, followers and always ask them in POLLS about everything, all the topics they want to ask or know, it is for them and addressed to them.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS?
I believe that Orthodentistry will grow more as per my followers request to involve not only Orthodontics and Dentistry but also, Nutrition awareness, as I took a nutrition course with Cornell University and I am blessed to be asked to share all the knowledge I have through spreading awareness.
RECOMMENDATIONS & FINAL THOUGHTS
WHAT OR WHO HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCE IN BUSINESS AND WHY?
My greatest influencer is Oprah. I love her for being genuine and trying her best to spread happiness all around the world. This is my goal, I would like to impact the whole world through my knowledge!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Women are super creatures. We were born to inspire all around us, since being a mom and a wife is every woman’s role by default, our super powers can really help us start our own business.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS?
Feel free to contact me at @drmaiorthodentistry for any dental or orthodontic advice or free consultation!
Violeta Semenova
Founder
theBizLadies
Welcome to the Biz Ladies interview series!
If you’re new to these series, I interview women entrepreneurs on how they started their business, what was the idea behind it, how they got where they are, the struggles, the reality and more.
By sharing their stories, we want to inspire other women to get started.
If you are interested to share your own story on the Biz Ladies LET ME KNOW!