Dr.KY Sha

Motivation to study in medicine:

My father is a soldier in Tri-Service General Hospital, having a thorough understanding of the National Defense Medical health care system. He hoped that I can study in the Department of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center to become a doctor, which was a good promotion pipeline and needed no tuition. Initially, I did not want to be a dentist, for in Father’s generation, the ranking of Department of Dental medicine was even worse than the Department of Pharmacy. In my generation, National Health Insurance weren’t launched, which made dentists’ employment environment unideal. However, due to the reputation of NTU and the cheap tuition, I decided to study in the dental department at National Taiwan University.

 

Leaving the hospital

In fact, staying in the hospital after graduation is an honor, for remarkable grades were required. The reason why I decided to run a clinic after graduation includes salaries and freedom. At that time, the average monthly salary was 35,000, while running a clinic made 100,000 per month. Additionally, the works in hospitals were fixed and boring. I preferred to have a lot more flexible life. After the reform of medical system, the deterioration between physicians and patients was more serious, opening a dental clinic has accidently become a wonderful choice.

Is there any family member who is also a physician? Do your children wish to become a physician?

My elders are all not physicians, and only my father has been in contact with the physicians. My son studies in Taipei Private Yan-ping High School, having outstanding academic performances and great willingness to study in Departments of Medicine. I endeavor him.

 

Unforgettable Experiences

I have a lot of patients, but there isn’t a most profound case. Only in one specific circumstance I sometimes felt touched. I often do not know durable should the dentures be. Last for two years, five years, or five months? Some patients do not even put on their dentures, but they hardly ever came back to my clinic. Death is an inevitable process, however, when you have frequent interaction with people who suddenly disappeared, it definitely makes people grieved.

What’s your opinion about the deterioration of the doctor-patient relationship? Is it departments of medicine oversupplying? Is the overwhelming amount of physicians an alert?

 

Nowadays, healthcare goes too consumerism. Dental clinics are now even more than 7-11, which represents the access to health is very convenient. Nevertheless, it leads to the result that most people forget it’s us, the physicians, who they ask for help. If the aspect could be followed, I believe that the relationship between physicians and patients will be much better.

 

According to statistics and senior dentist professors, young dentists usually have difficulties in patient gaps and problems being infamous. How should they adapt and even overcome those difficulties?

 

I used to be extremely afraid of being asked after graduation: "? How have you been graduated?" I think the best way to overcome is to constantly update their medical knowledge and techniques to resolve each patient's problem, to lower your attitude, and to do all the work and services. "Treat the patient as a whole, not a hole." Utterly understand the overall status of each patient rather than seeing the patient's teeth. Therefore, your patient will bring more people to your clinic, which is why I put whole effort on the accumulation of reputation.

 

With the development of science and technology, what are dentists’ future prospects?

 

Dentistry develops the most in scientific advances, including materials and 3D printing technology (CAD / CAM, computer added design / computer added manufacture). It is remarkably efficient to manufacture a model sculpture by scanning technology. However, the method isn’t common yet due to the expensive cost. Dentistry doesn’t rely on robots that much because the dental molding is a handmade industry and requires professional manpower.

How many years have you been engaged in this industry? When is your retirement? How do you balance loads of work and family life?

 

I engaged in medical work for twenty-five years and had intended to retire four at 40. However, I’m now 50 and I’m still working, for this is the only job I could make ends meet. I believe I’m responsible for my patients, resulting in extremely long work hours. Therefore, I have to sacrifice some time to get along with my children. Fortunately, my wife can take care of the children wholeheartly.

 

Educational background:

National Taiwan Normal University Affiliated High School

Department of Dental Medicine National Taiwan University

Doctor’s encouragement:

Physicians must continuously update their knowledge and expertise to solve patients’ difficulties.