Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Dan Burch.
Hi Dr. Burch, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I completed dental school at UT Health Science Center- Memphis and residency in pediatric dentistry at Howard University College of Dentistry. My experience in residency was unique in comparison to most other programs. I was not only able to treat children but also special needs adults while teaching predoctoral students. It wasn’t until graduating that I realized teaching was my career path. I applied for several faculty positions across the U.S. and was happy to be given a position in one of the most prestigious pediatric dentistry programs in the nation at Texas A&M College of Dentistry. Since the start of my service to the college, I have given my all to its students and patients. Every year, I have encouraged residency training to graduating students and helped guide them through the application process. I participate in the high school career day and admissions post-baccalaureate programs. Lastly, I have the honor of starting the first minority-centered, special care dentistry program in the nation. This fellowship program focuses on special needs patients with a host of medical and intellectual complexities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As with many first-generation minority doctors, my journey has not been an easy one. Staying encouraged and focused through hard times was a constant struggle. I had dozens of friends that started with me but did not make it through college and professional school. Additionally, there were people that thought I was being too ambitious at times and should settle for less.
The success of my fellowship program and ability to motivate so many minority students to enroll into residency programs is a testament to my perseverance and character in facing challenges.
We’ve been impressed with Texas A&M College of Dentistry, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
TAMCOD Department of Pediatric Dentistry treats more than 30,000 children, adolescents, and special care patients annually. We staff the dental safety net system for the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area. This is in addition to the more than 100,000 annual patient visits conducted at TAMCOD.
What really sets my department apart from others is the level of training we provide in pediatric dentistry and having the only special care dentistry fellowship in the state of Texas (and only minority program in the nation).
I am most proud of being able to serve our patient base in their neighborhoods with young doctors that look and sound like them. It is hard to gain doctor-patient trust but this has made it exponentially easier for families across Dallas.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is a crucial part of becoming a doctor. Many of those I trained with had between $300-500k in student loans. We all took a big risk gambling on our own educational success. This was the first major risk I took; 12 years of education and hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans. My most recent risk has been starting my special care fellowship, grant writing and fundraising can be laborious. Learning to do something I never had any experience in before was daunting at times. This was one of the best risks I could have ever taken. It manifested into an explosion in my potential and career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dentistry.tamu.edu/
Image Credits
Texas A&M College of Dentistry
Steven Crown
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
McKay Hendershot
