Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Han.
Hi Eric, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as a dental anesthesiologist began when I was a 12‑year‑old kid. One of the regular customers at my father’s restaurant was a gentleman named Bruce—an anesthesiologist at a local hospital in Portland, Oregon. He would come by three to four times a week to pick up his lunch and tell us about his day: his surgeries, his patients, difficult cases, and the fun and interesting moments. Over time, I began to realize that he had a very important job—not only to keep his patients safe, but also to provide psychological assurance during their most vulnerable moments. This left a lasting impression of admiration and respect for his profession. Little did I know at the time that I would one day walk in the same footsteps as Bruce.
In college, I studied Economics with plans to become a marketing expert at a large corporation. I started out as a salesman in the airline industry during the 2008 recession and eventually became a Marketing Coordinator at Samsung.
However, after a few years, I decided to make a career change when I realized I wanted to make a more direct impact on a person’s life and well‑being. Fortunately, I met Dr. Steve Olsen, a well‑respected dentist in San Francisco, who allowed me to work at his multi‑specialty dental office and learn how dentistry can profoundly impact people’s lives. This experience helped me appreciate the importance of oral health and the quality of life it brings. With Dr. Olsen’s recommendation, I enrolled at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and graduated with the Class of 2015.
Shortly after graduation, I met another mentor who guided me closer to becoming an anesthesiologist—Dr. Patric McCarty, a mobile dental anesthesiologist in Boston, MA. I took his courses in IV sedation and medical emergencies. I remember being fascinated by the intricacies of human physiology and the mechanisms by which anesthetic medications affect the body, allowing patients to overcome obstacles to dental treatment such as anxiety, dental phobia, and special needs conditions. He kindly allowed me to shadow him and provided invaluable mentorship. With Dr. McCarty’s recommendation, I was accepted into the St. Barnabas Hospital Dental Anesthesiology Residency Program in New York, where I spent three years learning and practicing anesthesia in a Level‑1 (later Level‑2) trauma center.
Even though the hours were rough—many nights with little sleep and long shifts—I enjoyed every moment of learning. The program director and anesthesia department worked hard to ensure they were by our side throughout training. Our Anesthesia Department Chairman, Dr. Rob Karpinos, always told us, “Make all the mistakes here, so that you can handle difficult situations with competence in the real world.”
I graduated from the residency program in 2019 and worked with a group practice that helped me begin my career. I found it extremely rewarding to apply my skills in the real world and help patients receive the dental treatment they desperately needed. The trust that patients—and parents of pediatric patients—placed in me strengthened my sense of responsibility and encouraged me to become an even more competent and caring anesthesia provider.
In 2023, I decided to separate Han Anesthesiology from the group to gain more autonomy in clinical and administrative decision‑making. The group respected my decision, and we remain supportive colleagues to this day.
Currently, I provide mobile anesthesia services to patients at their own dental clinics across the Dallas–Fort Worth region. My assistant and I travel with the anesthesia equipment and medications, so that patients can receive anesthesia in the comfort of their own dentists’ offices. I provide all levels of anesthesia—from twilight “moderate sedation” to complete “general anesthesia”—depending on the circumstances. My techniques range from inhalational anesthesia to IV anesthesia using various medications tailored to each patient.
My career goal is to continue honoring the trust my patients place in me through competence and compassionate care, and to mentor aspiring anesthesiologists just as my mentors—Bruce, Dr. Olsen, Dr. McCarty, and Dr. Karpinos—guided me toward this rewarding profession.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The hours during residency were tough. We were newly married at the time, so I had to manage my time well – between spending time with my wife, working the long hours in the hospital, and getting the needed rest after my shift. But we made the most out of our paid-vacation – we traveled together during our free time. These were one of the most memorable times we spent together.
We also had to live in one of the most expensive part of the country during residency, which was challenging. My wife made it all work out by financially supporting us during this time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our company provides mobile dental anesthesia services. We travel with our equipment, medications, and safety kit to the patient’s dental office all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We provide all levels of anesthesia from light sedation to complete general anesthesia so that patients can overcome their anxiety, phobia, and various special needs to receive their much needed dental treatment.
The core of our brand is based on Matthew 22:37-39 – to demonstrate God’s love to others through competency, care, and professionalism. This is also why we continually strive to maintain exceptional standards of care.
How do you define success?
Success is a state in which you are completely content, satisfied, and hopeful regardless of your circumstances, and this inner condition is outwardly demonstrated through excellence in everything you do in your profession.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedreampros.com
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/tdp.dentalanesthesia
- Other: https://share.google/gkuvfJSU0Pxj4xKMu
