Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Sara Mahmood.
Dr. Mahmood, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Since as far back as I can remember, I’ve been mesmerized with healthcare and helping others through the study of medicine. Watching my dad treat his patients and following him like a shadow through the hallways in the hospitals he did rounds in instilled in me an innate desire to be an integral part of others’ healing. As I grew older and began high school, I began to nourish my right brain with a keen interest in painting, drawing, writing and prose. I searched for a career path that allowed me to balance my passion for both science and art and I soon discovered that in dentistry there was a distinct harmony among the two. I became laser-focused in seeing my goal come to fruition and entered college with a strong resolve of getting admitted into dental school. My parents were overwhelmingly supportive as my dad always pushed me to become a professional for the sake of job security, financial prosperity, self-respect and independence. However, like many people, they had their own personal doubts when it came to going to the dentist. I distinctly remember my mom coming home when I was in my early teens just completely distraught because a dentist extracted her tooth and she never really understood why. When I was accepted into Baylor College of Dentistry (now known as Texas A&M College of Dentistry) back in 2011, I knew going into the field that I would do whatever I could to change the perception of dentists by creating a practice that brought integrity, transparency and honesty to the table for ALL patients. Fast forward to graduation day in May 2015, the day I became a doctor and the day I also began my studies in Healthcare Management at The Naveen Jindal School of Management. I couldn’t wait to begin to learn how to bring my vision to life and so I completed my Master’s program in business school in exactly one year, graduating in May of 2016. By March of 2017, I opened brush. With a promise to provide Dentistry with Integrity. Over the course of the past few months, we’ve been able to share our culture of honesty, kindness, sincerity and love to patients in the HEB area and it’s been extremely fulfilling!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think almost all business owners experience setbacks and struggles on their journey to entrepreneurship. Personally, my most profound hardships were related to dental school. The workload associated with a doctorate program is extremely intense, with upwards of 30 hours of courses per semester. I found comfort and release in leadership so I served in a number of organizations at the local, state and national level, which allowed me the opportunity to meet so many people and attend some incredible conferences around the country. Balancing leadership with school posed its own challenges but it prepared me on how to juggle a multitude of different tasks at once. Opening a business in it of itself was stressful but in a way that excited me. Since we’ve opened, the biggest struggles have been maintaining and nourishing our culture as a practice while still encouraging profitability. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t pay the bills but I never, ever want that to cloud how I do business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about brush. – what should we know?
My business is brush. – Dentistry with Integrity. We are a general practice that specializes in providing comprehensive dental care to people of all ages. We have a strong emphasis on cosmetic cases and take pride in having all brand new, state-of-the-art equipment. Like many other offices, we boast TVs in every room, snacks, a coffee/tea bar, blankets, wireless Beats headphones and many other comforts to keep the dental appointment enjoyable. What sets us apart is our true and unwavering commitment to doing all things with integrity. All of my team is trained to follow their gut instinct. If something feels like the wrong thing to do, it probably is. Instead of the golden rule that states to treat others the way you want to be treated, we encourage adhering to the PLATINUM rule which states to treat others the way THEY want to be treated. We have integrity in our clinical care by never cutting corners in quality. From offering digital x-rays to reduce radiation exposure, to using only BPA-free materials and being completely metal free, to providing alternatives to fluoride, we have integrity in understanding holistic health. In terms of patient care, we always do what’s right. If treatment doesn’t work out or isn’t done to the highest standard, we redo it. If a diagnosis is made, we do our absolute best to be transparent in costs and expectations. With respect to employee culture, everyone is treated with respect and kindness. Our culture thrives on being nice, honest and helpful. In everything we do, we are Dentistry with Integrity.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
To be quite frank, I think my commitment to creating something meaningful and impactful is what’s most important to my success. Instead of focusing on the financial gains, I let that be a secondary effect of establishing a business that improves the lives of everyone associated with it. While we all want to have the means to provide for ourselves and our families in a comfortable way, my first and foremost goal is to have a business that proliferates the market in a way that makes all people feel they are entitled to honest, transparent and high-quality dental care. We want to create an experience that leaves people feeling respected and taken care of. My ability to stay completely and utterly focused on the culture of my business will allow me to be successful (I hope!)
Contact Info:
- Address: brush.
800 Forest Oaks Lane
Suite A
Hurst, Texas 76053 - Website: www.brushHEB.com
- Phone: 8177700272
- Email: info@brushHEB.com
- Instagram: brushdental_dfw
- Facebook: brushdental.dfw
- Yelp: brush-hurst
Image Credit:
Fez Hussaini – Photo under Headline
Steve Crane Photography
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