With great power comes great responsibility

This is a palate cleansing amuse-bouche before the finale of The Ranula Chronicles. Having recently attend a Future Leaders in Prosthodontics (FLIP) foundational conference, I wanted to reflect on the experience and the meaning of leadership in this specialized field.

the wise words from The Spider Man series

Okay, technically this significant (and significant-sounding) quote is derived from many sources . No matter who or where it came from, it is very profound and true.

In becoming a leader within a very long and historical educational program, it is very easy to go with the existing flow and fall within the status quo.

There is nothing wrong with exploratory studies - understanding the overall lay of the land, meeting and interacting with the players, and acclimating to the environment. This draws similarities to an initial prosthodontic consultation: baseline data collection consisting of recording chief concerns, obtaining medical and dental histories, and establishing clinical findings at initial presentation. Although the terminology that I’m using are very sterile, that’s intentional because objectivity is essential during the initial intake process.

But from that objective baseline, the goal is to move forward.

In prosthodontic rehabilitative care, that means enhancing oral health function and esthetics - be it through oral disease control, oral prostheses, and/or routine maintenance care. But, in an educational program, the “move forward” part isn’t quite as clear. Systems have been established, the players already have full toolboxes of tricks and routines, and - let’s be honest - change is never easy.

Let’s go back. And edit.

In becoming a leader within a very long and historical educational program, it is easy to go with the existing flow and fall within the status quo. So, don’t.

Photo credit: Dr. Andres Ponce

I realize that I am in a position to move away from the risk of becoming a work ant. I don’t necessarily want to become the Queen, but I do want to impart an influence that positively impacts the program and those involved in it. But, “imparting an influence” is a very abstract concept. It doesn’t convey the complexities of leadership like communication (how to communicate efficiently but effectively, and through which medium?), negotiation (not just financial, but how does one negotiate- as opposed to simply mandating- with others such that a mutual and ideally synergistic outcome results), and confrontation of honest realities (like ingrained and unconscious biases). This just names a few of the many considerations that need to be acknowledged in that process of “imparting an influence”.

The timing of the FLIP 9 conference in Mahwah, New Jersey could not have come in a better time for me professionally and personally. Within the professional scope, learning about the tools that I already have and would benefit to have in navigating through my leadership experience was very valuable. The conference provided a network of well-established leaders within the prosthodontic specialty who shared their thoughts, insights, and experiences to provide an array of blueprints for the journey I’ve embarked. I also got to meet several folks whose articles and research I’ve read, quoted, and relied upon during my own training. In my proud-to-geek-out way, I was totally in awe to be within (but hopefully not too close) their presence.

But the personal part is what has continued to reverberate. I was one in a class of a diverse group of individuals - different cultures, professional positions, ages - who shared in that mindset of wondering and wandering within leadership. I felt happy and relieved to know that I am not the only one who struggles, who faces these existential questions, but who also gives their best effort and go to figure things out. The “take home” meaning that I took was that we are individuals who use our differences to actually contribute and build a community that can lift everyone together. I’m excited to see these awesome people again and to also see how they develop and grow from the lessons we gleaned from this experience and much more. But I’m also excited to be able to know that these awesome people are also rooting for me.

To recall the first quote - “With great power comes great responsibility” - I’m still in the midst of understanding what those responsibilities are and how I can actually implement them in productive and meaningful ways. I know that this learning process will not go in a linear, uphill trajectory (probably more like up and down, turn it around - kind of like how I tell patients to move their tongues while border molding for dentures). But I’m so very hopeful and optimistic for the future :)

This post’s lesson: Finding memes leads to treasures