Orthotown July/August 2024 - 8

Board Profi le
BY SAM MITTELSTEADT
Each month this year,
Orthotown will spotlight
a member of its editorial
advisory board-the
3 QUESTIONS WITH
Dr. Adith
Venugopal
Dr. Adith Venugopal, who joined the Orthotown editorial advisory board in 2022, earned his clinical MS in orthodontics in the Philippines and
his PhD in orthodontics in South Korea, lived in Cambodia for eight years, was aff iliated with a university in India, and recently became a senior
lecturer and orthodontist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. No matter where he resides, Venugopal has shared interesting clinical
cases; his article in this issue ( " Iatrogenic Challenges, " p. 30) is his fourth article for Orthotown in as many years.
1. What inspired such an international,
multicultural work history?
My international career comes from a mix of loving
orthodontics, enjoying diff erent cultures and a drive to
learn globally. Living and working in various countries
has given me a better grasp of health care systems and
patient needs. Experiencing diff erent cultures enriches
my life, making me more adaptable and empathetic.
Th ese diverse environments have boosted my skills and
knowledge. Plus, building an international network has
opened up cool opportunities for research and teaching.
My love for traveling and treating patients from diff erent
backgrounds has really expanded my understanding of
smiles around the world.
2. In your article, you compare one case from early
in your career with another that you treated after
you'd gained more experience. Many doctors would
be worried about presenting a less-than-ideal result
as their fi nished work, but your opinion is that
sharing learning experiences helps others improve
how they practice, too.
While many doctors might hesitate to present lessthan-ideal
results, I believe sharing these learning
experiences is crucial for everyone's growth.
As clinicians, we make mistakes every day, and it's
important to realize that making mistakes is normal.
Sharing the common mistakes we make in our
daily practice can help other clinicians immensely.
A supportive community where we can exchange ideas
and thoughts is invaluable. Platforms like Orthotown's
message boards off er a space for orthodontists to
learn from each other's successes and challenges.
Th is open sharing helps us all improve our practices and
ultimately provide better care for our patients.
3. As an in-demand keynote speaker around the world,
what are your favorite tips or hacks to make fl ying
and business travel less of a slog?
I love turning lecture trips into holidays by traveling
with my family, which adds a fun element to work trips.
I always arrive a day early to rest and ensure I'm at my
best for the conference. I stay a few days after to explore
and enjoy the place with family. Speaking at events
where I have close friends makes the experience even
better, especially because conferences often end with
a party or get-together. Connecting with friends and
colleagues makes the trip truly worthwhile.
doctors who've agreed to
help our staff determine
whether an article is a
great fit for publication, vet
those articles for accuracy
and clarity, and suggest
ideas and sources for
content that will run in
future issues.
Scan the QR code to read more by this doctor!
Dr. Adith Venugopal has shared some interesting case studies
over the past few years, including a whole-arch distalization
case in which he used extraradicular miniscrews to correct lip
incompetence and bidental protrusion, and another case in
which he used TADs to correct a steep occlusal cant. To check
out these articles and a co-authored opinion piece about who
should rightfully practice orthodontics, scan the QR code or go
to orthotown.com/avarticles.
JULY/AUGUST 2024 | 8 | ORTHOTOWN.COM

http://www.orthotown.com/avarticles http://www.ORTHOTOWN.COM

Orthotown July/August 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown July/August 2024