Today we’d like to introduce you to Hope Marshall.
Hi Hope, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My interest in teeth honestly started as a child when I would pull out my neighborhood friend’s loose baby teeth. I truly became interested in dentistry in high school, which inspired my childhood dentist. Dr. Newton told me I would be a great dentist (he probably told all of his teenage patients this) and I realized that dentistry would be great blend of my creativity and scientific nature and a great way to build relationships with families in the community. Through college and dental school, I realized that dentistry is so much more than “saving teeth” or “creating smiles.” Good oral health is of utmost importance for overall health since tooth and gum infections have significant negative effects on the body, especially the heart. My current role is to educate patients, prevent pain and infection, and help patients become healthier.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Becoming a dentist is not easy. I was fortunate to receive various scholarships to college, where I’m from in Wisconsin, at UW-Madison. I studied Biomedical Engineering because I thought it would be more interesting than a biology or chemistry major. While I learned a lot, it was definitely more challenging for me to maintain perfect grades with a difficult major. In four years, I double-majored in Spanish and minored in business since I started learning to speak at a bilingual school as a child and wanted to have a bilingual dental practice. I also worked three jobs during college and shadowed dentists for 200 hours. I felt that every exam I took would make or break my goal of getting into dental school.
Luckily I got into Nova Southeastern University in Florida, a school where I knew I could practice my Spanish. Dental school was another challenge, taking 40 credits per semester, tests three times per week, national board exams and learning how to do procedures on real live patients. Finally, I graduated and flew my patients to Birmingham, Al, to take the state licensure exam in order to practice in Georgia. Owning a dental office is a whole different type of challenge. I have to be a doctor focused on my patients and a business owner at the same time. It’s difficult to find a balance between managing team members, finances and patients. What I have found is that doing the right thing, putting my patients and team members first, has lead to growth and success.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Woodstock Dentistry, we are a bilingual practice specializing in how oral health affects overall health. You can expect comprehensive and thorough exams, kind team members who specialize in caring for nervous patients, and a full understanding of your treatment plan options before starting treatment. We strive to see any patient with an emergency right away. We are open early mornings, late nights and Saturdays to accommodate our patient’s busy lives. We also have various specialists in the office to keep our patient care under one roof. We use cutting-edge technology like lasers and CAD/CAM to do cosmetic work, implants, full mouth rehabilitation and Invisalign to name a few.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
When I was young, I was embarrassed to ask for help and mentorship. Now, I have at least 12 mentors in different subject areas whom I communicate with regularly. My doors are always open for high school and college students who are interested in dentistry. I love to explain what we are doing to shadowees. My number one tip is to just ASK someone you look up to be your mentor. They will most likely be HONORED. This is how meaningful relationships are built.
Pricing:
- Exam, X rays and Healthy Mouth Cleaning $59
Contact Info:
- Email: smile@
woodstockdentistryoffice.com - Website: https://www.woodstockdentistryoffice.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toothdr.hope
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WoodstockDentistryGA
