INTERVIEWER: MAHMOUD MANSI
EDITED BY: NADA KHAFAGA
“My employees are efficient, clean, punctual and pay a lot of attention to minor details. I do not need to manage them anymore as they know everything and do it themselves. I only need to say thank you!”
Dentist Neviene Bishay
About the Interviewee: B.Sc., D.D.S., N.B.D.E. / Cosmetic Dentist / Public Figure / Artist / Enterpreneur / www.healthysmilespa.com
THE INTERVIEW
1- HR Revolution Middle East: Why did you choose to be a dentist? And what does this job mean to you?
Neviene Bishay: My mom, sister and brother are dentists. Ever since I was young, at the age of 5, I always used to draw with pencils and coloring crayons nice portraits. I also loved to carve with my mom, using the wax carver, a tiny knife, soaps in different shapes like boats, hearts…etc. When I grew up, I painted canvas with oil. At the age of 16, I went to university to study science, which was not very interesting. So, 4 years after finishing my degree, I went to dental school. I graduated from Dental school the top of my class, not only because I studied hard but also because I loved all my practical classes. I graduated in 2003 and I received my American boards in Dentistry in 2005 and started practicing dental work, which I tremendously enjoy! Now my dental clinic and my patients are my life and I love it!
2-HR Revolution Middle East: How did you make it from a graduate to the celebrity dentist you are today?
Neviene Bishay: God’s blessing and my family’s constant encouragement were the most important things to make it happen. Also, I worked super hard around, 16 hours per day, 7 days a week! I still do… My amazing patients’ support is still a great blessing. They always refer me to their friends and families.
3- HR Revolution Middle East: From your point of view, what is the difference between successful and unsuccessful dentists?
Neviene Bishay: In my opinion, any dentist should be successful if they want to. It only needs talent and a great rapport with their patients. You only need to make a difference in someone’s life.
4- HR Revolution Middle East: Can you please tell us more about your activities and projects?
Neviene Bishay: Oh that is the fun part! I love my job! I came from Canada 8 years ago to open another branch for Healthy Smile. I love my country, Egypt! I wanted and still want to make a difference in people’s lives. I want to educate them on how to know the importance of good oral hygiene, how to smile without being shy, how to have the perfect smile, how to break the huge barrier between a dentist and a patient.
I think I have been very successful with the Dr. Nev campaign. I created a cartoon character which looks like me and I named her Dr. Nev which is the short form of my name. She has solutions for everything in Dentistry. She gives daily advice and tries to break the dental phobia for everyone.
We have lots of events and social media cartoon episodes. I also created a song on how to brush your teeth the proper way which will be launched very soon!
5- HR Revolution Middle East: What do you think are the common problems that face Egyptian dentists in their career path? What is your advice to them?
Neviene Bishay: Some dentists give up on teaching patients how to have good oral hygiene because the patient is either phobic or reluctant, so they lose patients’ retention.
- Dental Labs are a big problem here simply because most of them have been used to deliver unacceptable work and late delivery times, and most dentists need them to finish their cases so, they tolerate it.
- Dental materials are not available at all times so they need to change brands every time that might happen.
- Dental assistants and secretaries do not have the proper training most of the time.
My advice is to be very persistent and keep repeating yourself constantly. You need to always emphasize how important oral hygiene is! Keep reminding patients to brush and floss. Make them love you and love your work without any fear from you as a person or your instruments. Train your staff very well, the way you want them to be. You need to always have a stock of materials that is enough for few months. As for labs it is very hard to remodel them unless, you buy a CAD CAM machine and you do the design yourself or train someone to be as good as you are.
6- HR Revolution Middle East: What is the difference between Dentistry education in Egypt and abroad? Do you have any comments regarding the Egyptian teaching method? Do you have any ideas of change or enhancement?
Neviene Bishay: More discipline is my answer!
Students should take their studies more seriously and teachers should be more strict in attendance and exams. Dentistry is the same everywhere!
Abroad, you need to study hard and understand what you are studying rather than memorize materials for a short term and take exams. You must know how to think and solve cases. If you don’t, you will fail. We should also double the practical requirements. If we implement these guidelines in our universities in Egypt, we will have highly qualified dentists.
7- HR Revolution Middle East: When it comes to hiring a nurse to work with you, how do you hire her/him? Where do you find them and how do you test their skills?
Neviene Bishay: I usually hire fresh graduates or inexperienced assistants because I teach them exactly what I want. I have books and practical exams for dental assistants from Canada and I implement the same practice in my dental office. I will be opening a school to teach dental assistants and dental receptionists in the near future simply to make sure that they have the knowledge along with the practical experience.
8- HR Revolution Middle East: How do you deal with your employees in the clinic/center and how do you manage them?
Neviene Bishay: My employees are amazing! Simply because they follow all protocols and guidelines which any dental office abroad needs. They are efficient, clean, punctual and pay a lot of attention to minor details. I do not need to manage them anymore as they know everything and do it themselves. I only need to say thank you!
9- HR Revolution Middle East: What is your comment regarding unemployment in Egypt? And what are your suggested solutions?
Neviene Bishay: Unemployment in Egypt is high simply because some people do not like to work hard or even work at all! There are lots of available jobs everywhere. You just need to be an efficient and hard worker. Once that is established you need the perfect training from the employer and you are good to go. I did it and my employees are doing it. Anyone can do it.
10- HR Revolution Middle East: What advice do you have for Dentistry students who are willing to establish their career in Egypt?
Neviene Bishay: Dental students are our future. My advice to them is to pay a lot of attention to details. Study hard, learn new things from your teachers, practice a lot with your own hands, do not let another person do your work and be optimistic because one day you will have your own practice and be successful. So start now to train yourself for later. Now is your chance!
HR Revolution Middle East: Dr. Neviene, thank you so much for this interview and for inspiring thousands of people with your work, researches and amazing spirit.
YOUTUBE:
www.youtube.com/NevienbishayTV
FACEBOOK PAGES:
https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Neviene.Bishay.Healthy.Smile/
https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Nev-379486378905498/
https://www.facebook.com/emst.eg/