Written by: Dr. Maggie Augustyn, FAAIP, FICOI
Each one of us is born different. We have innate talents and strengths. Sometimes it might take us a minute to realize those. And sometimes it takes time until we come to understand them, value them, or, more importantly, can name them. Until that time comes, we might actually think of those gifts as our shortcomings. I remember sitting in a therapy session with my husband and daughter—mind you, being the breadwinner of the family, the only one with a job—and being called a workaholic by them both. Boy, did that sting. Enough so that, at the following therapy session, my solo one, the psychologist wondered how often I was getting ganged up on at home for that very reason. And though the session itself was a misrepresentation of our home life, this idea of me being an overachieving workhorse, reflecting in a negative light, really took me down. In the following months, I took a personality test called the Clifton Strengths Assessment. Don’t worry, I get no kickbacks if you take it. It’s an online evaluation of what lies inside you, the powers that you might be unaware of. It takes about an hour to complete and spits out a personalized framework of the things you might uniquely excel at. There are 34 talents and strengths in all, and they are rated in order of strength just for you. My top one, with no surprise, was learner. And though it might have felt like second nature to know that, having it solidified with an assessment tool changed a lot for me.
NOT A WORKAHOLIC, BUT A LEARNER
First and foremost, the test with its list of my strength ratings in accordance with power allowed me a better understanding of who I was. As a learner, I longed to collect knowledge the way young kids collected baseball cards or grandmas collected vintage teacups. And because my passion lay in learning, and my purpose pulsed along its veins, I was willing to sacrifice many things in order to add to my collection of knowing. Collectors might spend hours searching for rare items, invest significant amounts of money to acquire them, and dedicate space in their homes to display and store their collections. I did the same. I spent time learning late into the evening attending webinars, I spent time traveling to various courses around the country, and I made space in my brain for that knowledge. Unfortunately, and likely too often, I did so at the expense of time with my family—which led to them calling me a workaholic. Except, I wasn’t a workaholic, at least not that I knew. I was passionate about collecting knowledge because, above all, and at heart, I was a learner.
WE ARE ALL LEARNERS
As a dentist, I am not unique in being a learner. If you surround yourself by the top in our field, you’ll see many clinicians dripping with knowledge. Our profession is fraught with humans who dedicate their spare time to researching techniques, studying, and advancing the dentistry we now see in the rearview, and some yet to be unearthed. There are many specialties awarded to those who spend additional time within the walls of universities or academia. And when a specialty certificate isn’t enough, those outstanding clinicians collect cases and present for both written and oral examination to gain board certifications in those specialties. For those of us who are general dentists, we have rewards for our commitment to prolonged study as well. We have many opportunities to gain fellowships and board certifications in areas of implantology or sleep medicine, to name a couple. The one that held tremendous honor from a distance, when I was a young dentist, was the Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. I never imagined myself joining the ranks of those who’d gained that distinction. Maybe it was my youth, maybe lack of mentorship, low self-esteem, or maybe a lack of inspiration. The FAGD always seemed so completely out of reach for me. Well, any of the fellowships did.
BEST. YEAR. EVER.
This past year was truly the most accomplished year of my professional career as a dentist, an author, and an inspirational speaker. I was featured on the cover of 3 magazines, in some capacity. I became a co-host of one of the top dental podcasts in our industry. I shared the stage with Dr. Benjamin Hardy, an organizational psychologist and acclaimed author, followed a keynote by Dr. Eric Roman, my true inspiration, and addressed an audience of almost a thousand… that’s just some of it. I achieved more this year than many people do in a lifetime. And I am not saying this to brag or to boast. I’m saying this because the milestone that I am most proud of is one that might be most hidden: the passing of my FAGD exam and receiving a notice of my upcoming convocation at the next AGD meeting.
NO MORE TESTS
When we chose to become dentists, whether it was at age 7, 17, or 27, we probably knew very little of what it would actually entail. If we took the traditional route, the third year in college was laced with many moments that made us reconsider our choices. Then came the DAT and admissions. Remember when they told us that getting into dental school was the easiest part? They weren’t wrong. We made our way through simulation lab and boards. And so many of us vowed to never again take another test like that. I certainly made my pledge, and if it needed to be sealed with blood, I would have done it too.
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Mid-career, I started to surround myself with clinicians bearing the FAGD mark behind their names. I more than looked up to them. I revered them. They mentored me. I not only wanted to be like them, I wanted to teach others like they taught me. I wanted to give back, as they had led me. And thus, I decided to pursue the fellowship. Despite that ‘sealed with blood’ promise to never take another test, I chose to pursue the fellowship. It was a tribute to those who came before me—those who taught, inspired, and mentored, paving the way with their wisdom and guidance. It was my way of giving back, and it wasn’t going to be cheap. I’m not talking about money… I am talking about effort. Gathering the necessary hours toward the designation wasn’t difficult, as I was always a CE junkie. The test—that was the part that was the most difficult, and it was the part that took the longest for me to consider. The test was going to be the part that would challenge me, challenge my family. For you, it might not be the AGD fellowship; it might be a specialty, or the study of occlusion, or implants, or sleep medicine.
TO RELEARN…
The test for the FAGD consists of 18 subjects. It’s truly no different than a board examination following the conclusion of dental school. And I was 20 years out of school. My first go-around with the test was in 2023. I had booked the test, prep course, hotel, and flight. I began my study about 3 months prior: 5 am wake-ups followed by at least 1 hour of study per day. Weekends were filled with study, barring family functions. What complicated things for me in 2023 was a battle with shingles. The treatment involved heavy doses of Gabapentin. The medication made it incredibly difficult to learn and retain information. I’d learn something one day, review it day 2 and 3. When I went back to review it the following week, it was like I was learning it for the first time. Certainly, my age didn’t help. I am almost 50. The brain of a 50-year-old is not that of a typically graduating dental student. I called the AGD and asked for an extension on the prep course and exam. I was graciously granted a one-year extension. This year, with no gabapentin, studying was easier, but not much. If you know my writing, you know my lifelong struggle with mental illness, and depression does cause brain damage and memory loss. So, studying for this exam was still not easy. Is it ever, for any of us? Wake-up time at 5 am, study at least an hour a day, and weekends filled with prep exams. Instead of 3 months, I took 3 weeks. That might have been a mistake. It drove my anxiety through the roof. I was fearful that I wouldn’t pass. I felt like I was running out of time. I was unapproachable at work. I was aloof and cold at home. My husband and kid wouldn’t dare come near me, and that was unfortunate; not how I wanted to play out my days. A terrible regret, but nonetheless a reality.
TO AWAKEN
During the time I was studying for the fellowship exam, in 2023 and 2024, my mind was constantly in one of the 18 subjects. With every step of every procedure, I forced myself to think of the biomaterials that I was using. I became revived as a clinician. I became more confident. How much we forget, the minutiae, the science. I felt myself coming alive as I considered the pKa of anesthetic, as silly as it sounds. We do what we do, and we know why we do it, but we forget the science behind it. To be given the opportunity to awaken to it again, as a seasoned clinician, was a gift. I looked at composite and bond differently. I spent time looking at endo canals on the implant cases that I was planning, just because I wanted to, to learn and admire.
If you are about to take any specialty exam, or a fellowship one, and if a prep course is available, no matter the cost, my advice to you is to take it. The one I took was administered 2 days right before the exam. They were days packed with the 18 subjects. My brain was full. Too full to even flip through the study guide in the evenings. The time outside the course: rest, relax, eat a great meal, FaceTime with family, watch a mind-numbing show on Netflix, and sleep. The fellowship exam was probably the hardest exam I’d ever taken. Being a seasoned clinician had both its drawbacks and tremendous value. There were some questions where I was able to rely on my expertise and experience as a clinician; a younger dentist might not have had that. But being 20 years out and away from the boards, having an older brain, was definitely not a strength. So, if you were to rely on my advice here, it would be to take the fellowship exam as soon as you graduate and gather the CE as you go. Walking out of the exam, I was sure I failed. That might be a common sentiment for almost all of us who have taken the test, whether we passed it or not. Be patient, wait the 8 weeks or so for the results to arrive. Had I failed, I would have taken it again the following year, with the prep course again.
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DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
And so, as I reflect on this journey, I am reminded that the titles, the letters after our names, the accolades—they’re not the ultimate goal. They are symbols, yes, of dedication and persistence, but more importantly, they are connections. They link us to the legacy of those who came before, the mentors who guided us, and the peers who walk this road alongside us. They pay homage to the countless individuals who devoted their lives to advancing our profession, often in ways unseen and unheralded.
At the core, however, lies something far greater than any designation—the unyielding strength of our desire to learn and grow. It is this insatiable curiosity and drive that unite us, that push us to better ourselves, our work, and the lives of those we serve. Being a learner is not merely a label; it is a declaration of purpose. It is a profound acknowledgment that the pursuit of knowledge, though arduous, enriches not just our minds but our souls.
We are all learners in this vast, continuous cycle of growth. And while the achievements along the way may at times validate our efforts, it is this shared love of learning that defines us, propels us forward, and weaves an unbreakable thread through the fabric of our profession. It is both humbling and inspiring to know that this strength—the strength to learn, to persist, and to aspire—will forever be the hallmark of who we are.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Maggie Augustyn, FAAIP, FICOI, is a Dawson-trained practicing general dentist, owner of Happy Tooth, author, and inspirational keynote speaker. Featured on 4 dental magazine covers and recognized by Dentistry Today as one of the top 250 leaders, she inspires others through her writing, helping them find healing and connection. Dr. Augustyn serves as the national spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry and as a faculty member for the Productive Dentist Academy. She contributes monthly to her “Mindful Moments” column for Dentistry Today and AGD Impact and writes for other publications as well. With unwavering compassion and a dedication to excellence, Dr. Augustyn addresses audiences ranging from a few dozen to thousands, guiding them toward fulfillment and meaningful impact. To contact her, email drmaggie@myhappytooth.com.
