Welcome to another episode of Love Your Practice. I'm your host, Dr. Laura Mach. In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome back a very special guest and dear friend, Dr. Erin Sheffield.

Erin and I go way back, having known each other for nearly 20 years. Our paths first crossed when I started a Yahoo group for pre-dental Mormon women, seeking to connect with like-minded individuals. Erin's leadership skills shone through early on as when she was the President of the Women in Dentistry Club at BYU. Recognizing her potential, I encouraged her to apply to the University of Iowa Dental School, where she thrived with a well-deserved scholarship.

Fast forward to today, and Erin has achieved remarkable success in a field where women are significantly underrepresented. As an oral surgeon, she is part of the mere 8% of women in this specialty, making her voice and experiences all the more valuable.

In our conversation, we delve into the challenges and barriers faced by women in medicine and dentistry. We explore the stark gender disparities in oral surgery and discuss how a lack of proactive initiatives to recruit and support women may contribute to this imbalance. Erin shares her insights on the societal privileges that can lead to a lack of awareness and initiative in addressing these issues.

So join us as we navigate the complexities of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and learn from Erin's inspiring journey.

Highlights from this episode:

Setting policies and boundaries
Adapting office schedules for better patient/staff outcomes
Mindset, gratitude and self-care
Delegating and systems
Economic impacts on the dental field
Gender bias in the medical field and the importance of female representation

Resources and links mentioned:

Watch Laura's podcasts on YouTube: Love Your Practice!
Laura's email: DrLauraMachDDS@gmail.com
Laura's website: LoveYourPractice.net
Laura's podcast: Love Your Practice!
Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlauramachdds/?hl=en

Laura's Facebook pages:

Find Dr. Sheffield online:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drerinsheffield

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@drerinsheffield

DM Dr. Shellfield if you're interested in her February retreat. [a luxury wellness retreat for Women Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons] You can also learn more and sign up here to attend. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevate-summit-2025-tickets-1043083108657?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you so much for tuning in to this podcast! I would love it if you would share it with others and leave a review for others to see!

~ Laura

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