We were lucky to catch up with Debora Levine recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Debora, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?
I had 3 specially amazing teachers during my Endodontic training and a colleague/mentor whom I started practicing with when I graduated as an endodontist who are my heros in my career. They gave me the tools to be the best at what I do and taught me also that if you do what is right and best for the patient the rest will come. The ability to help people with their pain and be empathetic and caring to what they are going through is the best part of being an endodontist. So besides having the best training and latest technology, I really take my time with each patient and try to make them as comfortable as possible to help them with their treatment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
In Venezuela, where I am from, you go straight from high school into your career, so you have to decide at 17 yrs old what you want to do. I loved math but wasn’t so sure about the careers associated with it. I was very good with my hands so with a little guidance from my father I went into dentistry (no dentists in my family). My kids always say that I didn’t have (so I don’t understand) the college experience. I loved my career and had so much fun during my time at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, as opposed to what I was told that I was crazy and it was so hard and stressful. When I did my first root canal treatment, it turned out great and I was praised by the teachers. Then, I remember a particular case where this man came in to the clinic in tears with so much pain and how he left so happy after I treated him. It was such a rewarding feeling for me that I started to lean toward furthering my studies in the endodontic field. After internships and graduating and working as a general dentist for a couple of years, I came to the United Stated and obtained a Certificate in Endodontics and a Master of Science at Baylor College of Dentistry a member of The Texas A&M University System. Started private practice by joining an excellent practitioner, Dr. Michael Stern, who helped guide me with the referral system and business aspect of the specialty. This eventually became my practice and our vision maintained to provide the best possible care for our patients in the most comfortable way. So we provide state of the art root canal treatments and surgery of the roots to help people maintain their natural teeth and restore them to function.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I started my path in Endodontics by doing a Preceptorship at The University of Texas Dental School in Houston. I was determined then to get into the graduate program which was very competitive especially as a foreigner. I was not accepted initially for a couple of years until I worked really hard to prove what I could do. I took all the necessary exams, demonstrated my clinical abilities at the school and worked as a research assistant at the school as well. This helped me to get known and finally accepted into several schools. I was really looking to stay in Texas as I had become a resident and my loans would be so much less when I graduated so I was very happy when I received the offers, and even had to choose. The point is to be determined in what you want and just pursue it. When you look back, things end up like they are supposed to and for the best even though it seems hard at the time.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.
I met the former owner of my practice, Dr. Stern, through a faculty professor at the University of Texas. This professor was good friends with Dr. Stern and knew he wanted to soon retire so he told him he had a good candidate. I was only starting the first year of my three-year endodontic graduate program but the professor had met me during my Preceptorship at UT. Dr. Stern called me and said he wanted to offer me a job for when I graduate because his friend recommended me and that is all he needed to know. As I kept talking to him, he said this faculty is very demanding and doesn’t really recommend anyone so I had to do excellent work. I explained I wasn’t going to graduate for 3 more years and he said he would wait for me if I verbally agreed. I was so surprised but then when I started with him after I graduated, we stayed together for almost 10 more years.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellaireendodontics.com
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