This week Payman chats with Payvand Menhadji, a newly qualified specialist periodontist who's navigating the delicate balance between clinical excellence and impending motherhood. 

At 30 weeks pregnant, Payvand reflects on her journey from general dentist to specialist—driven by a competitive streak and a love for surgical challenge that emerged during her VT year. 

The conversation weaves through everything from the realities of private practice economics to why she'd rather perfect her surgical skills than chase Instagram fame, touching on mentorship, imposter syndrome, and the art of staying humble when success comes knocking.

In This Episode

00:01:00 - Finishing specialist training whilst pregnant

00:04:20 - Why four days feels necessary

00:05:10 - The moment surgery clicked

00:07:10 - Competitive from birth

00:08:20 - Hospital jobs and surgical confidence

00:11:45 - Decision to specialise

00:14:50 - Choosing between ortho and perio

00:18:30 - Training structure and challenges

00:22:15 - Learning from the best

00:26:40 - Private practice reality

00:30:20 - What patients actually pay

00:34:45 - Imposter syndrome

00:38:20 - Building a reputation

00:42:15 - Surgical complications

00:46:30 - Blackbox thinking

00:51:45 - Treatment planning philosophy

00:56:20 - Working with implantologists

01:00:15 - Referral relationships

01:04:30 - Social media approach

01:08:45 - Learning from Instagram

01:13:35 - Fantasy dinner party

01:15:20 - Last days and legacy

About Payvand Menhadji

Payvand Menhadji is a specialist periodontist who completed her training in September 2024. She works across multiple specialist practices focusing on periodontal surgery and implantology, having developed her surgical interest during VT under the mentorship of implantologist Victor Keyhani.