#310 The Long Road Home — Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh

Two Iranian dentists who took the scenic route to British dentistry, Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh's story reads like a masterclass in adaptability. From Tehran to Debrecen University in Hungary, then straight into the UK without ever having set foot in the country before, their journey showcases both the challenges and rewards of international dental careers. Now transitioning from NHS to private practice, they share candid insights about navigating visa dependencies, cultural differences between healthcare systems, and why being top of your class doesn't guarantee an easy path. Their conversation reveals how different countries approach dentistry, from Hungary's more invasive techniques to the UK's preventive focus, and why sometimes the most circuitous routes lead to the most rewarding destinations.In This Episode00:01:15 - Arriving in the UK without ever having visited before00:03:30 - Why they chose Hungary for dental education over Iran00:05:30 - First impressions of Hungary and cultural differences00:08:25 - Military service requirements forcing early departure from Iran00:10:15 - Financial challenges of studying abroad00:13:10 - Hungarian education system: oral exams and luck factors00:17:00 - Working in Hungary's NHS-equivalent system00:19:15 - Cultural differences: Eastern European "egg" vs Western "peach"00:25:15 - The decision to move to the UK post-Brexit00:29:50 - Landing NHS jobs sight unseen00:34:10 - Learning UK dentistry systems and mentorship importance00:38:30 - NHS complaint system challenges00:40:25 - The band system frustrations00:43:25 - Visa dependency limiting job opportunities00:47:00 - Transition to private practice00:52:55 - Future aspirations: cosmetics vs surgical specialisation00:59:15 - Darkest day: fear and uncertainty in early UK days01:03:25 - Blackbox thinking01:06:40 - TMJ dislocation during extraction01:10:25 - Being top of class vs visa reality check01:14:20 - Best dental lectures and mentorship value01:18:20 - Fantasy dinner party01:20:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Sara Khandan and Mahan MohagheghSara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh are Iranian-born dentists who graduated from the University of Debrecen in Hungary before relocating to the UK. After three years of practice in Hungary's public healthcare system, they moved to the UK and completed two and a half years in the NHS before transitioning to private practice. Sara is pursuing advanced cosmetic dentistry training, whilst Mahan is focusing on surgical procedures and implant dentistry. Both are planning to eventually open their own practice within the next five to six years.

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