Stephanie Ganter, D.D.S., is a board-certified periodontist in personal apply in Dallas, Texas. She serves as an ADA Wellness Ambassador and new dentist member on the ADA Council on Members Insurance coverage and Retirement Applications. She accomplished a two-year integrative drugs fellowship on the College of Arizona Faculty of Medication, adopted by a one-year surgical management program at Harvard Medical College. Dr. Ganter is a seeker with a global focus that features internet hosting medical-dental mission journeys around the globe, all to pursue her mission in life: to attach, uncover and encourage.
Think about standing at a bustling road market in Bangkok, the air full of unique scents and the sounds of a vibrant metropolis. In entrance of you is a vendor, his cart adorned with an array of surprising delicacies. He gestures towards a bowl of fried bugs, a standard snack in Thailand. For a lot of, this scene epitomizes the very essence of stepping out of 1’s consolation zone. However what if this leap into the culinary unknown is extra than simply an adventurous anecdote? What if it’s a pathway to private development and well-being?
Thailand got here at a particularly busy time in my life, and I’m grateful for the teachings from the integrative drugs fellowship that allowed me to take the time to expertise part of the world I’ve at all times dreamed about. I booked the journey by way of AHI Additional, the energetic journey companion endorsed by ADA Member Benefit. AHI supplied a versatile but detailed itinerary that included flights, transportation to and from the lodge, meals and each day actions. The most effective half for me was understanding this expertise could be with a bunch. I turned 34 years previous in 2023 — I celebrated a birthday on this journey (bonus!) — and every year, I more and more acknowledge the worth of relationships and the folks with whom you spend your time as a part of the magic to life.
After an extended however regular journey, my companion, Robert “Bobby” McNeill, D.D.S., M.D., and I touched down in Bangkok. We instantly have been shuttled to a surprising lodge in the course of the town located subsequent to a Buddhist temple and the Chao Phraya River, also known as the “River of Kings” and integral to the town’s commerce. The time we spent in Thailand was break up between the capital metropolis of Bangkok and the northern metropolis of Chiang Mai. We have been in a position to attempt numerous conventional and modernized Thai cuisines served by road distributors and eating places. We additionally had what Bobby referred to as the most effective meal of his life whereas eating with an area household at their farm. We toured the farm with an elder who confirmed us most of the medicinal crops his household makes use of of their each day lives. All of this introduced experiences from my integrative drugs fellowship to life.
Now the bug half. At a road vendor in Chiang Mia, we ate bugs. Actually! Fried and stirred up on a stick — discuss being outdoors your consolation zone. I used to be hesitant at first, however I additionally didn’t need pointless worry to carry me again. Our native information had not steered us unsuitable on the prior day’s journey, so I took the leap, effectively, chomp. One was crispy, the opposite not a lot. I truly felt good about pushing my limits. I’ve let pointless worry maintain me again from many issues in life. This is able to not be a kind of days, as evidenced by this video.
We additionally had the chance to rejoice the religious apply of the Alms Giving Ceremony, an early morning ritual the place locals rise with Buddhist monks headed to their temples for the day to feed the monks. The monks current with an empty bowl and depend upon the neighborhood for his or her meals. A very stunning and significant expertise.
Our group was a mixture of all generations and by happenstance included two different dentists, orthodontists Terri Neufeld, D.D.S., and Roland Neufeld, D.D.S., from California. Experiencing the world is nice, and sharing that have with a various group of execs made the journey actually unforgettable. Bobby and I’ve a YouTube channel referred to as Between Two Enamel — with the aim to attach, uncover and encourage. Journey is a option to take a pause from the each day grind of apply. We’d say it’s mandatory. We love our sufferers, our group and our apply. Nonetheless, part of well-being is taking time away from the unusual to attach. Connecting with nature, cultures, cities, folks and your self. Journey generally is a option to acquire a perspective on life. I additionally had three of essentially the most luxurious and cheap massages of my life throughout this journey. Discuss a bodily and psychological reset.
Would you wish to take an journey like this? Do you want an journey like this? There are a number of research exhibiting the advantages of journey for stress reduction and psychological well being, particularly in younger professionals. It’s with an adventurous spirit that I push you to attach, uncover and be impressed by this unimaginable world.
I’ve been in a position to have these experiences and make these connections as a result of I’m a part of the ADA household, giving me entry to the AHI Additional journey program, which presents a reduction to ADA members, and wellness assets that we share on our channel. It’s been a beautiful journey with the ADA and one that may proceed. Keep tuned — actually — to Between Two Enamel.
