Persevering Through Personal and Professional Challenges (w/Dr. Courtney Lavigne) [Ep.49]

The DOC Podcast

What a great conversation with an amazing orthodontist and person, Dr. Courtney Lavigne! We cover everything from her professional journey, to her personal struggles with Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome, to the challenges of balancing a career with the responsibilities of family and motherhood (as she is currently 38 weeks pregnant!). You’ll hear us discuss:

• What led Courtney to sell her successful restorative practice after 10 years and return to school to specialize in orthodontics.
• The impact that people like Frank Spear, Greg Kinzer, Gary DeWood, and Vince Kokich had on her understanding of interdisciplinary care.
• Her personal journey with airway issues and orthodontic treatment after having 4 premolars extracted and the anterior teeth retracted as a child, then needing a MARPE to address the underlying transverse deficiency as an adult.
• What Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome is and how she figured out she had it.
• Why traditional orthodontic education is not focused on preventative and proactive treatment strategies, especially when it comes to airway compromise and sleep-disordered breathing.
• If the orthodontic profession risks becoming obsolete by neglecting to embrace the value of early intervention, especially as it pertains to airway and breathing.
• How Courtney balances being a mom, wife, orthodontist, national lecturer, and business owner.
• What advice Courtney has for busy moms who are working to achieve a work-life balance between their personal and professional responsibilities.
• The importance of setting goals and developing a vision for what you want your professional AND personal life to look like.
• The curse of the Type A achiever.
• The importance of saying no and setting boundaries.