Canadian Idol Contestant Finds Her Voice at dentalcorp
...a conversation with Michelle Budd, DDS, Patient Safety Consultant, Compliance
This month, we shine the Support Centre spotlight on Michelle Budd, DDS, who was a contestant on Canadian Idol but ultimately found her voice and her calling at dentalcorp.
Tell me about your background – how long have you been with dentalcorp and what were you doing before you joined?
I have been a dentist for over 15 years, and I have been working with dentalcorp’s Risk Management and Compliance team for around 2 years now. My previous experience includes working in private dental practice, in public health, teaching at dental and dental hygiene schools, and consulting with government agencies and insurance companies.
Have you always wanted to be a dentist? What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I had horrible teeth as a kid and spent a lot of time at the dentist and orthodontist offices, but it wasn’t until much later that I decided to become a dentist! I had considered career options including music teacher, pharmacist, truck driver, meteorologist, and many more. But once I was able to appreciate that dentistry is a perfect mix of healthcare and art, I realized that this was the career for me. While I enjoy private practice and helping patients get a healthy smile, I’m happy that through my role at dentalcorp I get to help even more people and have a wider impact on the dental community.
Can you tell me a bit about your role on your team? What does a typical day look like?
There is no such thing as a typical day for me! Sometimes I am working away independently on projects such as chart audits, safety incident reporting, or consent forms, whereas other days I am in meetings all day with my team, other teams in the Support Centre, or with dentists and Practice Managers across the network. I also had the exciting opportunity, before the pandemic, to visit some of the Practices in our network and provide learning opportunities in person.
Tell me about an experience you’ve had that’s really left an impact.
The impactful experience that comes to mind is the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though my team was working remotely, we were collaborating more than ever before. In the early days, we were at it around the clock – expanding our knowledge about COVID-19 as we put together important resources for our practices. Thanks to that stressful but rewarding time, I now feel even closer to my team. We found a new respect for each other that I think otherwise would have taken much longer to develop.
Tell me something about yourself that your co-workers would never guess?
I auditioned for Canadian Idol in its first season. I had to camp out overnight outside the CN tower with thousands of others waiting for our big chance. While I did eventually get to sing in front of the judges, I didn’t make it onto the show!
What are your aspirations for personal and professional growth? Do you have a 5 year plan?
I definitely want to continue to expand my knowledge and skills in risk management, compliance, and patient safety so that I can be a great resource for dental practices across the network. I am trying not to make any specific long-term plans because it seems that life has a way of throwing things off course whenever I do that!
What advice do you have for new team members joining dentalcorp’s Support Centre?
I think it’s important to keep in mind that everyone at the Support Centre is working toward the same goal, and that the vast range of knowledge and experience we have in our network is such a valuable resource. Never be afraid to collaborate with people on a different team because we can all learn from each other!
