Even amidst a posse of talented teenagers on the elite U.S. team of athletes, 32 year-old Ryan Lochte managed to garner himself a gold medal in the “Irresponsible All-Around” category of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Lochte captured summer headlines surrounding the second week of the XXXI Olympiad with his law-enforcement run-in, allegedly vandalizing a public building and falsely claiming victimhood of robbery at gunpoint while in Brazil, according to August reports from USA Today, CNN and The Rolling Stone. His name was splashed across the news and social media. These same sources reported critiques of his character, his maturity and his negativity that was heaped upon the Olympics’ image. Frustrations ensued when he managed to briefly detract from the spectacle that Rio de Janeiro worked to create against a world’s apprehension around their host role. His actions and personality were under scrutiny. The media sensed blood in the water, and Ryan Lochte was no longer the predator in this pool.
As with any lapse in judgment, there are lessons to be learned. In Lochte’s case, we can directly apply his blunders outside of the pool to the dental profession. His medley of missteps can teach you a great deal about your responsibilities of image, reputation and representation.
- You are a reflection of more than just yourself. Dentistry is a team sport. The scrubs that you wear are team jerseys. So, wear them with a conscious pride and respect.Ryan Lochte received the honor of swimming on behalf of the U.S. Olympic Team. Upon graduation, we will receive a degree that officially recognizes us as dentists. What do you and Lochte have in common? You too will be bestowed with the honor—and responsibility—of representing the profession of dentistry.Out in practice, our actions and words will reflect far more than just ourselves. We will join part of a health care community that the public must continue to trust and admire. Other dentists are relying on you to uphold the character of this team as well. You must regulate yourself and the choices that you make every day so that they shine brightly, both upon yourself and the profession as a whole.
- A harsh critique rarely looks pretty. Lochte’s jarring comments cast a shadow on Brazil’s efforts to showcase their Olympic city on a global stage. How did Lochte appear to viewers and fellow athletes when he made distasteful remarks that smeared Rio? Not good.In practice, you are stepping out on a precarious ledge when you openly criticize another dentist’s work in front of the patient. There are times when a patient will have received substandard care at another provider’s office. However, is it your place to bash that dentist? Look at the way in which the public digested Lochte’s negative claims, such as a disgruntled fan’s actions at the “Dancing With The Stars” premiere. I’ve been told by one of my instructors, Dr. Louis Sommerhalter, never to critique another dentist’s work. Dr. Sommerhalter poses these questions to his students: What if that other dentist were the patient’s wife or husband, deceased best friend or ailing father or mother? Your critiques can leave an unpredictable impression on your patient. Often times it isn’t going to be a favorable one.
- Negativity sticks. I don’t mean to disappoint you, but there is no such thing as “Rubber-Dam-ing With The Stars” for dentists to two-step their way into America’s hearts. It is not easy to remedy a tarnished reputation in the dental field. Ryan Lochte has a spot on national television to bandage his public perception, but that is not a luxury given to health care professionals. Negative news often gathers more traction than the shining moments. The U.S. brought home 46 gold medals, (121 medals total) from Rio. Yet we saw Lochte’s actions and commentary unfold center stage alongside these stories of extraordinary work ethic and will.
Thousands of dentists may change people’s lives each and every day through their restorative expertise, however we do not see stories like these often enough. Remember when the dentist killed the lion? That’s a dental story that sticks with people. We need to remain cognizant of our identities as doctors and leaders because we can easily fall under scrutiny. As emphasized in the first section, we are a reflection of our community. The better we work together to continue making sound practice decisions, the better we will maintain the image of dentistry as a system of positive care providers. There are countless achievements made in the profession every day. Let us focus on those, and our patients will in turn go on to talk about all of the good that we can do.
~Tyler Fix, Midwestern-Arizona ’17, contributing editor
Extremely important points, Tyler, and very well written. Thanks!