Oral Surgeon Pat Gaus

00:00:05.463 --> 00:00:09.637 I grew up just outside of Kansas City, where my dad was an oral surgeon. 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:13.094 I came into medicine and dentistry 00:00:13.178 --> 00:00:17.280 in a path that was very different than most of my colleagues. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:23.280 I did my undergraduate as a vocal performance artist in opera. 00:00:24.270 --> 00:00:25.646 In order to get a day job, 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:27.606 I decided to go through nursing school 00:00:27.690 --> 00:00:29.358 and what I didn't expect 00:00:29.441 --> 00:00:34.462 is that when I was in nursing school and doing my surgery rotation, 00:00:34.987 --> 00:00:38.115 how much I enjoyed the idea of surgery, 00:00:38.198 --> 00:00:41.660 getting to know the patient, and actually learning the procedures. 00:00:42.080 --> 00:00:45.371 What I also decided was, these surgeries were really interesting, 00:00:45.455 --> 00:00:48.582 but I'd much rather be doing the procedure than assisting the procedure. 00:00:48.680 --> 00:00:51.960 When I graduated, I joined the military for 11 years, 00:00:52.043 --> 00:00:53.760 where I did my oral surgery training. 00:00:53.880 --> 00:00:55.922 Worked in a number of facilities across the country, 00:00:56.005 --> 00:01:00.300 including some time overseas in Northern Japan. 00:01:00.400 --> 00:01:01.802 When I returned to the States, 00:01:02.385 --> 00:01:04.920 my family decided it was time to stop 00:01:05.240 --> 00:01:08.320 moving around and to gain some roots, 00:01:08.682 --> 00:01:11.476 and so I separated from the military 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:13.717 and started looking for a private practice route. 00:01:13.800 --> 00:01:18.107 When a patient comes to visit my office, the number one thing that I want to do 00:01:18.190 --> 00:01:22.480 is establish a level of trust between the patient and myself. 00:01:22.960 --> 00:01:25.947 One of my favorite parts of being an oral surgeon 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:28.824 is shortly after the procedure, 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:35.755 when the patient is surprised at how much more easily the procedure went 00:01:35.955 --> 00:01:38.760 than what they had expected or built up in their mind. 00:01:39.958 --> 00:01:43.423 Seeing that look of surprise on a patient like, 00:01:43.962 --> 00:01:45.088 "You're already finished?" 00:01:45.171 --> 00:01:48.400 Or, "That was so much easier than I thought." 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:49.840 That never gets old to me. 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:56.597 Seeing a patient be pleased and surprised is one of the best parts about the job.