Resident Spotlight: Esther Choo, D.M.D.
Compiled by Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter
Dr. Esther Choo is currently a second-year endodontic resident at New York University. The Paper Point’s Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter recently caught up with her to learn more about her journey to endo.
The Paper Point: Dr. Choo, thank you for sitting down to chat with us. Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
Dr. Esther Choo: I was born in South Korea but grew up in Charleston, SC. I served as a dentist in the Army for nine years before starting my endodontic residency at NYU.
The Paper Point: Thank you for your service! Can you tell us more about this experience?
Dr. Esther Choo: Thank you for your support! I had an amazing ride in the Army. I was privileged to serve the Soldiers and grow as a dentist while traveling the world! I was incredibly lucky to have been stationed in Germany, Hawaii, Egypt, and North Carolina.
The Paper Point: That’s incredible! You have had quite a journey in your years as a general dentist, serving in the Army. What led you to endodontics? Is this something that you always knew that you wanted to do?
Dr. Esther Choo: I actually wasn’t interested in endodontics for several years after graduating dental school. I didn’t have enough endodontic treatment experience in dental school which made me a bit hesitant to jump into it upon graduation. Also, my first duty station had an endodontic residency program, so general dentists were discouraged from treating endodontic cases and had to refer endo cases to the program. In the later years of my practice, I developed a desire to get my patients out of pain as fast as possible and therefore, I wanted to be more proficient in endodontic treatment. The possibility of using microscopes made the decision to pursue endodontics even easier since I was already using 4.5x loupes as a general dentist and I wanted to see even more clearly.
The Paper Point: What do you most enjoy about endodontics?
Dr. Esther Choo: I am in the present moment when I’m looking through the microscope. Time flies and I don’t even realize it. Being able to see so much and knowing that I’m getting the patient out of pain or removing the source of infection is motivating and rewarding.
The Paper Point: I love that! Endodontics really has a way of making us get “in the zone” for sure. What has been the best memory of your residency thus far?
Dr. Esther Choo: I have so many amazing memories of the residency because our class is very close like a family. Having 12 residents to learn from, to rely on, to laugh with is truly a blessing. I remember my first year, when the case I was working on was extremely frustrating and it resulted in working through lunch, my co-residents came back from lunch, saw me, and without saying anything, just gloved up and started to clean my operatory for me. I am truly grateful to have such supportive close co-resident/friends and the comradery we have as a class.
The Paper Point: That is such a great story! Tough times and cases like those are when the little things mean the most!
You have seen such a variety of patients, from all different backgrounds while serving in the Army. Where has been the most interesting or challenging place to practice dentistry?
Dr. Esther Choo: My deployment in Egypt was the most challenging and rewarding as I grew both personally and professionally. I was in charge of operating two dental clinics located in south and north Egypt, commuting between the two clinics via cargo planes operated by the Czech Republican Soldiers. Because this deployment was an international mission, my patient demographics were comprised of 1200 Soldiers from twelve different countries. The most challenging part was getting dental supplies flown in at a timely manner and dealing with the compressor for the handpieces that was malfunctioning frequently, but it forced me to become a more creative dentist.
The Paper Point: How did that experience help you during tough times in residency?
Dr. Esther Choo: Deployment made me more resilient. New York City is bit of a different kind of deployment. If you’ve lived in New York City, you would know what I mean.
The Paper Point: Adversity definitely makes you stronger!
Let’s switch gears for a moment. You have done a magnitude of traveling during your career! I can’t believe you’ve been to 52 countries! Tell us, which country was your favorite place to visit?
Dr. Esther Choo: I have several favorite places. I experienced the spirit of Africa when climbing Kilimanjaro and going on Safari in Tanzania. Switzerland and its picturesque beauty, Jordan with its rich history and warm solitude of the Wadi Rum desert, and the austere 23.5 hours of darkness and silence in the Artic Circle were some of my favorites.
The Paper Point: That all sounds so amazing! What is your dream travel destination?
Dr. Esther Choo: Honestly, I don’t have any dream travel destinations as I tend to just go wherever I want to go. I traveled mostly solo for a long time, so it was just a matter of planning and taking off. My next destination is trekking Patagonia.
The Paper Point: I love that! The independence of it all sounds so satisfying and freeing. So tell us, when you aren’t saving teeth, what do you like to do for fun?
Dr. Esther Choo: I love hiking with my dog, Bella. She truly loves being out in the nature and it makes me so happy to see her run free.
The Paper Point: Awww, that’s so sweet!
Dr. Choo, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. Before we go, do you have any final words of wisdom that you would like to share with our readers?
Dr. Esther Choo: I’m not most qualified to give words of wisdom in many subjects but I guess one thing that I am qualified in is traveling. I chose to do solo travel for most of my trips because I realized that life is short, and I want to see what I want to see and to eat what I want to eat. It’s a bit lonely and awkward at first, but once you get to taste the freedom of solo travel, you will enjoy it more and more and even prefer it. Also, please go on a Safari. It will put your mind in different perspective.
Dr. Priscilla L. Carpenter is a member of the AAE’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee.