Q&A with Dr. Paulo Zupelari Goncalves

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Dr. Paulo Zupelari Goncalves, assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, directs the Oral Surgery Clinic and predoctoral courses at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. A dentist, maxillofacial surgeon and educator, he brings extensive clinical experience, a collaborative teaching style and an unmistakable enthusiasm for working with students, residents, faculty and staff.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your role at the School of Dentistry?

A: I am very fortunate in that I really love what I do. I love being with the students. I love being with the residents. I love doing surgery. I love this environment here. I love the discussions with students – learning from them and teaching them.  For me, the clinic is the perfect place where all of those things come together. Every day brings different patients, different challenges and different opportunities to teach. I enjoy helping students understand not only how to perform a procedure, but how to think through a case, communicate with a team and make good clinical decisions. That combination of patient care, surgery and education is what makes this role so meaningful to me.

Q: You’ve described the Oral Surgery Clinic as your “fantastic chaotic clinic.” What does that mean?

A: I say that I love my “fantastic chaotic clinic” because this is where we thrive. On any given day, the clinic schedule may include sedations, implants, biopsies, dentoalveolar surgery and other procedures. It is a very active environment with faculty, residents, students, clinic managers and assistants all working together.  There is never a “no.” We have a patient, and we are going to treat them. Of course, that demands a very calibrated team, and I’m very lucky because we have that here. The faculty are amazing, and so are the clinic managers and assistants. I come with all these ideas, and the team helps me make them happen. It is awesome.  That energy can look chaotic from the outside, but it is really a highly collaborative environment. Everyone has a role, and everyone contributes to making sure patients are cared for and students are learning at the same time.

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Q: One of your teaching tools is a white board in the clinic. How does that support learning?

A: I believe there is no better environment to teach than in the clinic. That is the best place. When I became clinic director, one of the first things I asked for was a large white board in the middle of the clinic. At first, people wondered why we needed a white board there, because white boards are usually thought of as classroom tools. But the clinic is where so much of the real learning happens.  Every case gives us something to discuss. We use the board to talk through treatment planning, medical considerations, possible complications and the best approach for a procedure. If a patient has a medical co-morbidity, we talk about what we need to be aware of and how we can avoid problems. We do not include patient names or identifying information, but we use the situation as a learning opportunity.  Then, when the patient arrives, we go into the operatory and provide treatment. The board helps students and residents see not just what we do, but how we think. It turns everyday clinical care into a shared learning experience.

Q: How would you describe your teaching philosophy?

A: I like to have my students around in the clinic so they can see what is happening. They can learn from us about what we are thinking and considering when we see a case, and then we can discuss it. I want them to understand that clinical decision-making is not just a checklist. It is a process of observing, asking questions, weighing risks and benefits, and working together.  I often think about how to spark the student who is looking at me with that little question mark on their face. That moment is important. If we can help students become curious, then learning becomes much more powerful.  I also believe passion is contagious. If we show our students how passionate we are about what we are doing, they may begin to ask, “Why does this guy love this so much?” Once they see where they can go and what they can become, it can trigger the feeling that they want and need to learn. To me, teaching is not only about giving information. It is about helping students imagine their future and giving them confidence to pursue it.

Q: What are your priorities as a mentor and leader in the OMFS clinic?

A: One of my priorities is to help DDS students who are interested in oral and maxillofacial surgery understand what the specialty involves and what path they need to follow. My goal with the Selectives program is to help every dentist who wants to be a surgeon have a clear path. That means giving students exposure, guidance, honest feedback and opportunities to learn in the clinical environment.  It has been very rewarding to see students succeed. Last year, eight members of the DDS class matched into OMFS residency programs around the country, which was a great success and a reflection of their hard work.  But mentorship is also about culture. I want the clinic to be a place where people feel supported, where they work as a team and where they can be happy even when the days are busy. I always say that happiness is super important. We should try to stay happy and deal with everyday problems with a positive attitude. No matter what, we have to face them anyway, and having a good mindset just makes life better. So, why not be happy?
 

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The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral healthcare education, research, patient care and community service.  General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the school to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan.  Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia and public agencies.  Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.  For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit us on the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.  Email: [email protected], or (734) 615-1971.