Dr. Michael Sharp

[00:00:02.560] I was a Michigan State undergrad and was wondering what to do with my life. [00:00:12.600] I knew I wanted to help people, but didn't know exactly how. [00:00:16.280] A good friend of mine said, "You know, I'm going to become a dentist. [00:00:19.960] It's an amazing profession, I get to help people, [00:00:22.640] You still have freedom and time [00:00:25.000] to do things that you like to do outside of dentistry. [00:00:28.120] I think it's a good profession, and I'm going to apply." [00:00:32.520] I said, "You know what? That sounds like a great idea. [00:00:35.560] I think I'm going to do that, too." [00:00:37.680] Sure enough, I applied to the University of Michigan [00:00:41.400] after my junior year, and was accepted, [00:00:44.560] and I've never looked back. [00:00:46.200] Some of the things I enjoy about being a dentist [00:00:49.400] is the ability to change people's lives. [00:00:52.520] I look at my profession in dentistry compared to the medical profession, [00:00:57.240] and I say, "I win, I win hands down," [00:01:00.760] because not only do I treat the dental system, [00:01:06.320] I'm treating a whole person. [00:01:07.880] I treat the whole person psychologically, physically. [00:01:11.800] The mouth is the gateway to understanding the whole body's health and wellbeing, [00:01:18.520] and so really, I'm at the forefront of medicine, really. [00:01:23.040] When a person visits my office, [00:01:25.760] I want them to feel that they've been heard. [00:01:29.640] It's not about me telling them what they need, [00:01:33.640] it's about me trying to figure out what they want [00:01:37.320] and helping them to get that. [00:01:39.960] My favorite part about being with patients is changing their life.