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By: Susanne Pacher, Fri Dec 9th, 2005 07:47:48 PM

When your eyes are open you tend to find wonderful and extraordinary people right around you. My dentist, Dr. Rajiv Arya, is one of those indivdiuals. Whenever I go to have my teeth checked we end up having a very deep conversation, and I always marvel at what Dr. Arya is involved in. Not only is he a practicing dentist and a practicing lawyer, Dr. Arya has volunteered his time and expertise in places like India, Malawi, Zambia, and of course, Canada. He is one of the most multi-faceted individuals I know. Without further ado, here he is: Dr. Arya:

1. Please tell us a little bit about your personal and educational background.

I am married and have a little daughter of 22 months. It's been a truly profound experience having her. I have found that just when you thought that marriage was the best thing in and for your life, having a kid is even better. My life overall is relatively uneventful. The great thing is I have a supportive family on both sides. I consider myself very lucky.

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2. You practice actively as a dental surgeon and as a lawyer. Why did you decide to do that and what in general is your philosophy related to work?

I actually get that question a lot. Why did I get into dentistry and law? I guess it was self-preservation. I felt that I needed another profession to give me complete or a further satisfaction in my work life that I was looking for. It definitely wasn't for the challenge- as both professions are very challenging. What one profession would not offer the other one could and vice-versa. It was a bit of a gamble to make this choice. But it was never about making more money, or being uniquely qualified. I am not as goal-oriented as people would think. This choice was more about self-fulfillment and I don't regret it for a second. The end result is that, yes, I do have a busy week; but more importantly, I am usually smiling and contented throughout it.

What made me go into these fields carries over into the rest of my left. I attempt to look at life in a broader, holistic manner. In dentistry I take interest in the patient, not just the clinical procedure before me. If there is one thing I can give myself credit for it's that I have an uncanny ability to remember details about my patients and clients for a long time. On check ups, I will often comment on earlier things they told me and follow up on the details of their lives that they have shared with me. Sometimes I surprise myself, even more than the patients, how much I remember about them personally.

I take an interest in my patients that goes beyond just the treatment, I look at my patients more on a holistic well-being approach. Similarly, in law, I look at the client from a bigger kind of picture. What are we really trying to accomplish here? That way- all the parties involved are appreciative of what you are trying to do for them.

I would like to think that I take a casual approach to both jobs since I am not a big fan of pretenses, or acting like as if you know absolutely everything. I don't appreciate smoke and mirrors. I also try not to take myself too seriously. In both professions you come across experiences that you just don't know the answer to at the moment. This can present as a very challenging situation. I am the first one to say that we need to look a situation from more angles and perhaps bring in a different expertise. Clients and patients appreciate that candor and I find that they, in return, talk to me on a different level- a more candid level. It always surprises and pleases me when my patients and clients inquire and remember things about my life outside of work. It gives me some sense of belief that they also care. What you see is what you get. I am not a flashy lawyer or dentist, there are no Armani suits here.

About the author: Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com. It deals with travel to foreign countries and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers, insights, cross-cultural issues, and many other features. Participate in our travel story contest http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm and win great prizes, a fabulous cruise to the Amazon. Life is a Journey - Explore New Horizons.