Dr. Stephen MacLeod: Insights On the Personal Essay, Interviews, and Externships By the Loyola OMS Program Director

American born, European trained, and now working as the Division Chief and Program Director of OMS and dental medicine at Loyola, Dr. Stephen MacLeod has a broad scope of knowledge and experience and he joins me on today’s show for a discussion which is brimming equally with inspirational nuggets and practical tips. Stephen did a full medical degree after he completed his oral surgery training, and found nothing in it that he enjoyed as much. So, for any prospective oral surgeons who are sitting on the fence, this is your sign to take the leap. We discuss the rewarding nature of working in trauma, why practice is essential as an oral surgeon, what Stephen looks for in residents’ applications, his thoughts on externships, and more. Stephen’s philosophy is one of passion, continuous learning, and a commitment to community, and there’s a lot to be learnt from him! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Stephen shares what his educational and professional career paths have looked like. 
• Variation that exists between programs. 
• The three broad clinical categories that Stephen spends the majority of his time working in.
• Advice from Stephen for anyone interested in the trauma field.
• How oral surgeons differ from other medical specialists in terms of our ability to handle trauma.
• Stephen explains the importance of practice when it comes to the oral surgery profession.
• Principles which form the foundation of the oral surgery profession. 
• Traits that Stephen looks for when hiring residents. 
• What your personal statement should and shouldn’t include.
• Changes that Stephen’s department made to their application process since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
• The most valuable residents to speak to. 
• Stephen shares his thoughts about externships.
• Factors that Stephen doesn’t see as important in a resident’s application. 
• How the OMS educational model differs between the United States and Europe.
• The “meat and potatoes” approach to OMS at Loyola.  
• Elements which signal the family friendly nature of Loyola. 
• A message to anyone considering oral surgery as a career.
• A rapid fire round with Stephen. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Stephen MacLeod on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-macleod-5002249/ 

The House of God by Samuel Shem — https://www.amazon.com/House-God-Samuel-Shem/dp/0425238091 

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.com

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059