Dr. Andrew Nette: The Life of a Mentor
Dr. Andrew Nette has been practicing dentistry for 43 years. As passionate as the first day he started his career, Dr. Nette continues to give back to a profession that he considers most rewarding. For the past 25 years, he’s remained a professor one day a week at Dalhousie University where he’s able to pass along his knowledge and enthusiasm to future dentists.
He earned the title of Mentor as you will hear in this conversation with Dr. John O'Keefe for his continued support to new graduates and early-career dentists.
We hope you you enjoy the conversation. We always look forward to hearing your thoughts and receiving your questions and/or suggestions about this post and other topics. Leave a comment in the box below or send us your feedback by email.
Until next time!
CDA Oasis Team
I graduated with Andy and it is now 44 years since we became dentists in 1976. Andy and I have always shared a passion for dentistry and at nearly 73 years I , like Andy , think it is the best “job” in the world. As they say if you love what you do it is not work. Great interview and good to hear Andy is still practicing several days a week and teaching as well. We need dentists like Andy to improve our profession and keep the bar high. Thanks John for interviewing Andy. Regards Terry Shaw
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on mentoring. I do have some comments.
Yes, macro photographs of preps, temps, crowns, fillings and periosurgery can be humbling.
It lays bare, for all to see, one’s performance acumen and philosophy of care.
I have heard many dentists talk a Big-Ballgame…but just show me one photograph or one radiograph of treatment provided and I can read the mind of the provider.
I commend you on being an educator and mentor to others on a one-on-one basis, in addition to your duties in Organized Dentistry. My practice consumes most of my time and I have little energy remaining at days end.
I too am 66 years-old and still practice full time.
Your enthusiasm and motivation resonate with me: to provide the best one can…and even better, if the bar is “set higher” by others.
It comforts me to know there are at least two of us in Canada…three if we include Terry Shaw.
I am certain there are more and all should scribble a positive comment to this post so that we do not feel awkward to claim that “we love doing Dentistry”.
Dr. Paul Belzycki
I am also a member of the Dalhousie Dental School class of 1976, so I have been exposed to Andy’s enthusiasm for dentistry for many years. It’s great that you have given him a wider platform to express his passion for the profession. Great interview Andy – thoughtful and well spoken.
I sold my practice almost 12 years ago and continued as an associate until I finally retired at the end of 2019. Much of the pleasure I derived from those years came from contact with new graduates from dental school to whom I could show “the ropes” of actual dental practice and try to impart to them what my experience had taught me from a clinical, business and life style perspective.