Why Did I Become A Doctor South Africa
Why Did I Become A Doctor South Africa
Reality of Being a Dentist: Burnout, Success & Mental Health After 45 Years | Dr. Norman Cahi
Dr. Norman Cahi has been called the "dentist to the stars" - but his 45-year journey in dentistry tells a much deeper story than the glamorous Instagram posts suggest.
From practising without gloves in the 1980s to pioneering teeth whitening in South Africa, Dr. Cahi shares the brutally honest truth about life as a dentist - including the parts nobody talks about.
WHAT WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE:
- Growing up Lebanese in Bloemfontein and the values that shaped him
- The moment he got 32% and almost quit dentistry (his mum flew up the next morning)
- Emigrating to London in 1993 and earning British citizenship
- Why they came back to South Africa after 6 years
- The Harvard experience and becoming a pioneer in teeth whitening
- Working with Miss South Africa and beauty pageants for 20 years
- The physical toll: hip replacement, joint issues, hearing loss
- The mental toll: depression, burnout, and seeking professional help
- Why he's giving himself only 5 more years in practice
- The evolution of dentistry: from no gloves to AI
- Professional jealousy and competition in the dental field
- Working with family: his prosthodontist brother Emile and daughter Chelsea
- The importance of pro bono work and giving back
- Would he recommend dentistry today? His honest answer
- Why travel and experiences matter more than material possessions
THE REALITY BEHIND THE INSTAGRAM POSTS:
Dr. Cahi's social media presence shows a successful, glamorous lifestyle - but in this conversation, he reveals the full picture. He's undergone hip replacement, joint replacements in his wrists, needs hearing aids, and has battled depression and burnout multiple times.
He's attended fat farms, health spas, seen psychotherapists, and worked with business coaches and lifestyle coaches just to keep going. This is the reality of 45 years in dentistry that nobody posts about.
KEY QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:
"In my 45 years, I've probably had to contact the Dental Protection Society three or four times. That's a good track record, but it's not easy staying on the straight and narrow."
"Dentistry is one profession where if you're dishonest, you can hide anything and everything. But are you going to live with yourself?"
"I've been close to burnout a few times in my life where I was depressed, anxious, stressed, emotionally drained, mentally strained, physically broken."
"My dad and mum never taught us how to live. They just lived and allowed us to watch them."
ABOUT DR. NORMAN CAHI:
Dr. Norman Cahi qualified from Wits University in 1984 and has been in private practice for ove
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