Hey there! I’m Daltria, and I'm a general dentist in Nashville, TN. I graduated from UTHSC in 2017 with Adam Parker. We quickly bonded over our mutual hatred for dentures, our anxiety over student loan debt, and that we were both hustlers when it came to graduating. Now, let’s rewind to my last semester of dental school: I passed all my boards. Requirements were completed. I had secured a job in one of the fastest growing cities in the country. This was my moment! After all the stress and sleepless nights, that “easy life” and successful career I was promised to get one day was finally here... Now cue the plot twist: I quit my first job after merely four weeks with barely enough money to pay rent. So, where did I go wrong in one of the most pivotal moments of my life? How is it that I felt like the biggest failure when this should be the most successful point in my life? I didn’t know the first thing about being an associate. No offense to dental schools, but they really suck at preparing dentists for the real world. Needless to say, I learned so much on my own. Fast forward to the present, I’m currently an associate for two dentists. However, I’ve also been an associate to four other dentists. In total, I’ve been an associate six times thus far! I finally feel content in my career, but it took years to feel this way. That’s when it hit me. How amazing would it have been to feel confident when I first searched for a job? Our lack of confidence revealed the need for guidance for graduating dental students and new associates. That, my friends, is our mission behind the Associate’s Advantage. Through personal experience and research, Adam and I have developed a program fitted just for you. We’ll teach you ways to work smarter, not harder. Our hope is that your transition into your career is effortless, so that you can focus on becoming the best version of yourself while finding a life and career that gives you joy.

Hi! My name is Adam Parker, and I met Daltria Li, one of my best friends, during our first week of dental school. Since then, we’ve grown closer through being each others’ shoulder to lean on, question the meaning of life, and figure out who we are and what the heck we are supposed to be after dental school. It still feels like we are asking ourselves that question to this day, albeit with a lot more learned experiences, both good and bad. After graduating dental school in 2017, I went on to be an associate for two years. During that time, production was low, morale was low, and I was finding side hustles on Fridays to make ends meet. Was this the luxurious life of dentistry that I was promised by all the old professors? No! What was once lucrative with simply a degree now requires much more intention to find long-term success in the field! A year into my first associateship, I knew I needed a change - my job was barely breaking six figures, my student debt was increasing despite paying toward my loans, and I didn't enjoy working with adults. After speaking with friends, I realized pediatrics was a better route for me. After what felt like a rushed and impulsive application cycle, I matched! After residency, I felt I was prepared for finding a job. I knew how to read through a contract, what to negotiate, where to relent, and where to stand my ground. And voila! I found my dream job in Portland, Oregon. Little did I know I would quit that job in 6 short weeks, quit the NEXT job in 8 months, and be on my third associateship (fifth total) within a year of leaving residency. Can I just catch a break for once? Where did I go wrong? Was I hypercritical? Was it just bad luck? I sure hope not, and I hope I can help you avoid my misfortunes. Mine and Daltria’s hope is to leave you feeling a little more geared up to find an amazing associateship that not only helps your boss, but allows you to tackle dentistry with ease.