REDEFINING READINESS

Confidence doesn’t always arrive with a bold entrance. Sometimes, it builds quietly, step by dehydrated step, as we show up for patients and ourselves day after day, over caffeinated and tired, but still smiling. It grows when we choose to try, even when we’re unsure of the outcome. Every time you take action despite self-doubt, you reinforce the belief that you’re capable. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting that you can figure it out along the way -my particular specialty.

Speaking at the ALF Educational Institute last November, 2025 was nerve wracking, exhilarating and fun. Behind the scenes, I got a text from Dr. Jim Bronson (founder of AEI) about two weeks before the Level 1 ALF mini residency asking me if I wanted to present over the weekend. I immediately gasped and wasn’t sure I was ready to do something like this, however, I also know that you are ultimately the one who decides when you’re ready and that there’s no such thing as perfect. Also, if Dr. Jim Bronson was asking me to present, I must have been READY, RIGHT? My full time doctorate program for traditional medicine had me completing projects, studying for midterms, doing clinic shifts, and I was still settling into my new apartment in San Diego after moving cross country from Brooklyn. In my life, when it rains it pours, and now this formidable and exciting opportunity presented itself to me. I paused, took it as a good omen, accepted the invitation, changed some exams dates with my professors, and immediately arranged travel to Washington, DC (with no presentation topic in existence). 

Later Jim asked me what I wanted to talk about. I thought to myself, what could I possibly teach or show these seasoned functional dentists that they didn’t already know? Some of them were MY teachers for god’s sake. I mulled this over for hours and finally realized the only thing I am an expert in is my own experience and that none of those dentists or doctors were both myofunctional therapists and Buteyko Breathing instructors. Bingo! I told Jim I’d speak on my experience in “Cranial Balance: recognizing the power of the tongue” by demonstrating remarkable craniofacial-respiratory changes I had witnessed throughout my numerous case studies since 2019. He approved. A very good start! I spent the last few nights before the residency eating late dinners while studying for my Herbs 3 midterm and piecing together a slide show that not only included diagnostic images, but also ones of Patti Smith, Simone Biles and Eric Cartman from South Park to help get my points across. I gotta be me.

In the conference room there were dentists from all over. Some were from California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and even a surgeon from Germany was present who now runs a massive surgical center in the Boston area. I was nervous to say the least, especially because I was following the legendary duo of Dr. Tasha Turzo, cranial osteopath and the “OG” myofunctional therapist and Buteyko instructor, Kathy Winslow. I sat in the back of the conference room starving and dehydrated while furiously editing my slides up to the last minute. When it was my turn, I kept it snappy, honest, and even though one of my main slides had a colossal typo, the presentation was a “home run”, as Jim put it. The German surgeon raved for hours about my timing and powerpoint, Drs Jim and Blanca Bronson were beside themselves with excitement about my thorough data collection and presentation style, and I got fed very well that night at a local steak house. 

I was truly honored to have been included among such esteemed professionals and leaders in the field of functional dentistry and myofunctional sciences whose guests speakers have included Patrick McKeown, Dr. Kevin Boyd, Michelle Emanuel, Beth Lambert and Dr. Zach Bush. It’s true that simplicity can be profound. That weekend I learned that one’s honest good work when combined with the persistence of continuously showing up can accumulate to hold much value especially when presented to the right audience, even when you might doubt your readiness.