Two Iranian dentists who took the scenic route to British dentistry, Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh's story reads like a masterclass in adaptability.
From Tehran to Debrecen University in Hungary, then straight into the UK without ever having set foot in the country before, their journey showcases both the challenges and rewards of international dental careers.
Now transitioning from NHS to private practice, they share candid insights about navigating visa dependencies, cultural differences between healthcare systems, and why being top of your class doesn't guarantee an easy path.
Their conversation reveals how different countries approach dentistry, from Hungary's more invasive techniques to the UK's preventive focus, and why sometimes the most circuitous routes lead to the most rewarding destinations.
In This Episode
00:01:15 - Arriving in the UK without ever having visited before
00:03:30 - Why they chose Hungary for dental education over Iran
00:05:30 - First impressions of Hungary and cultural differences
00:08:25 - Military service requirements forcing early departure from Iran
00:10:15 - Financial challenges of studying abroad
00:13:10 - Hungarian education system: oral exams and luck factors
00:17:00 - Working in Hungary's NHS-equivalent system
00:19:15 - Cultural differences: Eastern European "egg" vs Western "peach"
00:25:15 - The decision to move to the UK post-Brexit
00:29:50 - Landing NHS jobs sight unseen
00:34:10 - Learning UK dentistry systems and mentorship importance
00:38:30 - NHS complaint system challenges
00:40:25 - The band system frustrations
00:43:25 - Visa dependency limiting job opportunities
00:47:00 - Transition to private practice
00:52:55 - Future aspirations: cosmetics vs surgical specialisation
00:59:15 - Darkest day: fear and uncertainty in early UK days
01:03:25 - Blackbox thinking
01:06:40 - TMJ dislocation during extraction
01:10:25 - Being top of class vs visa reality check
01:14:20 - Best dental lectures and mentorship value
01:18:20 - Fantasy dinner party
01:20:55 - Last days and legacy
About Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh
Sara Khandan and Mahan Mohaghegh are Iranian-born dentists who graduated from the University of Debrecen in Hungary before relocating to the UK. After three years of practice in Hungary's public healthcare system, they moved to the UK and completed two and a half years in the NHS before transitioning to private practice. Sara is pursuing advanced cosmetic dentistry training, whilst Mahan is focusing on surgical procedures and implant dentistry. Both are planning to eventually open their own practice within the next five to six years.
