Dentistry has always been a profession where precision and knowledge go hand in hand. But as techniques, technology, and patient expectations evolve, so should the way dentists learn and practice. For Dr. Nada Albatish, a restorative dentist practicing in Toronto, the turning point in her professional journey came when she discovered the transformative role of collaboration — not just in treating patients, but in learning and growing as a clinician.

Her story illustrates how study clubs, and particularly Seattle Study Club, elevate dental practices, strengthen local professional communities, and ultimately improve patient care.

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A Journey Beyond Residency

Like many dentists, Dr. Albatish’s career began with a strong academic foundation. After completing dental school at the University of Toronto and a general practice residency, she entered private practice eager to serve her patients. Yet early on, she recognized that truly comprehensive care required more than one dentist’s expertise.

“I started noticing all the different parts of interdisciplinary dentistry that I really wanted to know more about so I could better help my patients,” she explains.

That curiosity sparked a commitment to education that took her across disciplines and around the world. She studied restorative dentistry, occlusion, prosthodontics, aesthetics, orthodontics, and more — gathering every piece of the puzzle she could find. But after years of intensive learning, she hit a plateau.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of new things happening anymore. And so, I started to look for a next level of education — something that was going to pull it all together in a different way. Something that would allow me to be in the room learning from people smarter than me.”

That search led her to Seattle Study Club.

Discovering the Power of Collaboration

Seattle Study Club is a global network of clinicians dedicated to interdisciplinary care and lifelong learning. What Dr. Albatish found wasn’t just a series of lectures or study modules — it was a community.

“It is this incredible network of educators and restorative dentists alike that are all coming together to learn about interdisciplinary care and, together in a collaborative way, treat their patients better,” she says.

The key word she uses repeatedly is quality.

• Quality of people.
  
  
• Quality of education.
  
  
• Quality of care delivered back in the practice.
  
  

For Dr. Albatish, the study club model was the “next level” she had been searching for. Not only could she learn from world-class speakers, but she could also engage with colleagues in real time, exchanging insights, and tackling treatment planning from multiple angles.

A Turning Point: Building Local Community

In 2020, like dentists everywhere, Dr. Albatish’s world changed when Toronto shut down during the pandemic. For three months, dental practices were closed. And for 19 months, she couldn’t travel to the conferences and continuing education programs she relied on.

Suddenly, the absence of local interdisciplinary learning became glaringly obvious.

“That’s when I really started to see the weakness in the local community,” she recalls. “There was not any high-quality interdisciplinary learning in our backyard.”

Instead of waiting for circumstances to improve, she made a bold decision: she would start her own Seattle Study Club in Toronto.

Creating a Hub for World-Class Education

Launching a study club during a time of uncertainty might have seemed counterintuitive, but for Dr. Albatish, it was the solution. She wanted to bring world-class education home — not only for herself but for her colleagues, her community, and ultimately her patients.

“Today we have an incredible network of restorative dentists and specialists within this group. We’ve built partnerships with industry in the community. We’ve met so many incredible clinicians and educators who have come here to teach us.”

The ripple effects are undeniable. Conversations among colleagues have become deeper and more clinically sophisticated. Treatment planning is more collaborative. Support among members extends beyond the professional to the personal. And all of it translates into better care for patients.

“It’s made a difference to each person that’s part of the group. Which means it’s made a difference to their practice, a difference to their team, and a difference to their patients.”

Why Restorative Dentists Lead the Way

One question Dr. Albatish often hears is: Why would a restorative dentist start a study club?

Her answer is clear. Restorative dentists are at the center of interdisciplinary care.

“As a restorative dentist, you’re quarterbacking the interdisciplinary care. Patients come to you for the comprehensive treatment plan. You’re pulling in specialists for consultations and coordinating their expertise. It makes sense that in a study club, you would also be coordinating education, getting those specialists together, and having those conversations from a slightly different perspective.”

In other words, the role of a club director mirrors the role of a restorative dentist in practice — bringing together different disciplines to create a complete, patient-centered solution.

The Impact on Practice and Patients

Through her leadership, Dr. Albatish has seen first-hand how study clubs transform practices. Members don’t just gain new knowledge — they learn how to integrate it into everyday dentistry.

Study clubs:

• Provide access to world-class education without the need to travel.
  
  
• Create a safe space for open discussion, case review, and treatment planning.
  
  
• Strengthen local professional communities by building trust and collaboration.
  
  
• Enhance the patient experience through higher quality, more coordinated care.
  
  

The benefits ripple outward: from clinician to team, from team to patients, from patients to the broader community.

Collaboration as the Future of Dentistry

Looking back, Dr. Albatish says that starting her study club was one of the best professional decisions she has ever made. Not only has it enriched her own practice, but it has elevated the standard of care across her local community.

She also believes that study clubs are not exclusive to specialists or restorative dentists.

“I think it’s a perfect journey for anybody who loves education, who loves collaboration, and who wants to make a difference,” she says.

That vision — of dentistry as a collaborative, ever-learning profession — is at the heart of Seattle Study Club.

Ready to Transform Your Practice Through Collaboration?

Dr. Nada Albatish’s journey illustrates the profound impact study clubs can have — not just on individual clinicians, but on entire communities of care. By creating spaces where dentists and specialists learn together, Seattle Study Club ensures that patients receive the highest quality of treatment rooted in collaboration, trust, and shared knowledge.

For dentists seeking the next level of growth, the message is clear: the power of collaboration changes everything. It elevates practices, strengthens professional communities, and transforms patient care.

Now is the time to take that step. Join Seattle Study Club and discover how collaboration can shape the future of your practice — and the future of dentistry itself.