Most dental students are taught to treat patients, not to lead teams, build brands or use technology to its full potential. In this episode of The TechDental Podcast, Dr Randeep Singh Gill talks with the co-founder of The Young Dentist to explore how early exposure to AI, communication, and professional networks is shaping the next generation of clinicians. Drawing on his experience as an award-winning innovator and community builder at King’s College London, Afeef shares how curiosity, clear communication, and digital fluency can accelerate a young dentist’s growth long before graduation. Whether you’re a student, educator, or practice owner, this conversation offers practical insight into how the next wave of clinicians will think, connect and lead.
Many dental students graduate highly skilled in clinical techniques but underexposed to the wider realities of business, technology and communication that shape modern practice. While education has advanced, too few opportunities exist for young clinicians to learn the professional and entrepreneurial skills needed to lead with confidence.
In this episode of The TechDental Podcast, host Dr Randeep Singh Gill speaks with Afeef Hadi, co-founder of The Young Dentist and one of the most promising emerging voices in UK dentistry. Now in his second year at King’s College London, Afeef is already helping students bridge the gap between dental school and real-world practice through community, collaboration and technology. He shares how his experience developing an AI-powered documentation concept, MedEcho, shaped his belief that innovation can enhance patient care, and why communication, branding and networking are fast becoming core skills for the next generation of clinicians. From his reflections on student life at King’s to the growing appetite for technology among young professionals, Afeef offers a grounded perspective on how the future of dentistry is being built by those still in training.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why The Young Dentist was created and the gap it addresses between education and practice
- How AI and digital innovation are helping shape the next generation of clinicians
- The role of communication and ethical selling in building patient trust
- How networking and personal branding accelerate early career growth
- Why non-clinical skills are as essential as clinical competence
- What dental schools can learn from entrepreneurial thinking
- How curiosity and community are transforming the path from student to professional
About the Guest:
Afeef Hadi is the co-founder of The Young Dentist, a fast-growing platform helping dental students and young professionals bridge the gap between education and real-world practice. A second-year dental student at King’s College London, Afeef is already recognised as one of the most promising emerging voices in UK dentistry, combining curiosity, communication and innovation to inspire his generation of clinicians. His early career includes co-developing MedEcho, an AI-powered documentation concept designed to streamline NHS note-taking and save clinical time. Beyond dentistry, Afeef has held leadership roles in student enterprise, reaching the UK finals of Young Enterprise and earning national recognition for sustainability and business innovation. He also holds Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Through The Young Dentist, Afeef champions the non-clinical skills that define modern dentistry in communication, technology and community. His work connects students, educators, and industry leaders, showing that the next generation of clinicians can lead with clarity and confidence long before graduation.
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