Episode #14
Education, Confidence, and Clinical Growth with Dr. Steven Rasner
Dr. Steven Rasner didn’t graduate at the top of his dental class or begin his career with prestigious opportunities. He returned to his rural New Jersey hometown because it was the only opportunity available—and used continuing education to completely transform his confidence, clinical skills, and future. In this episode of On the Mic with MAP: Mapping the Way to Predictable Implant Dentistry , Dr. Michael A. Pikos sits down with his longtime friend and colleague to discuss Dr. Rasner’s remarkable 46-year career. They explore how live continuing education helped him build a thriving fee-for-service practice in a blue-collar community, become a respected educator, and establish the Rasner Institute. Dr. Rasner also shares candid advice for younger clinicians about failure, confidence, case acceptance, lifelong learning, and taking ownership of their professional growth. This conversation is a powerful reminder that your starting point does not determine how far you can go. Invest in yourself, eliminate excuses, and never stop learning. 00:20 – Introduction Dr. Pikos introduces Dr. Steven Rasner and reflects on his 46-year dental career. 01:19 – An Unconventional Beginning Dr. Rasner explains why his journey did not begin at the top of his class. 02:42 – Returning Home Limited opportunities led him back to rural New Jersey to practice with his father. 03:40 – Discovering Continuing Education How CE gave Dr. Rasner a new direction and transformed his outlook. 04:30 – Learning from Dentistry’s Leading Educators Lessons and inspiration from Dawson, Spear, Kois, Misch, Pikos, and others. 06:22 – How Education Builds Confidence Dr. Pikos and Dr. Rasner discuss the connection between knowledge, confidence, and clinical growth. 08:15 – The Transformation of a Practice How education influenced treatment planning, team development, and practice performance. 09:00 – Advice for Young Dentists Live below your means—but never hesitate to invest in your education. 10:05 – Confidence and Case Acceptance Presenting comprehensive care with confidence, honesty, and genuine concern for patients. 11:50 – Becoming an Educator How a successful rural practice led Dr. Rasner to begin teaching practice management. 12:00 – Building a $4 Million Solo Practice Creating an exceptional practice through comprehensive care rather than patient volume. 14:41 – “Dentistry Is My Golf” Why Dr. Rasner continues pursuing advanced education at 72 years old. 16:31 – Bridging Education and Patient Care The development and purpose of the Rasner Institute. 20:44 – The Fulfillment of Teaching Why seeing former students succeed has become one of his greatest professional honors. 22:54 – Success in a Blue-Collar Community Building a thriving fee-for-service practice in an economically challenged area. 23:35 – Implementation Creates Growth Why applying what you learn is just as important as attending the course. 24:49 – The Irreplaceable Value of Live CE The conversations, mentorship, relationships, and opportunities that cannot be replicated online. 27:11 – The Limitations of Social Media Education Why online content may create unrealistic expectations about clinical outcomes. 28:48 – Entering the “Fourth Quarter” Dr. Pikos and Dr. Rasner reflect on longevity, purpose, and continuing to grow. 31:15 – Invest in Yourself Dr. Rasner delivers his most important advice for younger clinicians. 33:19 – Final Reflections Dr. Pikos reinforces the importance of ownership, education, and eliminating excuses. Connect with us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pikosinstitute Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikosinstitute/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pikos-institute/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/PikosInstitute Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Sj8qBsxCM8az1BmWzIdUi?si=51d7a9dad5f0405d Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-mic-with-map-podcast-mapping-the-way/id1878393358
