Reports suggest more dentists are interested in MBA degree

Reports suggest more dentists are interested in MBA degree

It appears that more practicing dentists, as well as those still in dental school, are considering obtaining a business degree in order to run their practices more efficiently.

An Oklahoma dentist Dr. David Wong says he has seen his business decline by about 10 percent since the beginning of 2009 as more people forgo non-essential expenses in the tight economy, according to the Wall Street Journal.

"You can't go to the office and just be a dentist anymore; you have to go to the office and be a dentist and a CEO," he says, quoted by the news source.

While Wong has chosen to take out ads, send additional email reminders and has even used Twitter, others, like Philip Kierl, who finished his dental degree two years ago, have opted for an MBA.

"If they're running a sound business, they're going to have a better practice," says C. Lynn Hurst, dean of the University of Southern Nevada School of Dental Medicine.

"They're going to have more satisfied patients. Nothing drives away patients like a chaotic front office," he adds.

Professionals in almost any field can benefit from an MBA degree to enhance their earnings or revenue stream by applying the knowledge gained in business school.

Institutions around the country offer degrees that can be tailored to suit individual students' needs, and busy adults may consider enrolling in an online program which also offers the convenience of flexible hours.