Building a Surgical Legacy: Mentorship, Growth, and Giving Back with Dr. Derek Nelson

In this episode of Paradigm, host Dr. David Rallis welcomes Dr. Derek Nelson, chief resident at the University of North Carolina, to explore the early career journey of a surgeon committed to mentorship, growth, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Dr. Nelson shares his background—from immigrating from Jamaica to pursuing both pastoral work and dentistry—and reflects on how those experiences shaped his drive. The discussion covers his nontraditional path into oral surgery, how he’s maximized residency through strategic learning and networking, and why mentorship and purpose-driven practice are central to his future with Paradigm. Together, they examine what younger surgeons seek from their careers, and how Paradigm supports them in designing meaningful, successful practices from the start.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Derek Nelson’s upbringing, work ethic, and early experiences in education and construction
• His academic and spiritual journey, including ministry and dentistry
• Nontraditional path into oral surgery through public health and strategic proximity to UNC
• The value of mentorship and long-term commitment in earning trust and opportunities
• Learning from residency legends and the importance of recognizing their influence
• Creating cross-specialty study clubs and embracing collaboration with other disciplines
• How early exposure to practice management and case planning is accelerating his growth
• Derek’s mindset around balancing ambition, service, and personal values in career building
• Paradigm’s unique support model for young doctors entering practice
• Perspectives on practice autonomy, ongoing learning, and the future of resident onboarding

Links:

• David Rallis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rallis-374a071a8
• Paradigm Oral Health: https://paradigmoralhealth.com/