From Family Inspiration to Oral Surgery Trailblazer
Dr. Sanaz Shafazand grew up watching her grandfather care for his patients with skill and compassion. He wasn’t just a dentist—he was a role model, and his dedication captivated her as a child. “One of the most impactful moments in my early life was watching my grandfather,” she recalls, “His dedication to patient care deeply inspired me, and from a young age, I knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Watching her grandfather’s warm interactions and careful techniques planted a seed in her young mind. Dentistry wasn’t just a profession—it was a calling. She carried that sense of purpose forward—and found it affirmed when she met Dr. Nael Al Hazeem, the first oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Kuwait.
Mentorship That Shaped a Vision
Meeting Dr. Hazeem shifted everything for Sanaz. “My biggest inspiration to enter the oral surgery field was my mentor, Dr. Nael Al Hazeem,” she says. The guidance she received under his wing showed her how much impact one skilled, compassionate doctor can have on people’s lives. Dr. Hazeem didn’t just teach her techniques—he modeled the empathy and integrity every patient deserves.
Working alongside him brought clarity: oral surgery isn’t simply a medical specialty—it’s a means of healing. For Sanaz, each procedure became personal, each patient a person with a story. Dr. Hazeem’s influence became the spark that set her on her own path.
Balancing Success In Clinic and Home
For Dr. Shafazand, the greatest achievement isn’t awards or titles—it’s trust. “My biggest achievement has been earning my patients’ trust and satisfaction while balancing a demanding career with being a wife and mother.” That balance, she says, is the true measure of her success.
Behind every precise surgery and every careful consultation is a woman juggling family life. She credits her family for reminding her that her patients’ well-being and her own personal fulfillment are both equally important. “It matters deeply to me because it proves that with passion and commitment, I can excel both professionally and personally,” she says.
Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers
Despite her clinical expertise, Dr. Shafazand faced a challenge that was equally significant—learning Arabic. Kuwait, like many places, welcomes diverse patients, and mastering the language meant she could reach them more deeply, make them feel heard and understood.
“Learning Arabic to better connect with my patients was one of my biggest challenges,” she admits. “While I’m still improving, their trust and support have always motivated me to bridge that gap.” Language is power, she believes. It’s not just about words—it’s about empathy, culture, and building a bridge of trust. Every patient conversation in Arabic brings that bridge one step closer.
Sharing Dentistry as a Lifestyle on Instagram
Today, Dr. Sanaz is on a mission to humanize dentistry, using Instagram to break down barriers and misconceptions. Her handle, @Dr.sanaz_shafazand, features everything from brief educational videos to glimpses of her daily life as a surgeon, wife, and mother.
“My current focus is on building my personal skills and sharing different sides of dentistry through social media,” she explains. She doesn’t just post clinical photos—she shares everyday joys, small laughters with her team, parenting moments, and reflections on balancing work and life. Her goal? To make dentistry more approachable, relatable, and less intimidating to her followers.
The Heartfelt Philosophy Behind Her Practice
At the center of Dr. Shafazand’s ethos is a lesson she learned early on: empathy heals. “The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is the power of showing sympathy by truly putting myself in the patient’s place.” She believes that when a patient knows their doctor truly “gets it,” half the healing happens before any procedure even starts.
This isn’t just warmth—it’s strategy. By sharing vulnerability, fear—or even a little embarrassment—she crafts a space where patients feel safe, respected, and attuned. In her view, treatment without trust is incomplete. The bond of understanding is what turns clinical success into human success.
A Legacy Defined by Kindness, Not Just Skill
For Dr. Shafazand, future legacy isn’t about social media followers or surgical milestones—it’s about what people remember. “I hope to leave behind a reputation as a kind, trusted professional,” she says. “More than titles or fame, I want to be remembered as a good person.”
She often cites Saadi’s timeless words: “A virtuous name never dies; the one truly gone is he whose name is not remembered with goodness.” In her daily work, she strives for that “virtuous name,” built not just on surgical skill, but on integrity, empathy, and kindness.
Advice to Her Younger Self
If given the chance, Dr. Shafazand would tell her younger self: “Don’t be sad about mistakes—they’re lessons in disguise.” In her journey, uncertainty and doubt were as much teachers as diplomas and surgeries. More than once, she stumbled through unfamiliar procedures, clumsy language, or work–life juggling—but each misstep taught her to grow stronger, more confident, humbler, and richer in skill.
Every error, she says, is a guidepost, not a setback. “Every experience, even the tough ones, helps you grow stronger, improve yourself, and take the next step with more confidence.”
Current Focus and Future Vision
Right now, Dr. Sanaz is doubling down on communication, education, and digital presence. She’s exploring Instagram Live sessions to answer patient questions in real time. She’s testing shorter reels that show step-by-step dental care tips or simple explanations of surgical techniques. She’s also working toward a multilingual blog to reach an even broader audience.
Her long-term vision? To be more than a surgeon—she wants to be a trusted mentor and advocate for dental health. A go-to name not just in Kuwait, but in the broader region. She wants to inspire young women—dentists or moms—by showing them that excellence in healthcare doesn’t have to come at the cost of family, empathy, or personal joy.
A Modern Hero for Modern Patients
In a world where healthcare can feel distant or intimidating, Dr. Sanaz Shafazand offers something different: a friendly, relatable human who happens to fix jaws and brighten smiles. Her presence on Instagram—business-like yet warm, professional yet personal—carves a new path for how we think about oral health.
She’s living proof that clinics can have heart, that surgeons can be storytellers, and that patients deserve to feel known, not just treated. She proves that success is a blend of skill, character, and connection—and that those bonds are what truly heal.
Why Her Story Matters
- Bridging barriers: By making the dental world easy to understand and empathetic, Dr. Sanaz is dismantling fear, confusion, and mistrust.
- Redefining success: She shows that a fulfilling career can coexist with a fulfilling family life.
- Inspiring future generations: Her platforms encourage young doctors—especially women—to pursue excellence without compromising values.
- Humanizing medicine: In health care’s often sterile world, she brings sincerity, humility, and warmth.
Ready for the Next Chapter
What comes next for Dr. Sanaz? She’s set to launch live Q&A webinars, release bilingual educational reels, and collaborate with fellow practitioners on cross-cultural outreach. She’s also developing a mentorship program—aimed at female dental students—combining clinical training with mindset coaching.
Through every platform, every post, every patient interaction, she’s sending one message: dentistry is about people first. One conversation at a time, she’s shaping a softer, more human future in oral surgery—without ever losing sight of the scalpel.
Inspiration in Action
At a glance, here’s how Sanaz’s ongoing journey is impacting lives:
- Instagram Education – Easy-to-follow videos on dental health and surgical insights.
- Patient Empowerment – Breaking down procedures in simple language, building trust.
- Family Balance – Normalizing doctor–mom experiences for women in healthcare.
- Cultural Connection – Learning Arabic to better serve and understand her community.
- Mentor Movement – Inspiring those who follow by combining skill with soul.
In Her Own Words
“I hope to leave behind a reputation as a kind, trusted professional.”
“Don’t be sad about mistakes—they’re lessons in disguise.”
These aren’t just quotes—they’re manifestos. Dr. Sanaz Shafazand is more than her credentials. She’s a healer, a storyteller, a mother, and a mentor. And more than anything, she’s proof that dentistry can be deeply human. Do follow her on Instagram.
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