This week, Dr Alan Clarke - Clinical Director and founder of Paste Dental goes under the Belfast Live spotlight.
Ballymena-born, Dr Clarke established his clinic, Paste, in 2021. Offering emergency, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, he intends to launch multiple sites in Northern Ireland over the coming months.
Dr Clarke has a wealth of experience from cities renowned for dental care having studied in both London and Abu Dhabi, and has trained at the prestigious Spear Educational Dental School in Arizona. Here he tells us about taking risks, his love of travel and a dream day in Belfast.
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What do you do (in 10 words or fewer)?
Create beautiful smiles and support our team to flourish.
Three main attributes you need for the job:
You need to be detail-orientated. As a cosmetic and restorative dentist, I create beautiful and individual smiles for each patient. Planning and precision is key. Creativity is vital when disrupting an industry. Interpreting trends, being design conscious and engaging with varied audiences including millennials and Gen-Z. With the start-up culture we foster, we’re always looking for and open to innovative ways to do things. This means change is a constant, so you have to be able to cope in that uncertainty. It’s how we bring a fun and very different patient experience to Belfast.
Path to this position:
I took my undergraduate dental degree at QUB. During which I worked for a Congressman in the US on healthcare policy as a summer intern. I then moved to Ascot, Berkshire to work in a practice and then pursued a LLM in Medical Law and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh. Following further training in cosmetic dentistry and smile-makeovers in the US, Abu Dhabi and London, I branched out from general practice and founded Paste in 2021.
What’s your dream job (present position excepted)?
I love to travel and have done from a young age, so probably a travel journalist. Discovering new and hidden gems across the world and meeting engaging and inspiring people along the way, and free business class flights, sign me up! Travelling is a great opportunity to reflect on what our business has achieved, reaffirm our purpose and why we want to disrupt the dental industry!
What are you most proud of (work-wise)?
Aside from cosmetic dentistry and the actual dentistry we do, I feel I am proud of the culture we have created at Paste Dental. We’re a team, supporting each other and encouraging every individual to be the best version of themselves. When I hear of one of the team, learning and engaging with someone new, really showing compassion and coming away changed by an interaction, I feel we are creating perception shifts that last.
What are you most proud of (in life)?
Ask me again in 10 years! I want to create something really special in my industry. Something that leaves an impact in communities and people’s lives!
How did the coronavirus pandemic affect your organisation and how did you adapt?
Paste was established during the pandemic so we invested in air filtration and PPE to be able to provide for clients safely. We adapted to new variants by thinking on our feet, even when the team was depleted in numbers with Covid. We embraced video-consultations, moved all our software systems to the cloud and harnessed the latest dental technology.
What lessons did you learn about yourself during lockdown?
I’m productive in a crisis! I moved back to be with my mum just before the first lockdown and immediately bought hair clippers and tins of fence paint. I painted and painted and converted a shed to a home gym. I also worked in the dental Covid hub as a clinician and started planning and designing the patient experience at Paste Dental, before a tangible business was born! I also realised that taking risks is not necessarily the riskiest path, clinging to what was can be more dangerous when everything around you alters.
Who is Northern Ireland’s brightest business brain?
I am always inspired by Ryan Crown from Crown Creative. Ryan has the knack of seeing a place in the market for a product and has an amazing love and passion for Northern Ireland, and vision to take it to a world stage. It’s great to know and support other entrepreneurs making Northern Ireland a better place for everyone!
What do you wish you had invented?
Artificial Intelligence is changing the dental industry and the impact it will have in the world is incomprehensible.
Favourite App on your phone:
Artsy! I’m obsessed with exploring global art trends.
Favourite website?
Philips, the art auction firm for the live auctions. I love following the prices and feeling the buzz, even if 3000 miles away in Manhattan!
If you were spending the day in Belfast where is your dream breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks? Where’s your hidden gem in Northern Ireland?
After an early morning swim, breakfast at General Merchants or Haptik on the Newtownards Road. Lunch or dinner must feature tacos from La Taqueria, and an evening out could be dinner and drinks at either Yugo or Lottie. A hidden gem is Lynchpin Holywood – the vegan tasting menu packs a flavour punch and is creative and beautifully-presented.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Abu Dhabi is a city I know well. I immediately feel relaxed when I land. I love the art, the culture, the people and it’s a great base to explore the wider world.
How would you describe Belfast to someone who’s never been?
A great city with its own culture, and super-talented and creative individuals. With an up and running government this city could be a power player on a world stage.
In 10 years’ time I’d like to…
Be inspired every day. Be making an impact on the world. Feel that adventure is always just around the corner.
