Interview with Dr. Sasha Rutnam
Podcast: Doctors Making A Difference
August 8, 2026 · 37 min
This episode is sponsored by NURP NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required. Ready to put your money to work? Visit…
Listen
About Dr. Sasha Rutnam
Dentist, Author and Speaker, Helping Practitioners Improve Patient Communication
30+ years Learning what keeps patients coming back4 generations Long-term patient relationships2 Published dental booksPractice builder Built and sold dental practice
Sasha Rutnam is an Australian dentist, published author and speaker who has spent more than three decades learning what truly keeps patients coming back: not pressure, polish, or perfect clinical language, but genuine human connection.
After building and selling her own dental practice, Sasha began noticing something that had once felt ordinary to her. Her own patients stayed with her for years. Many brought their families. Some relationships now span four generations, from great-grandparents through to great-grandchildren. When she started employing other dentists, she realised that kind of loyalty was not automatic. It came from the way she communicated, remembered people, made them feel safe, and treated them as more than a name on a chart.
That insight became the foundation of Dental Patient Communication Made Simple, her book for dentists who want to explain treatment clearly, build trust, and improve case acceptance without feeling pushy or scripted. Sasha believes communication is not simply a “soft skill” or a nice extra in dentistry. It changes the patient experience, reduces fear, strengthens practices, and makes work more enjoyable for the practitioner too.
Her other book, Beyond the Smile: The Critical Connection Between Dental Care and Total Health, speaks to the public about the link between oral hygiene and overall wellbeing.
About this episode
This episode is sponsored by NURP
NURP helps busy physicians grow their wealth through AI-powered algorithmic trading designed for demanding careers. No day trading, no guesswork, and no constant market watching required.
Ready to put your money to work? Visit start.nurp.com/doctors to learn more.
Trading involves risk, and results may vary. This is not financial advice.
—-----------------------------
In this engaging episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane welcomesDr. Sasha Rutnam, a general dentist in Sydney, Australia, now caring for her fourth generation of patients. She discusses why allocating real time for communication is non-negotiable, how the mouth is a gateway to overall health, the realities of the Australian dental system, and the two books she wrote to help both patients and practitioners. The conversation explores trust-building, managing anxiety, prevention, emotional intelligence, and how soft skills drive long-term practice success and personal fulfillment.
Episode Highlights
Why spending 30–40 minutes talking with new patients builds trust that lasts generations
“Love is spelled T-I-M-E” how scheduling and staff culture protect sacred patient time
The Australian dental system: mostly private, limited public options, and insurance rebates
Pathway to becoming a dentist in Australia (5–7 years for general practice)
Oral-systemic connections: periodontal disease links to heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and more
Why dentists should never start major treatment the same day as the consult
How clear communication about risks and complications prevents complaints and builds loyalty
Why relationship skills and emotional intelligence are better for business than rushing procedures
Managing anxious or angry patients and turning them into lifelong advocates
How patient interaction (not just clinical work) has sustained her passion after 30+ years
Top 3 Takeaways
Trust is built by allocating enough time, giving full attention, and communicating clearly especially on the first visit.
Oral health is inseparable from general health; prevention and patient education pay dividends for both patients and practices.
Soft skills and emotional intelligence are not “nice extras” ; they are the foundation of referrals, retention, and long-term career satisfaction.
About Dr. Sasha Rutnam
Dr. Sasha Rutnam is a general dentist based in Sydney, Australia, with more than 30 years of experience. She practices comprehensive general dentistry with additional services in orthodontics, surgery, and implants. Known for exceptional patient communication and loyalty that spans four generations of families, she is also an author and coach who teaches other dentists how to build lasting connections. Her books focus on the oral-systemic health link and practical patient communication skills.
Connect with Dr. Sasha
Website: drsasharatnam.com
LinkedIn: Dr.Sasha Rutnam BDS(Sydney) MRCDS AAICD
Books on Amazon: – Beyond the Smile by Dr. Sasha Rutnam
About the Host:
Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.
Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.
About the Show:
Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.
In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.
Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com
LMC Series Note:
Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease— through candid physician - patient conversations.
The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Guest: Dr. Sasha Rutnam
Book Dr. Sasha Rutnam for your show
2+ podcast & stage appearances. Remote or in studio, broadcast-grade audio.