In March 2022, Passion Vista magazine profiled Dr Rashi Gupta, principal dentist at Norlane Dental, in its “Women Leaders to Look Up To in 2022” collector’s edition. The feature looked at her path from dental graduate to practice owner in Geelong’s northern suburbs, and at what she has learned about leading a healthcare team along the way. We are sharing the story here for patients who would like to know more about the dentist behind the practice.
From dental graduate to Geelong practice owner
Dr Gupta completed her dental degree in India in 2000 and moved to Australia four years later. She worked as a dentist for several years before buying a long-established dental practice in regional Victoria.
The magazine describes how different that second step was. Clinical training does not teach you how to run a business, and Dr Gupta was learning it in a new country, newly married and with a toddler at home. She told Passion Vista she spent close to two years working long days to understand how a practice operates behind the scenes.
Learning the business side of dentistry
Dr Gupta was open with the magazine about where she started. Management was not a natural strength, so she treated it like any other skill and studied it. She completed courses in business operations, people management, finance and marketing, and travelled interstate and overseas for further study while her children were young.
That training now shapes how Norlane Dental runs day-to-day. The feature notes the practice’s investment in modern equipment and digital systems, which are designed to support accurate planning and a smoother visit for patients.
Building healthcare services for Geelong’s north
At the time of the feature, Dr Gupta and her husband were managing several businesses together and working on a larger project: a healthcare precinct bringing dental, medical and allied health services to one location, alongside childcare and a cafe.
For patients, the aim is practical. Families in Norlane, Corio, Lara, Bell Park, Bell Post Hill and North Geelong can access more of their care close to home.
On leadership and women in dentistry
Dr Gupta told the magazine that working in the corporate world as a woman was harder a decade ago than it is now, and that proving yourself still takes real effort. In her experience, women in dentistry are doing as well as men. She also spoke about wanting to encourage other women in business, and about giving back to the community that supported her.
Her practical advice was simple: set measurable milestones, write your goals down, and keep going through the doubts. The feature closed with a line that sums up her approach:
“Do not underestimate yourself, no one will come and shape your life.”
Dr Rashi Gupta, Passion Vista, March 2022
What this means for our patients
A magazine profile does not tell you whether a dentist is right for you. A conversation does. Dr Gupta leads the team at Norlane Dental and has completed postgraduate training in implant dentistry. Our team provides general, cosmetic, implant and emergency dental care, with sleep dentistry available for suitable patients.
Every treatment plan starts with a clinical assessment. Suitability, risks, benefits, and costs are discussed with you before any decision is made, and outcomes vary between patients.
Meet Dr Gupta and the Norlane Dental team
If you would like to talk through your dental care, you can book an appointment online or call us on (03) 5278 2666. We are at 21-29 Princes Highway, Norlane.
This article summarises a feature published by Passion Vista magazine in March 2022. Magazine images are reproduced with credit to Passion Vista. General information only; it is not a substitute for a clinical consultation.
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