Why Public Teaching Is One of the Best Forms of Accountability

 

 

When I chose the title “Contemporary Management of TMJ Arthropathies” for one of my lectures, I did not choose it casually.

 

At one level, the title reflects a straightforward professional responsibility. If I am going to speak publicly about the management of TMJ disease, I should be current with the literature. I should understand where the field has been, where it is now, and where it may be going. I should also be contributing, even in a small way, to the body of knowledge that moves the specialty forward.

 

 

 

But there is another reason I chose that title, and it is the more important one.

 

 

 

Public teaching creates accountability.

 

 

 

When you publicly give yourself a title like “contemporary management,” you are making a claim. You are saying, in front of colleagues, students, and peers, that your thinking reflects the present state of the field. That kind of statement should make a person uncomfortable in the right way. It should create pressure. Not the kind of pressure that leads to performance for its own sake, but the kind that forces honesty, self scrutiny, and growth.

 

 

 

I think that is a good thing.

 

 

 

There is a quote often attributed to Socrates: “The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” Whether one focuses on reputation, character, or professional identity, the principle is useful. If you are going to present yourself publicly as someone who values rigor, nuance, and sound judgment, then your daily habits, your decision making, and your willingness to adapt have to support that claim.

 

 

 

In medicine, that matters.

 

 

 

I have strong opinions about TMJ surgery, but I try to hold those opinions with discipline rather than ego. Years ago, based on the data available at the time and the benefit of fellowship training, I came to believe that there were two truly reliable surgical treatments for TMJ disease: arthroscopy and total joint replacement. I still believe those are the most definitive evidence based surgical options.

 

 

 

That belief shapes the way I practice.

 

 

 

I do not open joints just to move the disc around or take it out. If something needs to be addressed inside the joint, I can often do that arthroscopically. If I open a joint, it is to replace it.

 

 

 

That is not because I am against evolution in treatment. Quite the opposite. It is because I believe surgery should be guided by a simple question: what gives the patient the best chance at sustainable improvement in jaw function and quality of life with the least invasive treatment possible?

 

 

 

That standard has not changed.

 

 

 

The methods, however, can and should evolve.

 

 

 

In 2025, I started incorporating intra articular PRF injections into treatment planning. That does not mean the old principles disappeared. It means new tools may sometimes deserve a role when they align with the larger goal. In my view, staying current does not mean chasing every trend. It means remaining open minded enough to evaluate change honestly and disciplined enough not to adopt it blindly.

 

 

 

I often tell patients that if they come see me again in two years, I may recommend something different than I would recommend today. Some people hear that and think it sounds uncertain. I see it differently. I think it is a sign of respect for medicine itself.

 

 

 

Healthcare should evolve. Technology should evolve. Surgical judgment should evolve too. The standard should remain high, but the doctor should never become so attached to old methods that he stops learning.

 

 

 

That is one of the hidden values of teaching.

 

 

 

Most people think lecturing is about sharing information. It is. But for me, it is also a forcing function. When I stand in front of a room and speak on contemporary care, I am reminding myself that I do not get to coast. I do not get to hide behind credentials, past training, or old assumptions. I have to keep reading, keep questioning, keep refining, and keep earning the trust that patients and colleagues place in me.

 

 

 

In that sense, public teaching is not just about authority. It is about responsibility.

 

 

 

And maybe that is the healthiest kind of professional pressure there is.

 

 

 

It pushes you to close the gap between what you say publicly and how you practice privately. It keeps you from becoming too comfortable. It protects against intellectual laziness. Most importantly, it serves the patient, because the patient is the one who benefits when a surgeon refuses to stop growing.

 

 

 

That is why I chose the title.

 

 

 

Not just because I wanted to describe a lecture, but because I wanted to hold myself to the kind of standard that would keep me honest.

 

 

 

 

 

Who We Are

 

Dr. Hakim and his wife, Dr. Hoffman, chose to step away from traditional academic pathways and enter the entrepreneurial world by building a family run practice together. Their goal was to create a setting that blends advanced surgical expertise with a personalized experience that feels grounded and human. The practice offers TMJ arthroscopy, TMJ replacement, orthognathic surgery, sleep apnea surgery, wisdom teeth removal, dental extractions, dental implants, full arch rehabilitation, and IV sedation. They serve local patients from Arlington, McLean, Falls Church, and Washington DC, regional patients from across the entire DMV, and also welcome patients who travel from other states and other countries to see Dr. Hakim for specialized TMJ and jaw surgery.

 

Dr. Hoffman provides comprehensive pediatric dental care in a calm environment where children can build a healthy dental home. The aim is to deliver a premium healthcare experience and strong clinical outcomes within the atmosphere of a true mom and pop practice.

 

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