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[tyoon21]

Hello folks,

I am considering a career change and am looking for some advice.  My background is I am a board certified periodontist (dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease and placement of dental implants).  I also have a B.A. in Biology as well as a Master in Science in Oral Biology.  I currently own a private practice in which I work four days a week.

The reason why I must consider a career change is that six months ago I sustained two serious work related back injuries.  Long story short, I cannot practice to my full capability and have been advised by my physicians to pursue another career path.

I became interested in patent law during my residency program.  We tried to patent two medical devices for dental implants.  Although we were unsuccessful, I found the process very interesting.

I have considered law school however I do have a family with kids and am trying to take on as little debt as possible.  After some research I feel that a career as a patent agent would be my best course of action.

My question is in regards to my background.  Most of the job openings that I have seen are directed more towards engineering in particular electrical engineering, I have found few medical opportunities and virtually no dental opportunities.  Do I have a sufficient background to pursue a career as a patent agent?

Thank you all for reading and responding.

Cheers!
Tom

[patentatt]

An EE-type background is preferred, sure, but:

1. your experience as periodontist will make you more attractive
2. there are plenty of firms/companies that work on medical devices.  Many of the most valuable patents are medical in nature.

In view of the above, I am sure that you find a patent agent job with some determination.  I would focus on positions within medical corporations or firms with big medical clients.

[NJ Patent1]

Dear Tom:

   Regret you suffered a work-related injury.  I assume it is related to the posture(s) you were required to adopt when performing various procedures.  As a bench chemist, I suffered “work related injuries” in a (possibly) analogous situation.  I’ll leave that side.  My statute of limitations may have run-out anyway. 

   I don’t know what you can sell your periodontal practice for $-wise.  But if ur practice as a peridontist is any good, you ain’t likely to match it as an agent (no denigration to agents, just the financial facts as I see them, and I do not know everything.)  You might not even match ur DDM/DDS income as a patent attorney.  Coincidentally, I’ve done “dental implant” applications, even gotten a couple allowed based on shape, pitch, and taper of the “flights”, etc., or means to accept the “crown”.  So people DO work and invent in this area (OMG! was yours one of those patents I didn’t get allowed?).

   You know who the players are in dental implants, dental instruments, etc.  Pass the USPTO exam and contact them (not all are in the US).  As suggested (I think) by patentatt, broaden ur horizons to med implants is general.  Think big.  Ur DDM / DDS - and board certification - will carry some not insignificant weight. 

   What about a career in (non-clinical) research, where you might be able to sit for a large portion of the work day?  I’m not trying to quash potential competition, but patent law / agency is just not an aotomatic ticket to easy bucks.  It is NOT as valued as you might think it is (ask my mortgagor).  Patent attys and agents get paid LAST.  We are the blood suckers, the deal-killers, “loved” as much as the IRS.  I have a PhD in chem. and extensive research experience w/ a couple of kick-ass companies.  But I’m competing every day against many posters on this site for the same clients, many (most?) of whom claim to be broke (but who still take a helicopter instead of a NYC taxi to get to JFK to catch a flight to that all-important meeting in Zurich). 

   Don’t get discouraged.  I went to law school w/ the assistant head of the psych dept for a respected NJ hospital - who said he got Cs in organic chem.  We hit him up for Prozac(r), or any SSRI, at exam time (kidding - not).  Now he’s AGC for a drug company, where most patent apps are organic chemistry! 

[tyoon21]

Good morning!

Thank you NJ Patent1 and Patentatt for your advice.  I really appreciate it.

To NJPatent 1 : I thought about research for a while but it brought me back to my residency days which were not so pleasant.  The biggest issue with dental research now a days is that a non-clinical researcher needs a PhD to secure some of the big NIH funding.  I considered going back to school for my PhD but after weighing out the costs of tuition and the salary that a dental researcher makes now a days it wasn't looking so good. 

If I could ask another question please:  So assume I pass the USPTO test, how does one go about getting entry level experience?  I looked at some of the job offerings and all of them say they want 1 - 3 years experience.  Is becoming an entry level patent agent like residency where you have to do an internship of 1 - 3 years.  If it is anything like residency should I expect long hours of no pay and being yelled at quite a bit (I remember once as a surgical intern I got thrown out of an OR because I wore a Buffalo Bills surgical cap LOL).  I don't mind having to pay my dues, in fact I would expect to as i'm having to essentially start over.  I also am a firm believer in that I have to bust your rear end to work from the bottom up.  I'm curious however because from a financial stand point I have to start saving to cover for those intern years. 

Someone suggested to me recently that I take the USPTO exam and part time intern for a local law firm.  This way I can get experience while I work on transitioning out of private practice.  According to a colleague of mine, selling a practice can take up to three years.  Would this be a viable alternative?

Btw, you didn't happen to reject an application for a "thermo-sensing self irrigating dental implant drill"?     Actually, I never found out what happened to the patent.  We turned it into the University and they just sent us a letter literally saying "nice try". 

Thank you again for all the advice.

Cheers!
Tom

[AnotherCog]

I think you will have a hard time finding a job in patent law.  Getting your foot in the door is hard enough with a traditional background (EE, ME, CS, etc.) nowadays, but will be doubly hard with a bio/healthcare background.  There are always exceptions, I guess.

If you're looking for a career change, what about PA school? Just a thought. 

[WTF_Over]

Hello folks,

I am considering a career change and am looking for some advice.  My background is I am a board certified periodontist (dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease and placement of dental implants).  I also have a B.A. in Biology as well as a Master in Science in Oral Biology.  I currently own a private practice in which I work four days a week.

The reason why I must consider a career change is that six months ago I sustained two serious work related back injuries.  Long story short, I cannot practice to my full capability and have been advised by my physicians to pursue another career path.

I became interested in patent law during my residency program.  We tried to patent two medical devices for dental implants.  Although we were unsuccessful, I found the process very interesting.

I have considered law school however I do have a family with kids and am trying to take on as little debt as possible.  After some research I feel that a career as a patent agent would be my best course of action.

My question is in regards to my background.  Most of the job openings that I have seen are directed more towards engineering in particular electrical engineering, I have found few medical opportunities and virtually no dental opportunities.  Do I have a sufficient background to pursue a career as a patent agent?

Thank you all for reading and responding.

Cheers!
Tom

You'd have to be absolutely insane to jump into patent law as a dentist. 

It'd be like hopping into the chair yourself and having your ex-wife drill your cavities - without anethesia.

[NJ Patent1]

Tyoon:  Getting an entry level position in patent prosecution (atty or agent) is tough for everybody, even in "hot" arts like EE and CS. It was togh enough in the late 90s and worse now.  It will take a lot of patience, diligence, and dumb-luck, being in the right place at the right time, and a firm that understands that you in fact know more than drilling, filling,extracting, and generaly inflicting pain. Your chances may be better with firms that are not just prosecution mills.  But absent a unique fit, this will require a JD. But the positions are hard to get.  There are so many people hanging-up their lab coats, smocks, whatever.  A lot (but not all) firms would look at a JD + MD/DDS/PhD before a JD + BS.  IMO there are no absolutes, too many firms w/ too many different "business models".   

I'd ask yourself a simple question: "are you OK with taking, and working, a year to find that entry slot?" If not, forget it.  IMO to assume less would be self delusion. 

If you do forge ahead and DO find a slot, how your are treated will largely depend on where you land that slot.  All 1st and even 2nd years will get some of the dirty grunt work.  I spent my first New years eve as an atty in the office (but did get out at 11:00 PM), and my first July 4th drafting a brief for an interference.  Such events were rare, only some of the work could have been done by an agent, I was never treated like a plebe or a frat pledge, and I was paid well (40% more than I was making in R&D to start).  Pay depends on the market and the firm, and of course whether you are an attorney or agent (a firm may find a way to loose less $$$ on 1st and 2nd year attorneys). 

How about selling dental equipment or, if physically able, doing in-services?  Expert witness in dental malpractice suits?  Insructing in a school for hygenists or assistants?  Pay may not be great.  But based on personal experience, any pay check is better than no pay check. 

All the best!

 

[tyoon21]

Thank you all for the help and advice!  I have a lot to think about now.

NJpatent 1:  I thought about for a while doing dental sales but after talking to a friend of mine it's not a fun field and the money is not great.  It's also fairly labor intensive (carrying around large pieces of equipment, standing for hours at tradeshows) which I am not sure my back can handle.

I have thought long and hard about teaching.  It's actually a passion of mine and if a good position opens up I would probably jump on that vs. patent law.  A lot of dental schools now a days are cutting back big time though on clinical instructors and rely upon researchers to teach.  It's a very sticky subject. 

I also thought about being an expert witness.  I have been called upon numerous times to defend dentists with a fairly high degree of success.  I kind of stumbled upon the work and have no idea on how to continue as a full time legal consultant. 

One thing I could never do is medical/dental malpractice.  A buddy of mine is a lawyer in DC and he has told me some horror stories about the field.  I've worked in ER's as a surgical intern but I never thought I would actually see a lawyer in the waiting room handing out cards.  Apparently in DC it's fairly common.

I think I will study and take the USPTO exam and see how it goes from there.  If I am fortunate enough to pass it would just provide another possible option.  Never hurts to have another qualification.

Again, thank you all for the help and advice.  Cheers!
Tom

[NJ Patent1]

Tom:  "I have thought long and hard about teaching.  It's actually a passion of mine and if a good position opens up I would probably jump on that vs. patent law.  Go hunt for it!  True, schools, colleges, etc. are cutting back.  I'm "underemployed" and all sorts of people tell me "You'd be a great teacher!"  But the world is awash w/ chem teachers / professors.  Is the amse really true in ur field?  Don't assume, unles ur independently wealthy.  If u r, why are we having this e-exchange?

"I also thought about being an expert witness.  I have been called upon numerous times to defend dentists with a fairly high degree of success.  I kind of stumbled upon the work and have no idea on how to continue as a full time legal consultant. "  Get on LinkedIn for starters.  Register with firms that "find" defendant's experts.  Look at "FindLaw" 4 starters.

"One thing I could never do is medical/dental malpractice."  Tom, tell me this when your mortgage is in forclosure or the kid's tuitionis due.  Find a defendant's firm. Some firm's specialize in defendants vs. plaintiffs, and vice versa (i.e. have you or a loved one had a bad root canal and suffered painful hemeroids as a result?  Ugh... just watch TV).  But accept the fact that professionals sometimes screw-up (patent lawyers carry malpractice insurance too)

"I think I will study and take the USPTO exam and see how it goes from there.  If I am fortunate enough to pass it would just provide another possible option.  Never hurts to have another qualification."  Can't argue with that.  Options are always good.  The more the better in this economy!  Heck, I bought a lottery ticket today.

Signing-off unless U have a specific question. 

Cheers back! NJP1