Career prospects

To make that timing all the more frustrating, Dr Gaddam had just spent several years re-doing a qualification for a specialty he was already eminently qualified in. 

Originally training in India as a specialist orthodontist, he had run a Swiss-funded cleft palate clinic and lectured in orthodontics at university. In 2011, under sponsorship by the Tasmanian Government to work as a general dentist, Dr Gaddam moved to Australia, met Sari and fell in love. After they married, they began discussing how he could get back to doing what he loved. 

‘When you come to Australia, there aren't pathways for specialists to be recognised,’ Sari explains. ‘In 2016, we started talking about how we could make this happen.’ 

They decided he had two choices – either go back to university and re-qualify or join the army. At the end of 2017, he sat for interviews for his doctorate, and at the same time, went down the path of enlisting. As it turned out, he was accepted as a captain in the army on the same day he was offered a place for his clinical doctorate through the University of Queensland. 

The problem: both the army job and doctorate were in Brisbane – 2,380 kilometres away from Hobart. 

Homeward bound

University posed a whole new set of challenges for Dr Gaddam. Not so much in terms of orthodontic skills, which he had under control. There were other skills that he wanted to master regarding more cutting-edge techniques, patient interactions and the modern equipment that he didn't necessarily get to use in India. It was also a good opportunity to expand his knowledge. 

Despite that, Hobart remained home in their minds. ‘It's a great place to live and a really great community,’ Sari explains. In his second year of university, Dr Gaddam was approached by a local orthodontist, Dr Tim Wigmore, who wanted to retire and sell his practice. ‘It just seemed like a perfect opportunity to come back,’ says Sari. 

One-stop banking

When they were looking for finance to buy the practice, they spoke with a number of lenders, including BOQ Specialist’s Ursula Coetzee. They ended up seeking finance from another bank, but a short time later they had the opportunity to buy the building the practice was in, and immediately thought of Ursula. 

‘We remembered how helpful and very approachable Ursula had been,’ says Sari. ‘We are people who make personal connections, and we like to proceed on those. Once we know people, we like to stick with them.’ 

At the same time they met Ursula, the Gaddams also met Shane De Silva, who is part of the residential lending team at BOQ Specialist. They all had dinner together, so Sari had Shane’s details on hand when their landlord offered to sell them their home as well. 

‘I called up Shane and he really guided me through the process and helped make it happen. That's how we ended up having both business and residential mortgages with BOQ Specialist.’ 

Nowadays, Sari works as practice manager in Dr Gaddam’s practice when she’s not looking after their two children—the second of whom arrived just a few months ago. ‘It's been a huge year,’ she laughs. ‘But a very rewarding year. It feels great to know that we've started out on the rest of our lives—our home, our business, and our family. And everything's on track.’