The Campbell Academy Blog | Colin Campbell (51)

Mixed up about sacrifice

In the past few weeks, I've had some quite extraordinary experiences.

I'm writing this blog from a hotel room with a nice balcony overlooking the dental school in Geneva.

It's worth remembering that the University of Geneva is where our Urs Belser was the professor of restorative dentistry for 35 years and, along with a gentleman called Pascal Magne, wrote one of the seminal books in Aesthetic Implant dentistry.

I'm here to visit Vincent Fehmer and Irena Sailer, who are now collaborators with The Campbell Academy (extraordinary statement). Just two weeks ago, I was in Gdansk on a course with Kris and Maja Chmielewski, who are also now collaborators with The Campbell Academy (extraordinary statement). But there is a theme, a constant thread that runs through people like this.

Please make no mistake that Kris, Maja, Irena, and Vincent are utterly extraordinary. When I talk to them about aspects and elements of work, career, dentistry, and stuff, I feel a bit overwhelmed and totally insignificant.

The level that these guys operate on is out of this world, but the common theme that spans the discussions and the relationships, the projects, and the work is sacrifice.

So, if you book these guys to speak at a conference or a private event, it seems expensive compared to perhaps what you charge for a composite filling or a crown.

But what you must understand is that all of these guys have led a life of extraordinary sacrifice and dedication and work beyond that which many of the rest of us just simply don't understand.

When you see that face to face, it's humbling and almost embarrassing, particularly when I think about the success that I have been privileged to see and achieve and the things that I've been able to do. I feel a little bit false and a little bit fake when you're in the presence of greatness like that.

It's not that these guys are superhuman or any different from you or me; they're not. They're kind, wonderful, and generous people. They just know how to sacrifice, work, dedicate, and focus.

It's an extraordinary privilege and I very much hope that this old dog is not too old to learn one or two new tricks from these extraordinary people that I get to meet.

I'm very hopeful that Kris and Maja will be at The Campbell Academy sometime in 2025 to provide what would be an extraordinary course in digital dentistry, guided surgery and immediate implant placement.