Lessons From the Pivot: Dr. Mohamed (Moe) Hakim’s Transition to Private Practice

Professional development often involves more than advancing within a traditional path — it can mean stepping back, reassessing priorities, and choosing a direction that better aligns with your evolving interests. For Dr. Moe Hakim, that meant transitioning from an academic career into private practice. His journey was shaped by a growing interest in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) surgery and a desire to pursue clinical questions that weren’t being fully addressed in the literature.

After completing his residency at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., Dr. Hakim pursued a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital through Harvard Medical School, where he began to refine his focus on TMJ disorders. What began as a one-year fellowship extended into two, driven by ongoing research projects and a lack of job opportunities that felt like the right fit. During that time, he was invited to lecture at the University of Michigan. Though initially hesitant about relocating, the strength of the department and the support available to surgeons stayed with him. He joined the faculty and became involved in the TMJ and Orthognathic Surgery Fellowship, contributing advanced arthroscopic techniques and helping shape the program. His research during this period was deliberate — he made it clear early on that he wasn’t interested in publishing for the sake of it but rather in answering the kinds of clinical questions that had long been on his mind.

A New Direction

A few years into his role at Michigan, Dr. Hakim and his wife, a pediatric dentist, began to consider their long-term plans. She was ready to open her own practice, and together they had to decide whether to stay in Ann Arbor or move closer to family on the East Coast. At the same time, Dr. Hakim found himself reflecting on his own professional trajectory. He enjoyed the complexity of the surgeries he was performing and the opportunity to teach residents and fellows, but he wasn’t sure what the next step in academia would look like. He knew he didn’t want to become a program director or department chair — roles that, while respected, didn’t align with how he wanted to spend his time.

Instead, he began to imagine what it might look like to build something of his own. He described the difference as being on a speedboat rather than a battleship — able to change direction quickly, in charge of a small, focused team. That vision ultimately led him to open a private practice in the Washington, D.C. area, where he and his wife could be closer to family while launching their respective ventures.

Building a Practice With Intention

From the outset, Dr. Hakim knew he didn’t want to follow a conventional model. His goal was to create a practice that reflected his clinical interests — a balance of TMJ and orthognathic procedures alongside general oral surgery. He wanted to continue doing the kinds of cases that had drawn him to the specialty while also offering a level of care that felt personal and precise.

Now, nearly a year into private practice, he’s had time to reflect on the experience while still being in the midst of the transition. One of the first decisions he faced was whether to be in or out-of-network with insurance providers. His choice to remain out-of-network has meant a slower ramp-up in patient volume, but it’s allowed him to spend more time with each patient and maintain a high standard of care. He’s also focused on building the infrastructure of the practice before scaling up — prioritizing the right systems, staff, and workflows over rapid growth. “I want to offer personalized excellence,” he said. The other unique decision that Dr. Hakim and his wife made was to have a combined oral surgery and pediatric dentistry practice, where they have two different brands, while sharing staff and overhead.

The transition hasn’t been without challenges. Hiring, in particular, has been more difficult than expected. In a competitive urban market like D.C., turnover can be high, and finding the right team takes time. Despite having attended business school at Michigan Ross, Dr. Hakim has found that much of what he needed to know about running a practice had to be learned on the job. He described the experience as jumping in the pool and learning to swim.

Advice for Surgeons Considering a Similar Path

Dr. Hakim emphasized the importance of understanding your motivations before making a major career move. He recalled advice from a mentor at Harvard who told him not to go into academia if it’s just for the cool surgeries. Dr. Hakim followed this advice, pursuing academia for a myriad of reasons, especially clinical questions he wanted to answer through research. This clear direction gave his academic career purpose.

This applies to his switch to private practice, as it’s important to not make decisions based solely on financial incentives. Starting a practice is demanding, both financially and emotionally, and the early stages can be slow. But for those who are clear on their goals and willing to take the leap, the rewards can be significant — not just in terms of professional satisfaction but in the ability to shape your own path. These are pieces Dr. Hakim values and is willing to take the journey to get toward them.

Looking Ahead

Dr. Hakim’s five-year plan includes continuing to grow his practice, possibly establishing a sought-after fellowship, and contributing to the literature on TMJ surgery. He’s already seeing patients from across the country and even abroad. His long-term goal is to build a center that’s recognized not just nationally but internationally for excellence in TMJ and jaw surgery, while maintaining the hospitality of a small-town family-run practice.

In the meantime, he’s focused on refining the day-to-day — improving scheduling systems, building a strong team, and continuing to grow as a clinician. He’s found that the slower pace of his startup practice allows him to connect more deeply with patients and tailor care to their individual needs. “I feel like I’m becoming a better surgeon now,” he said. “I’m growing a different part of my surgical skills and bedside manner.”

Despite the challenges, Dr. Hakim has found it rewarding to see the practice grow — from sketching a logo on his kids’ whiteboard with his wife to watching patient volume increase month by month. In the early days, he saw just a handful of new patients. Within a few months, that number had grown tenfold. That kind of progress, he said, has been deeply gratifying.

The move from academia to private practice wasn’t a departure from his values — it was a continuation of them in a new form. It allowed him to stay close to the work he loves while building something that reflects his vision.

Mohamed (Moe) Hakim, DDS, MBA

Dr. Mohamed (Moe) Hakim is a Harvard-trained, internationally recognized, and board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with deep expertise in TMJ and jaw surgery. In addition to training residents at Harvard and both residents and fellows at the University of Michigan, he routinely lectures nationally and internationally, and has taught didactic and cadaveric courses to practicing surgeons from all over the world including the United States, Canada, Germany, England, Scotland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan, and India. It is not uncommon for surgeons to fly from Asia, Europe, or different parts of North America to watch him operate.