Dr. Nelson had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Celin Duran, DDS, MD, a senior resident at the UT Health San Antonio Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery program, for an 11-part interview series covering the real journey into surgery. From college and dental school to residency, we talked openly about side hustles, working nights while carrying a full course load to support family, the realities of being a husband and father during training, match-day memories, and the lessons learned along the way.