Each month an active member of our AAE Connection Community will be highlighted.
Position:
I'm in private practice and the owner of Chevy Chase Endodontics, in the Washington DC area.
Career Highlights:
- I graduated from Tufts University Dental School in 1998. After a year GPR, I practiced general Dentistry in a private practice in Boston for 6 years.
- I then attended Boston University for my endo specialty. After graduating from BU, I moved to the Washington DC area and have been a full-time practitioner since then.
- In addition to my full-time practice, I also taught at the Endo Dept at the University of Maryland for 6 years. I've authored two chapters in the Endodontic textbook “Current Therapy in Endodontics” and enjoy lecturing on all things Endodontics.
- I became a Diplomate of the ABE in 2017.
Why Endodontics:
I found the precision and tactile sense required for instrumentation fascinating. Being able to predictably and safely address dental pain for patients is a very rewarding experience.
Best Piece of Career Advice:
When I was finishing residency, I called Cliff Ruddle (whom I consider the most impactful person in my Endodontic journey) and asked him whether I should relocate to an area where there are plenty of opportunities for work but not necessarily a desirable place to live, or whether I should move to an area where there are more life connections. He said to me, "move to where you want to live. There will always be a need for a quality-oriented Endodontist." Twenty-two years later, this still resonates with me, especially with the evolving landscape of DSOs, guaranteeing busy-ness and offering handsome sign on bonuses. My advice to the younger generation is to formulate your life around where you gain happiness the most. Take pride in your work, stay humble, and always hungry to learn. The rest will work itself out.
Endo Challenge:
As new technology emerges, an ongoing challenge is deciding which new equipment to incorporate into my practice, given our evidence-based approach to systems and processes.
Reason for Becoming an AAE member:
I have always believed in the value and support of organized dentistry. As a general dentist, I was an associate member of the AAE. In my opinion, the AAE is a model for other organizations to follow. I absolutely love the idea of "save your tooth" month and other outreaches to the general public to raise awareness of our specialty.
Fun Fact:
I love reading books on social psychology. Two of my favorite books are “Paradox of Choice” and “Thinking Fast and Slow”. I enjoy playing poker. It is a great game of skill with a splash of luck. I also have an interest in AI and am slowly working on a side project to utilize software to determine if the PA areas of a root has abnormalities or not.
Community Question:
Single visit or multiple? In my opinion it is the most consequential question in the practice of Endodontics that has not been answered definitively. I am always intrigued to hear the rationale of those who answer, “always x”.
If you have a member you would like to recommend, please email your submission to communityadmin@aae.org