Summer 2004
Go to:
- Allied Health Sciences
- Dentistry
- Graduate Studies
- Medicine
- Nursing
Endowment Fund Ensures ‘Latest and Greatest’
HE CALLS THEM the “oh wow” procedures.
Dr. Michael Pruett, a 1992 School of Dentistry graduate and director of the school’s General Practice Residency Program, notes that ever-sophisticated technology is enabling general dentists to broaden their scope considerably. Advanced procedures in general dentistry practices include rotary endodontics, implant dentistry and management of medically compromised patients, to name just a few.
But dentists have to learn these procedures before they can practice them, Dr. Pruett noted, and dental schools are generally too jam-packed with the basics to devote much time to “oh wow” education.
That’s where the General Practice Residency comes in—a highly competitive yearlong program that refines and broadens the skills learned in dental school. MCG annually receives up to 70 applications nationwide for the program’s three spots.
To ensure that the program continues to offer the best educational experience possible, Dr. Pruett recently donated $10,000 to create an endowment fund. “I got a great education at MCG and I felt an obligation to pass it along,” he says. The endowment will fund travel, books, equipment and other resources for residents.
“In these days of dwindling funding, I thought it was important to ensure that we can continue a cutting-edge program,” Dr. Pruett says.
He hopes that others, particularly graduates of the residency, will
contribute to the endowment fund. “Donations will help us stay current with the
most innovative instruments
and techniques,” he says. “We want to offer the latest and greatest.”
For more information about the endowment or to make a donation, contact Dale Crail, development director for the School of Dentistry, at (706) 721-8614.
Gift Aims to Lure Dentists to Rural Areas
DR. MIKE CARR has always loved small-town life...the hunting, the fishing, the boating, and perhaps best of all, the five-minute commute to work.
“It’s just a very nice quality of life,” says Dr. Carr, a 1978 graduate of the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry and a dentist in Donalsonville, Ga.
Dr. Carr grew up in Donalsonville (at the far-southwest corner of the state, bordering Alabama and Florida) and knew he wanted to raise his own children there. But as much as he has enjoyed his 25-year general dentistry practice, he’s feeling a bit overwhelmed these days.
“There are only three dentists in the area, so there’s
a real shortage in man power,” he says. “In both my Donalsonville office and
my satellite office in Cuthbert, Ga., I could very much use an associate.”
He feels that dentists don’t know what they’re missing when they opt for big-city life. “I think they assume they can have a much more lucrative career in a large city, but that’s kind of a myth. If you like small-town living, you can make a very good living,” he said, noting factors such as a lower cost of living and high demand for service.
Best of all, he said, working in rural areas helps dentists fulfill their desire to be of real service.
To help lure graduates to rural areas, he has created a $10,000 fund for the MCG School of Dentistry Rural Dental Health Initiative. “I’m trying to create incentive for students to go to rural areas where we have a great need,” he says.
“Dentistry has been awfully good to me and
I’m very appreciative of the fact that I was able to go to MCG and have a
standard
of living where I can educate my children and live well.
I’m deeply indebted to
MCG for that.”
Dr. Carr and his wife, Beverly (who was an assistant in the Department of Pedodontics while her husband was in school) have raised three children, one of whom hopes to attend dental school.
“I’m hoping my son might join my practice some day,” he says.
The fund will go toward scholarships for dental students who commit to practicing in a rural area. For more information, contact Dale Crail, director of development in the School of Dentistry, at (706) 721-8614.
Clinic Bolstering Service to Community
WITH A NEW director at the helm and extensive renovation under way, the
Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry Faculty Practice Clinic is
bolstering its level of service to the community.
Dr. Travis Smith, a 1974 School of Dentistry graduate who practiced general dentistry in Tifton, Ga., for 30 years, signed on as director in November. He oversees the 38 faculty members who offer general and specialized dentistry in an environment that combines the best elements of private practice with the unique benefits of academic dentistry.
“We’re probably the best-kept secret at MCG,” said Dr. Smith. “We have all the expertise under one roof and can provide outstanding clinical care no matter what the branch or specialty.”
Patients are matched with specific dentists for general dentistry needs and/or specialized treatment. Dentist referrals and self-referrals are accepted. Management aspects of the clinic, including scheduling and payment, optimize patient convenience and seamless service, Dr. Smith said. Free parking is available adjacent to the dental school.
The clinic’s eight operatories and other facilities are currently being renovated and equipment updated to ensure cutting-edge technology, but the renovations aren’t impeding business as usual.
“We want to get the word out that we are available for people who have dental problems and want specialized care,” Dr. Smith said. “With our diagnostic and treatment capabilities, we can solve almost any dental problem.”
For more information about the clinic or to schedule an appointment, call (706) 721-2696.
Alum’s Schedule a Study in Perpetual Motion
IT’S HARD TO imagine a more apt nickname for Dr. Barry Jardine than the one
he answers to: Bear.
On the other hand, Bear’s adventurous life would make even a grizzly’s seem tame by comparison.
Bear, who graduated from the School of Dentistry in May, has battled raging storms in the Bering Sea, handled thousand-pound crab pots in the midst of 40-foot ocean swells, delivered babies in ambulances, raced into burning buildings and wrested car crash victims from the brink of death.
All in a day’s work.
“I was a king crab fisherman in Alaska for several years, which has been cited as the most dangerous job in the world,” said Bear, a native of Idaho. “The weather, long hours and dangerous equipment make it very hazardous. After I got married, my wife said that was enough of that.”
But the fishing career, during which he sadly witnessed many injuries and even deaths, sparked his interest in health care. He traded the fishing boat for an ambulance and became a firefighter/paramedic. “The tough part is dealing with traumatic injuries day in and day out, particularly when children are involved, but it’s gratifying to know I can help people,” he said.
The job is also portable, which came in handy when his wife, Natalie, enrolled in the MCG Department of Dental Hygiene. “We wanted to start a family, and I wanted a career where I could work around my children’s schedule,” said Natalie. “I knew that with a dental hygiene career, I could work part time and make a good income.”
The couple moved to Augusta in 1996. As Bear continued his career, he grew increasingly interested in his wife’s education. “I got to know a lot of the dental students, and I liked the idea of a career where I could continue helping people one on one, but without life-threatening circumstances.”
He completed a bachelor’s degree in biology at Augusta State University, then enrolled in the MCG School of Dentistry. At this point, the Jardines’ family was growing (they now have three children under age 5) and Bear didn’t have the luxury of quitting his job. For the first two years of dental school, he worked a 12-hour shift Friday nights and 24-hour shifts Saturdays and Sundays as a Burke County firefighter/paramedic.
He cut back on his hours slightly during his junior and senior years, but his schedule was still a study in perpetual motion. Between work, school, studying and parenting, downtime figured nominally into his routine. “I got some sleep occasionally,” he said, adding cheerfully that he had no complaints. “Working on fishing boats, I grew accustomed to very little sleep.”
Amid the grueling schedule, Bear was a wonderful husband and father, Natalie said. “He’s an amazing man and I’m really proud of him. Whenever we need him, he’s always there. He seems to find more hours in the day than I do.”
He even found time to teach a Sunday school class to 7-year-olds, she added.
As Bear anticipated graduation, he looked forward to having more family time.
Then again, he acknowledged that the concept of spare time
will take some getting
used to. “It’ll almost feel
like a vacation to have
just one job.”
Dr. O’Dell Honored
THE SCHOOL OF Dentistry Alumni Association has presented its 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award to Dr. Norris L. O’Dell, Associate Professor Emeritus in the MCG Schools of Dentistry and Graduate Studies.
Dr. O’Dell earned an MCG master’s degree in anatomy in 1968, a Ph.D. in anatomy in 1972 and a dental degree in 1975.
He joined the MCG faculty in 1972 where he served in positions including associate professor of oral biology and cellular biology/anatomy, graduate program director of the oral biology and maxillofacial pathology, director of continuing dental education and course director for neuroscience, general microanatomy and oral histology. Dr. O’Dell has received numerous MCG teaching awards. He has served as editor-in-chief of the Georgia Journal of Science and is a fellow of the Georgia Academy of Science.
2004-05 School of Dentistry Alumni Association Officers
- Gregory Griffin, Lincolnton, Ga.--President
- Emmanuel C. Ngoh, Augusta, Ga.--Vice President
- John Blalock, Martinez, Ga.--Immediate Past President
- Barry Bennett, Martinez, Ga.--At-Large Director
- Richard Callan, Evans, Ga.--At-Large Director
- Celia P. Dunn, Evans, Ga.--At-Large Director
- Grant Loo, Martinez, Ga.--At-Large Director
- David A. Owings, North Augusta, S.C.--Out-of-State Director
- Louvenia A. Rainge, Evans, Ga.--At-Large Director
- Connie L. Drisko, Ex Officio--MCG School of Dentistry Dean
- Carole M. Hanes, Ex Officio--MCG School of Dentistry Associate Dean for Students, Admissions and Alumni
- Dale Crail, Ex Officio--MCG School of Dentistry Director of Development