Dr. Michael B. Rogers, an Augusta orthodontist, loves the satisfaction of
knowing that his work provides lifelong benefits for his patients.
“Orthodontics improves people’s lives on so many levels—their looks, their self-confidence, even their career prospects,” says Dr. Rogers. “It’s very fulfilling to play a role in that.”
He considers it a natural extension—and a distinct honor and privilege—to advocate for patients statewide as the newly inaugurated president of the Georgia Dental Association.
“There’s a lot on the table,” Dr. Rogers says of his new post. “We have several issues we’re studying and want to determine the appropriate environment to address them.”
This means working with dentists, patients, legislators, community leaders, educators and others who can help the association achieve its goal of optimizing oral health in Georgia. That being the case, he is thrilled to have such a close affiliation with the MCG School of Dentistry, where he completed orthodontics training in 1973 after earning a dental degree from Emory University.
“I feel good about the school. Dean Drisko and I help each other every opportunity we get,” says Dr. Rogers, who is a clinical faculty member and a mentor for MCG dental students.
Dr. Rogers recently went a step further in demonstrating his commitment to the dental school, making a $50,000 gift over a five-year period. “I feel it’s important to give back to the institution,” he says. “I want to do whatever I can to help the school.”
The GDA also is stepping up to the plate with a $50,000 donation to the school’s building initiative.
“I think the school needs a new facility and needs to expand the class size. Certainly it needs to be able to employ all the new technology and needs more research space. A new facility will allow the school to do those things. We want to do our part in helping the drive,” he says, noting he stresses the importance of supporting the school when he visits GDA districts throughout the state.
Dr. Rogers’ GDA presidency is the latest in a long string of positions in organized dentistry. He is a past president of the Eastern District Dental Society, Southern Association of Orthodontists, Augusta Dental Society, Georgia Association of Orthodontists, MCG School of Dentistry Orthodontic Alumni Association and Psi Omega Dental Fraternity. A fellow of the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists, Dr. Rogers was named a Georgia Dental Association Honorable Fellow in 1988 and is a Pierre Fauchard Academy Fellow. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Association of Orthodontists and is slated to become president of the 14,500-member association in 2011.
His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by his peers. He received a Georgia Association of Orthodontists Exemplary Service Award in 1991 and an Oren A. Oliver Southern Association of Orthodontists Distinguished Service Award in 2002.
“I always enjoyed working with my hands and enjoyed the medical field also, so orthodontics seemed like a natural fit,” he says.
He has enjoyed witnessing the field’s advances in the past 30 years, including bonding techniques, improved brackets and space-age wires that return to their original shape, minimizing appointments. “We’re always looking for better ways to achieve the best results,” he says.
Dr. Rogers, who plays golf and runs marathons in his spare time, has raised four children with wife Beth. His son-in-law, Lee Andrews, recently completed an orthodontics residency at MCG and will join his practice soon.
He hopes his involvement in organized dentistry and his support of MCG will both help and inspire future generations of dentists. “I think alumni need to try to give back to the institution that educated them,” he says. “It gives others the opportunity to follow in our footsteps.”
-Christine Hurley Deriso