Posts Tagged ‘ oral and maxillofacial surgery ’
Do I Really Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?
Evaluating Wisdom Teeth As a surgeon, I am commonly asked by my patients and their families “Do I really need to have my wisdom teeth removed?” Everyone is hoping that my answer will be “No, of course not! Who gave you that crazy idea?!” If only it were so simple. How I decide whether you need […]
How Adversity Has Made Me A Better Surgeon
If you asked me what my favorite thing to do is, I would have to answer: “Operate!” Maybe that sounds weird to you, but I truly love what I do. I feel incredibly blessed to get to remove diseases that cause pain and suffering and put things right for my patients. It is deeply satisfying […]
My Greatest Reward
July 7th began like any other day for me. I remember that there was a beautiful sunrise that morning. I had a compressed, busy schedule in my oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Lake Oswego. “We have a trauma patient coming in, Doctor” my front staff informed me when I arrived at my office. We […]
What Firefighting Taught Me About Integrity
My Experience as a Firefighter Before I was a surgeon, I was a firefighter. I learned many things from my first profession, including how to change the oil on a fire engine! But one of the most important lessons that I still carry with me today and use daily as a surgeon concerns the relationship […]
Women and Leadership
I was recently selected to become a member of the Oregon Dental Association Leadership Academy. As a participant of this group, I am learning how to become a more effective leader at both the community and state level. Here is my interview for the April 2018 Membership Matters, a publication for the Oregon Dental Association, […]
Women, Water and Healthy Communities
Clean drinking water is of primary importance for the health and prosperity of all communities. It is a precious resource that not only supports life but also leads to freedom for women, especially in developing nations. My eyes were open to this fact while providing oral surgical care in Sub-Saharan Africa several years ago. […]