SWSPD President’s Message

Greetings, friends. It’s an honor to be selected to serve as your SWSPD President. As 2018 comes to a close and we look ahead toward the upcoming New Year, I am reminded of all that I have to be thankful for. As pediatric dentists, we are honored to serve our communities’ most prized possessions: our children. Not only do we have the privilege to treat these children, but we also have the opportunity to have an impact beyond dentistry. 

I encourage you to actively think about how your organization has positively impacted the lives of others in connection with the specialized dental care delivered. What impact do you have on your patients’ lives, their parents, and your team? What opportunities are at your fingertips in the community that you’ve always wanted to be a part? 

My life as a pediatric dentist is rewarding and fulfilling, as I aspire every day to share the blessings I’ve been given and the lessons learned with those around me. It can be a battle to maintain a leadership role while balancing the demands of a practice. I strive to prioritize how to care for my patients and my team, yet my personal goal is to always ensure that the irreplaceable role of husband and father comes first. 

In 2019, I urge you to join me with intentional focus to learn how we can grow our influence. What can you do in 2019 to enhance your impact, to be more purposeful with every interaction, and to increase the value experienced by each patient? Increasing a margin of time and experiencing a personalized financial freedom are two important goals likely shared by many of us. As specialists in pediatric dentistry we are artists in time efficiency and management. Yet how might we translate our skills toward others and in other areas of our own lives?

As a practice owner many challenges are presented every day. As I look back at my completion of residency, I would have never guessed that I would be serving in this capacity as your President. A special thanks to Dr. Kevin Haney for that nudge! I am really excited about what we can do together. In contemplating what to write to our members, I thought sincerely about a dear mentor and inspiration to me personally, Dr. Suzi Seale. I will never forget her voice saying “you can’t complain if you don’t have a seat at the table!” In these words, she issued a challenge to her residents: Be Leaders and Be Advocates. I know that she is watching us with great joy, as her impact literally spans generations. I encourage you to strive each day to reach your God-given potential. 

If you have a desire to continue this conversation and have world-class fun, I invite you to register and attend our 40^th Annual Winter Ski Meeting at Whistler-Blackcomb Resort. We will hear from practitioner and servant leader, Dr. Jack Bayramyan, who despite incredible challenges built a thriving practice with multiple locations in areas with greatest need. We will continue learning with innovator, and ENT research extraordinaire, Dr. Soroush Zaghi, in our study of pediatric sleep disordered breathing. Nationally-recognized academician Dr. Jessica Lee will dive into endodontic options for immature permanent teeth. Our friend and fantastic moderator, Dr. Tim Wright, will navigate us through lively discussion on the future of our field for an entertaining panel event. If you’re in need of sedation credits, Dr. Stephen Wilson will provide 4 hours of crucial material. The do’s and don’ts of interceptive orthodontics will be artfully detailed through the help of Dr. Scott Goodman’s expertise. And finally, our very own SWSPD member and current AAPD President, Dr. Joe Castellano, will not only be attending this conference, but he will also speak on the State of the Academy. The beauty of Whistler and the unique camaraderie make this event my favorite professional trip of the upcoming year. Register now so you can join this group of amazing clinicians, business professionals, academicians, and most importantly… friends. 

Thank you for supporting the SWSPD and I look forward to seeing what impact we will have together!

Dr. Ryan S. Roberts