ISSUES IN P E D I AT R I C DENTISTRY
FALL 2018 SPORTS ISSUE
20 YEARS
TRAINING FOR THE
ULTIMATE RACE HOW ENDURANCE SPORTS TRAINING KEEPS MY LIFE INTEGRATED.
LATER
RAVEN’S ONLY MR. IRRELEVANT IS NOW DR. RELEVANT
GLOBAL CITIZEN
ART
LEARNING TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD
ON ICE
HOW FIGURE SKATING PREPARED ME FOR PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
REACHING MY GOALS HOW FOCUS, DEDICATION, AND HARD WORK ALLOWED ME TO LIVE MY DREAM
PURSUING
MY BOYHOOD DREAM PAUL JOHNSON, DDS
A NEED FOR
SPEED STAYING FOCUSED IN A FAST-PACED WORLD
WINNING THE WORLD SERIES IN YANKEE STADIUM
SPRIG UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS FOR 2019
February - Dallas, TX
August - Boston, MA
September - Napa, CA
Simple Solutions to Real Challenges.
October - Las Vegas, NV
December - Miami, FL
CONTENTS FALL ISSUE 2018
12
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Champions Among Us
14
CONTRIBUTORS
Without whom this issue would not have been possible.
18 HEALTHY PEARLS It’s worth reading, because you don’t know what you don't know.
17 ON THE SCENE Spending good times with friends at all the Sprig-attended events throughout 2017 & 2018.
20
DOCTOR TO DOCTOR
Hear from a colleague how attending Sprig University improved the way he practices.
22 4
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
22
TRAINING FOR THE ULTIMATE RACE How endurance sports training keeps my life integrated.
28 20 YEARS LATER
Raven’s only Mr. Irrelevant is now Dr. Relevant.
34 REACHING MY GOALS
How focus, dedication, and hard work allowed me to live my dream.
28 34
Better Together
SmartMTA
HemeRx
EZPREP
Faster. Healthier. Smarter.
Simple and Superior Hemostasis
Diamond Bur System
CONTENTS FALL ISSUE 2018
41
ART ON ICE
How figure skating prepared me for careers as coach and pediatric dentist.
47 PURSUING MY BOYHOOD DREAM
Winning the World Series in Yankee Stadium.
52 A NEED FOR SPEED Staying focused in a fast-paced world.
60 A GLOBAL CITIZEN
Learning to become a citizen of the world.
ON THE COVER COVER FEATURES MOTORCYCLE RACER PAUL JOHNSON, DDS PHOTOGRAPHY BY OXYMORON PHOTOGRAPHY COVER DESIGN BY JEFFREY P. FISHER, DDS This issue of Shift magazine features Paul Johnson, DDS on the cover. On page 52, Johnson discusses the fast-paced sport of racing motorcycles and how he applies what he does on the track to his fast-paced life as a pediatric dentist.
6
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
47
52
41
60
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
7
Dentistry by Dexter Yee, DDS Smile Island Pediatric and Adult Dental Group—Rocklin, CA
Restorations by Sprig Oral Health Technologies, Inc. EZCrowns—D3, E2, F2, and G3
Dentistry by Dexter Yee, DDS Smile Island Pediatric and Adult Dental Group—Rocklin, CA
Restorations by Sprig Oral Health Technologies, Inc. EZCrowns—D3, E2, F2, and G3
LETTER
from
THE EDITOR
CHAMPIONS AMONG US Let’s do something different. This thought started running through my mind as I began the process of planning for this issue of Shift magazine and mulling over possible ideas which we might feature as our theme. Our policy is to strive for excellence while remaining committed to creating interesting, educational content that will engage our readers. As I was pondering what theme to choose, the thought suddenly struck me, “Why not highlight pediatric dentistry in a new, unusual way that would be both fascinating and inspiring?” In each issue of Shift magazine, we regularly feature photos of patients, letting their smiles tell the story of how pediatric dentistry is changing their lives for the better. But why not feature stories and photos about pediatric dentists for a change, stories of dentists who have achieved remarkable success in sports. Their stories. Their hard work. Their accomplishments. So, this issue of Shift magazine is all about some amazing pediatric dentists whose extraordinary achievements have been made outside the field of dentistry. In laying out this issue, I have been amazed to discover the talent and dedication displayed by many of our colleagues to their chosen sport. Some of these committed individuals continue this dedication, even while maintaining busy professional lives as pediatric dentists. Who knows, you may have been sitting by one of these champions while attending a recent pediatric dental meeting. In the following pages you will read about professional athletes that are proud to be called “doctor.” You will be captivated by their accomplishments at events sponsored by organizations such as the Ironman® World Championship, the National Football League, FIFA World Cup Soccer, ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Major League Baseball, and the American Federation of Motorcyclists. Most importantly, these dentists also share how their commitment to athletics taught them valuable attitudes and skills which they continue to use in their practice of dentistry. Their stories will both amaze and inspire you. Elena Hansen, John and Brenda’s daughter, also shares about her trip to Ecuador and how a commitment to service can challenge us all to be better citizens of the world. Most athletes rely on teamwork to achieve success. We at Sprig Oral Health Technologies are proud to feature our new partnership with Henry Schein Dental. Together as teammates, we are striving to reach our common goal of bringing innovation to pediatric dentistry that today’s patients and professionals demand. I hope you will be inspired, challenged, and motivated by the stories of your colleagues. And even though most of us will feel quite average after this read, we all share one common denominator—we all are proud to be involved in our chosen field of pediatric dentistry, caring for children who deserve their own opportunity to share the limelight.
Je rey P. Fisher, DDS Editor-in-Chief editor@sprigusa.com
12
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
MEET THE
CONTRIBUTORS TO SHIFT MAGAZINE
Roger D. Gallant, MD Dr. Roger Gallant graduated from the School of Medicine at Loma Linda University in 1994. He currently practices emergency medicine part time at John C. Fremont Healthcare District, a small critical access hospital in Mariposa, Calif. Dr. Gallant is also the medical director of the NEWSTART Lifestyle Program at Weimar Institute in Northern California. NEWSTART is an 18-day residential lifestyle program where patients are taught lifestyle principles designed to improve their health. NEWSTART is an acronym for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God.
Becky Olacke, DMD Dr. Becky Olacke is a pediatric dentist who completed her dental education at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. After receiving her DMD degree, she worked as a general dentist with the Canadian Department of National Defense as well as in private practice in Gander, Newfoundland. Dr. Olacke realized that she loved working with children and their families and wanted to provide the best evidence-based care for her patients. She completed a two-year pediatric dental residency at the University of Washington. Becky and her husband currently live in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where her practice is located. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and being on the water, in addition to training for endurance races and triathlons.
Elena Hansen, BS Elena Hansen is a recent University of California, Davis graduate who earned a bachelor of science degree in anthropology. She is currently attending the pre-health, post-baccalaureate program at California State University, East Bay. She plans to apply to dental school next summer. She enjoys yoga, visiting nearby San Francisco, and her pug, Chloe. Her father is John Hansen, cofounder of Sprig Oral Health Technologies, Inc., and her mother is Brenda Hansen, CEO at Sprig.
Brian Banks, DMD Dr. Brian Banks received his DMD degree in 2011 from the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. He then completed a pediatric dental residency at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a board-certified pediatric dentist. Prior to entering the dental profession, Dr. Banks enjoyed a 10-year career in professional baseball. Named the 1989 Arizona baseball player of the year at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona, Brian went on to play for the BYU Cougars. After playing in the minor leagues for four years, Banks played from 1996–2004 for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Fukuoka (Japan) Daiei Hawks, and the Florida Marlins. He was a member of the championship Marlins team that won the 2003 World Series on the 100th anniversary of the baseball classic. In March of 2014, Brian opened Banks Pediatric Dentistry in Mesa, Arizona. When he is away from the office, Dr. Banks loves spending time with his wife, Tarrah, and their four children. Dr. Banks also loves golfing and coaching his kids’ sports teams. 14
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
Paul Johnson, DDS
Cameron Quayle, DDS
Dr. Paul Johnson earned his DDS degree and specialty certificate from the University of California, San Francisco. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. In 2015, he established Pediatric Dentistry of West Sacramento. An avid motorcycle racer, Paul has earned five regional expert championship titles in four classes with the American Federation of Motorcyclists. During his racing career, he has achieved over 100 podium finishes. Paul has set and holds multiple track records for fastest lap on multiple machines at different tracks including Sonoma Raceway and Buttonwillow Raceway. He is committed to his community and volunteers regularly at dental outreach events such as Give Kids a Smile. Dr. Johnson lives in Sacramento, Calif. with his wife, Jessica, and their two dogs.
Dr. Cam Quayle grew up in Ogden, Utah and graduated from Weber State University. While there he played tight end for the Wildcats football team. In 1998, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL and earned the title of “Mr. Irrelevant,” the last person selected in the NFL draft each year. He spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, the Barcelona Dragons (NFL Europe), and the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a neck injury in Jacksonville, he decided to stop playing football and pursue a dental career. Dr. Cam received his DDS degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Following dental school, he pursued a two-year pediatric residency at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to oversee the sedation training received by residents. Dr. Cam is married and has two daughters and two sons. He enjoys traveling, mountain biking, snow skiing, and staying active. He recently began a year-long commitment to provide humanitarian dental care, serving with his family in rural Guatemala. You can follow his family’s adventures and humanitarian efforts at
Elaine Asanaki, DMD Dr. Eleni (her preferred Greek name) Asanaki graduated cum laude from Harvard University in 2002 and earned her DMD degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts in 2010. She continued post-doctoral studies and completed a general practice residency at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center and Albert Einstein Medical Center in the Bronx, New York. During her specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai from 2014 to 2016, she received the Aftab Hassan Research Award and the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center Community Outreach Award. Dr. Asanaki is a former professional figure skater, and in her free time, she coaches young athletes and enjoys football, traveling, and reading.
www.masongives.com.
Alina Garciamendez, DDS Dr. Alina Garciamendez completed her dental training and received her DDS degree in 2018 from Texas A&M College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, where she is also currently enrolled as a pediatric dentistry resident. Previously, she attended Stanford University on a Division I soccer scholarship and graduated in 2013 with a BS degree in biology. Dr. Garciamendez was born in Los Gatos, California, but grew up in Fairview, Texas. She also competed as a member of the Mexican Women’s National Soccer Team, beginning in 2008 when she was a high school student.
… without whom
THIS ISSUE would not be possible.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
15
Issues in Pediatric Dentistry Previously published biannually as EZPEDO Magazine 2015—2016.
Vol. 4 No. 2 | Fall 2018
JEFFREY P. FISHER, DDS Editor-in-Chief TIMOTHY SHAMBRA Layout Designer
JAMES R. FISHER, MSPH, PhD Senior Consulting Editor
RICKY QUINTANA Issue Coordinator
STACEY SCHOELLERMAN Graphic Designer
ANN FISHER, MAT, MMus Copy Editor/Proof Reader
Contributing authors Elaine Asanaki, DMD / Brian Banks, DMD / Roger D. Gallant, MD / Alina Garciamendez, DDS / Elena Hansen, BS Paul Johnson, DDS / Becky Olacke, DMD / Cameron Quayle, DDS
Contributing photographers Stacey Schoellerman / Timothy Shambra
Special thanks to Jamison Hensley—ESPN staff writer
SPRIG ORAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Publisher RICKY QUINTANA Advertising Sales
LYUBA KOLOMIYETS Finance & Accounting
STEPHEN SMITH Advertising Contracts
For editorial enquiries please email: editor@sprigusa.com For advertising enquiries please email: ricky@sprigusa.com Subscriptions are available online by visiting: www.sprigusa.com/magazine For additional enquiries please call: 888 539 7336 / Int. (1) 916 677 1447
SPRIG ORAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 6140 HORSESHOE BAR ROAD, SUITE L LOOMIS, CALIFORINA 95650
Shift magazine, a contemporary dental publication highlighting relevant topics of interest for busy practitioners in private practice, publishes scientific articles, case reports, and human-interest stories focusing on current issues in pediatric dentistry. Pediatric and general dentists will learn about new concepts in restorative treatments and the latest innovations in techniques and products, all available in the one magazine that helps them keep pace with rapid changes in pediatric dentistry. © Copyright 2018 Shift magazine, a subsidiary of Sprig Oral Health Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
SOCIAL NETWORK
PEOPLE, PLACES AND PARTIES
EXCITING
moments at our 2018 AAPD booth in Honolulu, HI. We met so many wonderful dentists and auxiliary staff who were excited for the latest innovations in the field of pediatric dentistry.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
17
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW
CHOICES
COFFEE OR WATER?
HOW WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DRINK IN THE MORNING AFFECTS HOW YOUR BRAIN WORKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. by Roger D. Gallant, MD
YOUR BRAIN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
YOUR BRAIN 15 MINUTES AFTER ONE CUP OF COFFEE
So many of us are used to starting the day with a cup of Joe, but is it really good for us? More and more people are starting their day with a glass of water instead. Why? When we wake up in the morning, we are dehydrated from not drinking all night. Our bodies are made up of 65–73 percent water, and we need to replenish it regularly. Water facilitates digestion, production of saliva and digestive juices, absorption, circulation, transport of nutrients and chemical transmitters, maintenance of body temperature, and flushing out toxins accumulated overnight. Coffee is a diuretic which stimulates our bodies to produce more urine. This in turn causes our kidneys to secrete more sodium into the urine. Water follows sodium in the body, so more water is lost in the urine, leading to further dehydration. This diuretic effect can prevent the absorption of certain critical minerals like calcium, magnesium, and zinc. When you wake up, your body is in elimination mode. Water intake kickstarts your elimination mechanism and helps to energize and prepare you for the day. Coffee is highly acidic and can irritate your stomach lining. Coffee tends to stimulate our stomachs to make more hydrochloric acid. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach magnifies this stimulating effect. The above scans show two MRIs of the human brain, before and after drinking coffee. One cup of coffee reduced blood flow to the brain by about 40 percent. Why? Caffeine blocks adenosine which helps to regulate blood flow to the brain. 18
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
After a dose of caffeine, the blood vessels constrict, resulting in less blood flow to the brain. Drinking water, on the other hand, thins your blood and increases blood flow to your brain. Headaches are often caused by dehydration and vascular congestion in the brain. Increasing your water intake can prevent and even help to treat headaches. One of the most common causes of lethargy in the morning is dehydration. Drinking water in the morning can combat lethargy and increase your metabolism. Water is quickly becoming the morning drink of champions. I suggest that you try drinking 12–32 oz. of room temperature water first thing in the morning.
Q. HOW MUCH WATER
SHOULD YOU DRINK EACH DAY, BEFORE FACTORING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY?
A. HALF YOUR BODY
WEIGHT (LBS) IN OZS OF WATER.
Seasons of Change CONVENIENCE
One-stop-shop for supplies through Henry Schein Dental.
REPRESENTATIVES Schedule an in-person visit to see the product line-up.
CUSTOMER CARE
Sprig’s highly trained team is still here to help.
THE FOUNDERS
Sprig’s Dr. John Hansen and Dr. Jeffrey Fisher are just a phone call away.
To you, our customer, we give many thanks for your support, patience, and feedback as we continue to navigate the tides of change together.
DOCTOR-TO-DOCTOR TESTIMONIAL
CONFIDENCE. Why I chose Sprig University As I began running my own o ce, I wanted to take my team to the “next level.” The confidence gained by attending Sprig University allowed me to recommend EZCrowns for my patients knowing that both the families and I would be ecstatic with the results. The whole Sprig U team is incredibly supportive, and they provide a wealth of information.
K. Sawyer Negro, DDS, MSD BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON
After completing a residency in Pediatric Dentistry at THE University of Washington, Dr. Sawyer took ownership of Bellingham Pediatric Dentistry. His office is committed to green dentistry, including their LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRON,ENTAL DESIGN) classified dental building. HE, HIS wife, and young daughter love hiking, skiing, cycling, and exploring all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
21
TRAINING FOR THE
ULTIMATE
RACE How endurance sports training keeps my life integrated. by Becky Olacke, DMD
IRONMAN® COZUMEL Transitions are often hectic, but a seasoned triathlete understands that a smooth transition is “free” speed.
22
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
IRONMAN® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP A 140.6-MILE RACE THAT PUTS CONTESTANTS TO THE ULTIMATE TEST OF BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT TO EARN THE TITLE OF IRONMAN® CHAMPION.
M
Many people today are striving for life-work balance. Although it may be just a matter of semantics, I prefer to strive for work-life integration. To me, this means doing a job that makes you a better person and doing out-of-work activities that make you more successful professionally. Since my time in dental school, I've found that pushing my limits physically, through endurance racing, has been the best way for me to achieve work-life integration. My passion for endurance sports started when I was 19 years old. I was coaching a Masters swim team and met two women who were turning 50, but didn't seem a day older than 30. They were training for an Ironman event to celebrate their birthdays and had such optimism for life. I decided if two 50-year-old ladies could run an Ironman race, I certainly could as well. I swam competitively in high school and mountain biked to work as a teenager. But I'd never trained for a triathlon. I bought a road bike, clocked my hours at the pool, laced up my sneakers, and started training. My first training run was less than a mile. When it was over, I fell into bed, exhausted. But I was determined to reach my Ironman goal. One year later, in 2006, I finished Ironman Canada. The very next morning, I started my first year of dental school. From the beginning, my endurance racing and practice of dentistry have been intertwined. To date, I've competed in nine fulldistance Ironman events. In 2011, I qualified for and completed the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. My finish times have never been very fast, but I always say, "Anyone can finish an Ironman event if they want to badly enough." I tend to enjoy training for endurance events more than the actual races. Training helps me experience
new environments, test different techniques, and push through mental barriers. Training also gives me the time and space for self-reflection. I find all of these skills useful in both my professional and personal life. Most recently, I have been focusing more on ultrarunning events with an ultimate goal of participating in the UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc) event in the Alps—a single-stage mountain ultramarathon of 103 miles (166 km.) It's common for triathletes to dislike the swimming portion of a triathlon event. In my experience, the unpredictable water environment makes people uncomfortable with the swim. I live in Canada, where the outdoor swimming season is short, so most of my swim training is done in a pool. The swimming portion of most Ironman races, however, usually takes place in a lake or an ocean.
What it takes to be a finisher at the
IRONMAN®
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
S BR SWIM
2.4 miles
BIKE
112 miles
RUN
26.2 miles
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
23
Under such outdoor conditions, there is no way to control the weather, the presence of wildlife, or the water temperature. Athletes have to quickly adapt to the new environment, in much the same way as children are asked to do when they are referred to a pediatric dentist for treatment. When adapting to a new environment while either swimming or receiving dental treatment, it is easier to adapt if some components of the experience remain the same. When competing in an Ironman race, I normally do a practice swim a day or two before the event. In the dental setting, this can be equated to giving the child time to get to know the dental clinic and interact with new staff. I always try to keep in mind that even though I am familiar with the environment in my office, a child coming for a first appointment is walking into a very unfamiliar place. Their only sense of familiarity and security may be provided by their parent or the toy that the child has brought with them. Therefore, I try to interact with both the child and the parent. Even taking time to interact with a stuffed animal brought by a patient will go a long way to helping a child feel at ease. For example, I remember an event when I was biking through the lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was extremely hot, and I didn't think I could finish the race. In order to counteract that negative thinking, I used imagery. I imagined I was a plant and that the sun was giving me energy instead of removing it.
24
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
A native of Canada, Dr. Becky is always proud to wear her country’s colors when competing.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
25
U
Using this imagery technique helped me to turn the heat into something positive. It motivated me to keep going and push through to the finish.
I use a similar technique when giving local anesthetic. I create a storyline that engages children by telling them how the "cold sleepy juice" is going to slow down the super-fast "sugar bugs" so that we can rid their mouths of these little critters. In so doing, we turn what could be the most challenging part of the appointment into an experience that can be more easily tolerated by a young child. Our pediatric dentistry training includes instruction in utilizing behavioral guidance techniques. These techniques are designed to help children have a positive dental appointment experience. Training for an Ironman race also involves using a lot of similar skills. These techniques include tell-show-do practices, guided imagery, and distraction. I feel that having used many of these skills in race training helps me better utilize them in my practice.
“FOR ME THE MENTAL BENEFITS OF PUSHING MY LIMITS FAR OUTWEIGH THE PHYSICAL BENEFITS.”
Becky Olacke
For me, running is moving meditation. I work through the situations of the day and then move on to a heightened state of awareness. In this state, I notice the smallest details of everyday things, such as a blade of grass moving in the wind or the crunch of leaves giving way beneath my running shoes. Running helps relieve my stress so I don't take work problems home but still acknowledge and try to learn from them. From a work perspective, these daily moments of reflection help me identify cues that assist me when providing behavioral guidance. For example, when I start to have negative thoughts, my breathing gets shallower. The same is true for my patients. If they are part way through treatment and having difficulty coping, I notice their breathing becomes shallow. This is my cue to start using distraction to help them cope. I find that it is important for me to incorporate this active self-reflection time into my daily routine by running to and from work. Having an upcoming endurance event such as a marathon, ultra-marathon, or Ironman race on the calendar helps keep me motivated. No matter the weather, I always make time for my running commute. Endurance sports are both a mental and a physical challenge. For me the mental benefits of pushing my limits far outweigh the physical benefits. As long as I have the desire to complete an event, I know that it is manageable. I try to apply this attitude to all aspects of my life. Maintaining a consistent attitude in both my professional work and personal life helps me achieve my goal of work-life integration.
“ BEING AN
IRONMAN®
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FINISHER Dr. Becky Olacke has completed nine IRONMAN®events, including the IRONMAN® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in Kona, Hawaii, in 2011.
26
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
IS AN AMAZING FEELING AND ONE I WILL ALWAYS
REMEMBER.”
AT THE FINISH Dr. Becky crosses the finish line of the IRONMAN® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Kona, Hawaii in 2011.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
27
THE QUAYLE FAMILY Dr. Cam and Mandee Quayle in a rare moment with all six members of their family standing still.
28
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
20 YEARS LATER RAVENS' ONLY MR. IRRELEVANT* IS DR. RELEVANT *The ignominious title given to the player chosen last in the annual selection process of the National Football League. This player is featured as the center of attention for a full week of festivities held each year in Newport Beach, California. by Jamison Hensley—ESPN staff writer
T
The only time the Baltimore Ravens had the final pick in a draft was 1998. Then-team executive David Modell was given the honor of making the selection. Modell scanned the draft board and nearly picked a kicker who didn't have any vowels in his name. He ultimately decided to take tight end Cam Quayle. "We can nickname him 'the Vice President,'" Modell said at the time, referring to former VP Dan Quayle. Twenty years later, the Ravens' only Mr. Irrelevant goes by a different title—doctor. Quayle ended his NFL dreams after two years and became a pediatric dentist, running his own practice in Pleasant View, Utah. After all this time, the 1998 draft can be remembered for beginning with Peyton Manning, who would finish as the NFL's all-time leading passer, and ending with "The Moose Dentist," which is how the practice is known locally because of its smiling animal logo. "It was one of the times you look back in life and go, that could've gone so many
different ways," Quayle said. "It went the way it did. It's been a great experience.” Quayle, 45, didn't make it as an NFL player. He does, however, approach his second career like a coach. At 6-feet-6, Quayle will get down on his knees and explain to children what's going on and how they'll be fine during appointments. One online review stated, "I previously tried another dentist but I didn't feel like they related well to kids. Dr. Cam always puts my kids at ease.” Said Quayle, "I really like the challenge of working with kids and working them through something that was potentially frightening or fearful and earning their trust.” Quayle was accepted to dental school at Virginia Commonwealth University four months before the draft, but he wanted to see whether he could cut it in the NFL. He was the 241st player selected, though he wasn't the first to know about it. He couldn't watch the draft because his parents didn't get ESPN2. Quayle assumed the draft was over before getting the call from Ravens coach Ted Marchibroda, who let the Weber State tight end know he had www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
29
been picked. It's significant that Quayle made the cut—considering future Pro Bowl players like center Jeff Saturday, linebacker London Fletcher and kicker Phil Dawson went undrafted that same year.
his honor, Quayle got into Lewis' face and they exchanged shoves. As Quayle walked back to the huddle, Whisenhunt applauded him, saying, "Good job, nobody disrespects you.”
Quayle's agent later phoned and told him how cool it was to be Mr. Irrelevant.
"OK, let's not have that happen again," Quayle responded.
"What is that?" Quayle asked. "I never heard of that before.”
By the end of the preseason, Quayle had been cut, which he said really didn't come as a surprise.
As the final pick in the 1998 draft, he was the center of attention for a week-long celebration in Newport Beach, California: He spent a day at Disneyland; he dragged the infield with the grounds crew between innings of a game between the Anaheim Angels and Texas Rangers
BACK TO SCHOOL
Quayle's biggest keepsake was a Rolex watch, which he wears every day. For the staff at his dental office, the best gift was a photo of Quayle lying on a Southern California beach with no shirt on while holding the so-called Lowsman Trophy awarded to Mr. Irrelevant. Quayle will go to show a child's X-ray, and the picture on his desktop computer is that infamous beach shot. A parent will ask who the guy is without the shirt. "I don't know," Quayle typically responds.
RUN-IN WITH RAY Modell was intrigued by the name, but Ken Whisenhunt—then the Ravens' tight end coach—had pushed to draft Quayle because he thought he could develop the Division I-AA pass-catching tight end. At Weber State, Quayle caught 115 passes for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final two seasons. His best chance of making the Ravens was beating out A. J. Ofodile for the No. 3 tight end spot, behind Eric Green and Brian Kinchen. "The first things that stick out are his size and those hands," Whisenhunt told The Baltimore Sun in 1998. "And he is smart enough [3.61 grade-point average] that he will pick things up quickly and recover from setbacks quickly.” One of Quayle's most vivid memories didn't involve him making a catch. During the course of a play at practice, linebacker Ray Lewis picked up Quayle and threw him to the ground. Knowing he had to defend 30
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
Quayle learned life in football isn't always a day at the beach. After getting picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was allocated to the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe, where the Mediterranean Sea was just outside his front door. But upon returning to NFL training camp, he hurt his neck so badly that he had limited range of motion and needed chiropractic care every day. "That was when I didn't know what to do," Quayle said. His agent recommended he pursue dentistry, a profession that had long intrigued Quayle. He was once told by a counselor that dentistry was the perfect fit for him because of his love for people, science, and working with his hands. Quayle graduated magna cum laude from VCU in 2004 with a doctorate in dental surgery and returned home to Utah, where he completed his residency at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. He now oversees sedation training for pediatric dental residents at the hospital. But Quayle still feels linked to his Mr. Irrelevant past. He has gone back a handful of times for the weeklong celebrations, and he checks to see who is the last player taken in each year's draft. "I'm always curious to see who it is," Quayle said. "I let him know, 'This will continue to open doors for the rest of your life.'" THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN AN NFL NATION BLOG POSTED BY JAMISON HENSLEY, ESPN STAFF WRITER, ON APRIL 19, 2018. USED BY PERMISSION. http://www.espn.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/44812/ twenty-years-later-ravens-only-mr-irrelevant-is-dr-relevant.
THE FAMOUS LOWSMAN TROPHY This trophy was intentionally named to be the opposite of the Heisman Trophy. Paul Salata, founder of Mr. Irrelevantweek told me, “This title and this trophy will open doors for you the rest of your life.” When he initially told me this, I thought he was overestimating the title. I was wrong. This title continues to open doors and possibilities for me to this day.
FOOTBALL CARD (ABOVE) Mr. Irrelevant in his rookie card with the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. Those were exciting years before I started dental school. Sharing a locker room with greats like Ray Lewis, Johnathan Ogden, and Jim Harbaugh were highlights I’ll never forget.
FOOTBALL CARD (RIGHT) Some people ask why I look so angry in this photo. “I’m not angry,” I tell them. “I was in the middle of a stretch.” While interviewing at Florida State for a position in the pediatric dental residency, the director asked me this question, “Cam, you are sitting across from the director of the program. I can determine whether you get accepted into this program or whether you are not. You are sitting there and don’t seem nervous at all. Why?” I looked the director in the eye and told him, “For the past six years I’ve had 300-lb. men trying to knock me to the ground and hurt me. Sir, you just aren’t that scary.” He listened to my reply and started laughing out loud. “That’s a good answer,” he said, “That’s a good answer."
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
31
DR. RELEVANT WHAT’S CAM UP TO NOW? by Cameron Quayle, DDS
F
Five years ago, we started to envision a dream of moving to a developing country to provide free dental care. One night I was lying in bed reading. I had been thinking about this idea for a few weeks. Putting my book down, I turned to my wife, Mandee, and said, “I have an idea.” She turned off her toothbrush and responded, "What’s your idea?” I replied, “What if we move to a developing country for a year and provide free dental care for children?” She looked at me, paused for a moment, and said, “OK.” She turned her toothbrush back on and that was it. With that simple conversation, we began the process of forming a fiveyear plan. Our plan included selecting a country, studying Spanish, choosing a region within Guatemala, and homeschooling our young children in hopes of not interrupting their education once we were on location. To cover the needs of our dental offices while we were gone, we needed to secure the service of a qualified business manager and find qualified pediatric dentists who would join our practices. In addition, we also needed to figure out how to tell our family and friends what we were doing without them thinking we had totally lost our minds. As a family, we founded Mason Gives, Inc. (a non-profit organization) to help us achieve our ultimate goal—improving the oral health of children in impoverished areas around the world. With the help of Sprig and numerous other dental suppliers and supporters, we were able to assemble the portable dental units, portable dental chairs, dental equipment, dental instruments, and dental materials necessary to provide comprehensive care to the children in rural Guatemala. With this inventory, we were prepared to provide restorations, stainless steel crowns, Zirconia EZCrowns, and extractions. Mobility was an enormous part of our planning. On previous trips to this region, we would routinely hear about families traveling three to four hours to get to where we were working. Traveling such long distances creates a huge financial and time burden for these families. We wanted to go to the children—to their towns, farms, and orphanages—where the needs are the most acute. With our portable clinics, we now are able to do just that. We are providing care in homes, churches, orphanages, schools, and community centers. Dental treatment is not our only focus. In addition to providing dental care, we are in the process of filming and editing oral hygiene videos for parents and children to watch prior to receiving treatment. Education about the caries development process is necessary to help stop or reduce this common problem.
32
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
I hope our actions spark a vision in our children’s minds of thinking globally, helping them realize that what we each do can make a difference in the world.
Opposite: Dr. Quayle works with a local anesthesiologist when there is a need to treat young, fearful children or those with special needs. Above Top: This year in Guatemala is an adventure for the entire Quayle family. Above Bottom: Doing some local shopping, Cam and Mandee couldn’t be happier with their choice.
One of the challenges in this region is that people speak many different languages. Spanish is the primary language, but many people also speak (some exclusively) Mayan languages such as Tz’utujil, K’iche, and Kaqchikel. Fortunately, we have found native speakers who are willing to help us produce these videos. By having the information taught by local individuals, we hope the messages will be better accepted and the concepts grasped with greater comprehension. I think the most important aspect of our mission is that we are engaged in it as a family. I hope our actions spark a vision in our children’s minds of thinking globally, helping them realize that what we each do can make a difference in the world. Our goal may sound idealistic, but we are striving to reach it together.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
33
REACHING MY GOAL(S) HOW FOCUS, DEDICATION, AND HARD WORK ALLOWED ME TO LIVE MY DREAM IN BOTH SOCCER AND PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY. BY ALINA GARCIAMENDEZ, DDS
I have had the opportunity of playing on the Mexican Women’s National Soccer Team since 2008. Although it has required discipline, hard work, and careful planning, I’ve been honored to represent my parents’ birth country and embrace my own heritage. The Mexican team training camps are located in Mexico City. I, on the other hand, was a high school student living in Texas when I joined the team. So, whenever the coach would contact my family announcing camp dates, I would begin by asking my high school principal for permission to miss school for weeks at a time. I had to make promises to my parents and to my school that my grades would not fall due to my absences. Thus, early on, I learned how to balance a rigorous academic curriculum with my passion for soccer. Eventually, I enrolled at Stanford University, majored in biology, and earned a scholarship to play Division I soccer. With hard work and preparation, I did well in college, and won the starting center back position for the Stanford women’s soccer team all four years. My teammates voted me captain during my last three years—a position that must be earned both on and off the field.
34
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
35
FROM WORLD CUP SOCCER PLAYER TO PEDIATRIC DENTAL RESIDENT
B
Being team captain requires that you do well in academics, be well prepared, communicate well with diverse people, demonstrate your ability as a reliable and strong leader, in addition to serving as a role model. I am far from perfect, but I believe adopting the right attitude can help pave the road to your success in achieving lofty goals, whether they be with your team on the soccer field or with the office staff in a pediatric dental office.
Our soccer team achieved one such goal during my junior year at Stanford. We won the 2011 Women’s National Championship—the highest honor our team could accomplish in Division I soccer. Concurrent with my college activities at Stanford, I was called into training camp once again to represent Mexico and play in several international tournaments, including the 2010 U-20 Women’s World cup, the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany, and the 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament. During that U-20 Women’s World Cup tournament, I scored a goal against Nigeria to tie the game 1–1. Having scored this game-tying goal, our team was able to advance out of our bracket onto the next stage of play for the first
WITH OVER 250 MILLION PLAYERS IN 200 COUNTRIES, SOCCER IS THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR SPORT. worldatlas.com
36
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
time in Mexican women’s team history. It was an unforgettable moment. My family was at the stadium watching the game. Making my family and the country I was representing proud continues to be a goal of mine. My family always travelled to attend events when I was playing with Mexico. Even though I was far away from my real home, having my family with me made it feel like I never left. Even now, I find myself dreaming of one day developing a similar sense of close camaraderie in my own dental practice. After graduating from Stanford in 2013, I postponed my enrollment to Texas A&M College of Dentistry for a year to live out another of my dreams—to play professional soccer in Frankfurt, Germany. This experience with FFC Frankfurt was a characterbuilding one for me. It was humbling not being one of the key players, not speaking the language, not knowing anyone, and living in a new culture, while attempting to stay sharp academically. My role on the team was to be a “practice player.” Not playing a single minute on the game field was tough, but I believe maintaining the right attitude allowed me to leverage this disguised opportunity and come to a clearer understanding of my role in the bigger picture of life. I embraced the challenges and made the best of that incredible year. Beginning dental school in 2014 at Texas A&M, I found it to be an amazing and rewarding experience. I was able to continue playing international soccer with the Mexican National Women’s Team and even managed to travel abroad many weekends to compete with the team. I brought my lecture notes and books along as my travel companions. Focusing on my goals and keeping a positive attitude allowed me to keep up with my dental school assignments and earn competitive grades, while also participating in the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Olympic qualifying tournament. Throughout my dental school career, I’ve come to see that pediatric dentistry is a challenging yet rewarding specialty. I arrived at this conclusion through observation in both clinical and private practice settings. More specifically, I’ve been privileged to have the opportunity over the years of shadowing my mother, a pediatric dentist, as she interacts with her staff and pediatric patients in real-life situations.
4
CF10
ALINA GARCIAMENDEZ, DDS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE SOCCER FIELD
LM9
• Selected captain of the Stanford Women’s Soccer Team for three years, winning the Division I Women’s National Championship in 2011. • Represented Mexico as a member of the Women’s National Soccer Team at the 2010 U-20 World Cup competition, scoring the tying goal in a match with Nigeria which advanced the women’s team to a higher bracket for the first time in team history. • Represented Mexico on the Women’s National Soccer Team at the 2011 and 2015 Women’s World Cup competitions. • Played for Mexico in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic qualifying tournaments. • Played 1 year (2013-14) on the professional FFC Frankfurt team in Germany.
CM7
LB5
RM8
CM6
CENTER-BACK POSITION As a left center-back, #4 GARCIAMENDEZ defends the area directly in front of the goal, and tries to prevent opposing players, particularly center-forwards, from scoring.
CB3
RB4
CB2
G1
SOCCER TEAM 1 Goalkeeper 2 Right Center-back 3 Left Center-back 4 Right Back 5 Left Back 6 Right Center-midfield 7 Left Center-midfield 8 Right Midfield 9 Left Midfield 10 Right Center Forward 11 Left Center Forward
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
11 PLAYERS PER TEAM / TWO 45-MINUTE HALFS / 7-MILES AVERAGE RUN PER GAME
CF11
37
Kozue Ando (r) of Japan and Alina Garciamendez (l) of Mexico fight for the ball during the Group B match pairing Japan against Mexico at the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament in Leverkusen, Germany, 01 July 2011. 38
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
39
POSITION AWARENESS AND COMMUNICATION ARE KEY IN DEFENDING YOUR GOAL.
I
I have observed that in a pediatric dental practice, the dentist and staff need to work together as a team to provide excellent service to their patients—a lesson I learned well growing up playing sports. From my experience playing soccer in Germany, I learned what it takes to be a “team player.” I also know what it takes to be a “team leader” based on my experience at Stanford and with the Mexican national team. Collaborating and communicating clearly with teammates are essential skills—skills that were imperative on the soccer field and will continue to be during my residency and eventually in my own pediatric practice.
In summary, let me share three bits of wisdom I have learned during my soccer career which I believe will help me be a more successful and effective pediatric dentist: 1. Accept criticism well. Teammates and coaches routinely critique a player’s decisions during the flow of a game. It is important to accept this critique, learn from it quickly, and move on. Throughout residency, the “attendings” give us feedback after every patient. We must be prepared to accept positive feedback and to learn from corrective criticism.
Although I am now retired from my professional soccer career, I remain strongly connected to the mental aspect of the sport on a daily basis. Reflecting on my career so far and comparing my past experience as a competitive athlete with my new role as a pediatric resident, I notice that the stress of competing on the field differs from the stress of competing in an academic setting. These diverse types of experiences induce two different kinds of stress.
2. Learn from past mistakes. As a soccer player, I learned quickly from my mistakes. It is important not to repeat your mistakes. As a defender, making any mistake could be costly. Making the same mistake twice increases the odds your opponent will be able to score. In pediatric dentistry, it is important to learn from the literature and not repeat the same mistakes others have made in the past.
The stress that comes with representing an entire country is tremendous. You feel an external pressure from millions of supporters who are watching to see if you make the right decision, to pass or tackle, and you must make that decision in a split second. If you miscalculate and make a wrong decision, your team suffers consequences on the field. On the other hand, I find that the stress of performing academically in dentistry is more of an internal pressure. I want to be a strong professional and portray myself that way to my patients and “attendings,” realizing all the while that my decisions in the dental setting also result in consequences that will affect my patients.
3. Work hard and be patient. If things don’t go my way on the field, I remind myself to be patient and to keep working hard. This advice applies equally, whether you are playing soccer or practicing pediatric dentistry.
“COLLABORATING AND COMMUNICATING CLEARLY WITH TEAMMATES ARE ESSENTIAL SKILLS—SKILLS THAT WERE IMPERATIVE ON THE SOCCER FIELD AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE DURING MY RESIDENCY AND EVENTUALLY IN MY OWN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE.”
Following these three bits of advice has enabled me to enjoy success on the soccer field. I am confident they will also help to ensure my future success as a pediatric dentist.
ART ON ICE HOW FIGURE SKATING PREPARED ME FOR CAREERS AS COACH AND PEDIATRIC DENTIST. by ELAINE ASANAKI, DMD Photo taken at the New England Art Institute.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
41
from almost the first moment I set foot on the ice, i knew i wanted t0 become a champion figure skater.
F
From almost the first moment I set foot on ice, I knew I wanted to become a champion figure skater. At the age of 9, I first experienced the incredible thrill of steel blades gliding across the ice, melting the cool surface beneath my feet.
The first time I saw Dorothy Hamill on TV, I informed my mother, “I want to be an Olympic skater just like her.”
By the time I turned 12, I knew how invigorating it was to feel as if I were flying each time I accelerated across the ice and propelled myself into the air for another jump, tightening my body with the exact timing and precision required to rotate three times, then landing gracefully, balanced on less than an eighth of an inch of tempered, stainless steel.
It would take more than ten years of devotion to physical and mental training to reach that defining moment. The first time I heard, “And representing the United States of America . . .” as I glided to my first international competition, I felt an exhilarating rush of adrenaline mixed with a calm, cool sense of inner strength flood over me. I had never felt anything like it.
But it wasn’t always so. In fact, my first encounter on ice was a rather unusual start for someone who would later aspire to be a professional athlete. We had just moved to a new neighborhood in Brooklyn, and my mother decided to take the neighborhood kids to the local skating rink on Coney Island. I was the only one that refused to venture out on the ice. I stood tentatively at the railing—watching, evaluating, calculating. When my mother informed me near the end of the three-hour skating session that we had only 15 minutes remaining, I finally decided to get on the ice. In that instant, I knew that was where I belonged. My mother signed me up for one 15minute lesson a week, and I could not get enough. Not long after, I began competing. At the age of 11, I began living with sponsors to facilitate my training regimen and was on the ice as early as 4:15 am. I remember how cool I thought it was to get up when it was still dark out. I loved it. The years that followed proved the road to excellence required tremendous sacrifice, a lot of heart, and the ability to overcome obstacles. 42
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
While living on the Olympic Training Center campus in Newark, Delaware, I trained as many as eight to 10 hours a day. Figure skating is a very technical sport. The training required to skate in international competition is grueling and requires a lot of resilience. At times, a competitive figure skater might fall more than 50 times in a single training session. You have to get up and practice again and again until you get it right. In the process, you learn the true meaning of mental strength and perseverance. In fact, mental training at times can be even more intense than pure physical exertion. I learned that sometimes it takes multiple failures to achieve
INTERNATIONAL PAIR SKATING˝ OPPOSITE PAGE: Childhood photo of Eleni at 9 years old receiving her first medal—Port Washington, N.Y. LEFT: Pair skaters Eleni and Alcuin execute a “head banger” while performing at the 1998 World Team Send-o . CENTER: “Table top” lift while performing in Jaca, Spain, in 1998. RIGHT: Eleni and Joel performing a “death spiral” at the 1997 European Figure Skating Championships in Paris, France.
The highest combined score a pairs team has ever achieved is
206.42
a single triumph and that it also takes a lot of grit. In the environment of international competition, you soon learn how important it is to face your fears if you want to turn goals into reality.
FIGURE SKATES
My skating career took me to places around the globe and introduced me to many diverse cultures. Competing internationally was incredibly enriching, and I learned a great deal. Not only did I discover the importance of striving to achieve personal excellence, I also gained a far-reaching respect for the human spirit as a result of interacting with other competitors in my travels.
Blade: Figure skating blades are typically made of tempered stainless steel, coated with a high-quality chrome. Blades are about 3/16 inch (4 mm) thick and have slightly tapered crosssections. Blades also have di erent widths and radii as well as di erent degrees of “rocker” and toe picks. These all have major e ects on the way a blade “feels.” To maintain a sharp edge and varying degrees of hollow, blades are sharpened every two to three weeks.
My skating has been a lens through which I have gained insight into the importance of hard work and dedication. Furthermore, I have come to esteem the significance of maintaining respect, morals, and integrity on the road—values that paved the way for my success as a skater.
Boot: Elite figure skaters wear boots that are custom-made for each foot. Pair skaters tend to need “sti er” boots due to the excessive forces sustained during throw jumps. In pair skating, the girl comes down from almost five feet in the air and experiences forces greater than eight times her body weight. When a skater gets new boots (every six to twelve months), there is typically a breaking-in period of one to two weeks that involves pain, blisters, and ice baths for your feet.
Toe Picks: Toe picks are “teeth” that may be straight cut or cross cut and are used for pushing o in jumps and as a pivot point in spins. The straight cut allows the skater to press deeper into the ice and get height on jumps but also causes loss of momentum. The crosscut toe picks don’t penetrate the ice as deeply but help maintain momentum. Cost: A good pair can cost up to $3,000.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
43
WORKING AS A TEAM˝ “Lifts” are a highlight of pair skating and require an immense amount of strength and control. The skaters are judged on speed, ice coverage, the quality of the lady's position, position changes, and the man's stability and cleanness of turns throughout. Skaters may also raise their score by having a di cult entry or exit, or other transitional features. Eleni is seen here with her partner in an “overhead” lift performed at the 1997 World Figure Skating Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.
44
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
My skating has been a lens through which I have gained insight into the importance
of hard work and dedication
PAIRS STROKING˝
OVER-HEAD LIFT˝
ARTISTIC MOVES˝
DEATH SPIRAL˝
A way of moving across the ice and gaining speed by using the edges of the blades. Crossovers are a basic stroking technique in figure skating for gaining impetus while skating along a curve or circle and may be performed while skating forward or backwards.
Pair lifts are mostly overhead, rotational and require moving across the ice at great speed. This move takes a great deal of upper-body strength and requires each partner to trust the other in making it seem e ortless.
The relationship between the partners while reflecting the character of the music. This is evaluated and judged on variety and di culty of turns, edge quality, speed, ice coverage, timing, and unison.
Performed with the male partner as the center and creator of centripetal force (approximately 76 kg of force) while the female, holding his hand, gracefully rotates around him parallel to the surface of the ice.
As that competitive chapter of my life came to a close, I moved into the field of coaching. My involvement in figure skating took on yet another persona. I resumed my education while working full time and was reminded that my prior experiences as a skater had instilled in me a sense of empowering endurance. I dedicated myself to passing on the knowledge acquired through my own formative years of training and delighted in having the opportunity to motivate the lives of young skaters while pursuing my own academic endeavors.
Training young skaters to reach a performance level required for international competition, involves demanding a commitment to develop and nurture the values inherent to success in a highly demanding sport. I sought to inspire joy and confidence in my students and motivate them to hard work, impacting not only their performance on the ice but also influencing their everyday lives. In 2006, with fond reflections on my experiences as an athlete, performer, and coach, I embarked on a totally new endeavor. I enrolled in dental school and was drawn to treating kids. I rapidly realized that a common thread exists between coaching and pediatric dentistry. Both careers share an underlying responsibility to educate and motivate young minds. The ability to “coach” kids (and often their parents) in the dental setting is essential to pediatric dentistry. It is an exciting challenge to understand the emotional and psychological needs of children as well as their stages of emotional development and
social maturation—all fundamental prerequisites of being a successful pediatric dentist. I have learned that pediatric dentistry involves far more than just treating teeth. As dentists, we are privileged to see the positive impact we can have on the kids we treat. Looking ahead to my future in pediatric dentistry, I draw from many extraordinary experiences that helped define who I am today and take with me many valuable tools. Equipped with a strong will and desire to motivate and educate young minds, I look forward to embracing the challenges that lie ahead and striving to achieve greater heights in my new chosen field.
FIGURE SKATING ACCOMPLISNMENTS˝ • Six-time United States Figure Skating International team member (1986–91) • Five-time World Figure Skating Championship competitor (1992–93, 1996–98) • Two-time Winter Olympic Games qualifier (1992, 1998) • Five-time Greek National Figure Skating champion (1992–93, 1996–98) • Three-time European Figure Skating Championship competitor (1996–98) • U.S. Olympic Committee Athletes Advisory Board member (1992–1994) • U.S. Synchronized Figure Skating Champions creative expert (2000–05) • Delegate for Greece to the International Skating Union (2004–05) • U.S. National and International Figure Skating coach (1995–2010)
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
45
SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS
EARN 8 CES JOIN ONE OF OUR HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS WITH FOUNDER DR. JOHN P. HANSEN. register online at sprigusa.com/university Boost your confidence
Manage over reduction
Increase your speed
Minimize tissue trauma
Simplify complex multi-unit reconstructions
Place 9xs more crowns after attending
Sprig Oral Health Technologies, Inc. Nationally Approved PACE Program Provider for FAGD/MAGD credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by any regulatory authority or AGD endorsement. 5/1/2018 to 4/30/2022 Provider ID# 358727
PURSUING MY BOYHOOD DREAM by BRIAN BANKS, DMD
New York City. October 2003. Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees vs. the Florida Marlins in the World Series of Major League Baseball. Yankee Stadium was packed with 60,000 fans yelling and cheering as I stood anxiously on the top step of the dugout, a proud member of the Florida Marlins. My boyhood dream of playing in the major leagues and winning the World Series was about to be realized.
B BASEBALL
WINNING THE WORLD SERIES IN YANKEE STADIUM
Brian Banks
talks about his adventures in the major leagues, the hard work that goes into becoming a “big league� player, and how baseball helped shape his career as a pediatric dentist.
Josh Beckett was on the mound pitching to Jorge Posada with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Beckett delivered the pitch. Posada hit a slow roller up the first base line. Beckett fielded the ball, tagging Posada for the last out of the series-winning game. Immediately, my teammates and I poured onto the field and gathered on the infield grass of historic Yankee Stadium to jump around and celebrate like kids on a Little League ball field. Later, camera crews followed us into the locker room where champagne showered us as we continued to celebrate all the hard work it had taken for us to become World Series champions and realize the fulfillment of our dreams.
After the champagne ended, the noise subsided, and the bright lights faded, I walked back down the tunnel to the dugout and out onto the infield of Yankee Stadium. The stadium was now silent and the stands empty as I stared up into the night sky with my wife and newborn son by my side. We enjoyed a peaceful, quiet, reflective moment together as the emotions of that eventful evening flooded my mind with vivid memories.
I remembered the countless hours spent as a young boy on a Little League field trying to become the best I possibly could be. I remembered my parents sitting in the stands cheering me on. I recalled my wife faithfully remaining by my side as I journeyed through a career in college baseball followed by a stint in the minor leagues. That long journey had now culminated in my being a member of a World Series championship team. After the series, our team returned to South Florida where we were greeted by thousands of cheering fans who lined the streets as we enjoyed a victory parade www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
47
Brian Banks, DMD Lenny Harris
48
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
Named the 1989 Arizona baseball player of the year at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Arizona, Brian Banks went on to play for the BYU Cougars where, during his last season, his batting average was .389 and his home run total (20) placed third in the nation. After playing in the minor leagues for four years, Banks played from 1996–2004 for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Fukuoka (Japan) Daiei Hawks, and the Florida Marlins.* He was a member of the championship Marlins team that won the 2003 World Series on the 100th anniversary of the baseball classic, defeating the New York Yankees. During his major league career, Banks primarily played first base, outfield, and catcher, but distinguished himself by playing at least one inning in every position but pitcher. Check out Brian’s recap of his career and his challenge to students at www.sprigusa.com/brian-banks *The Florida Marlins became the Miami Marlins in 2012
Dontrelle Wilis
The champagne celebration in the locker room of Yankee Stadium following Game 6 of the 2003 World Series.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
49
through downtown downtown Miami. Miami. The The media media circus circus followed followed through us everywhere everywhere we we went went for for the the next next couple couple of of weeks. weeks. us We attended attended aa number number of of celebrations celebrations displaying displaying the the We World Series Series trophy, trophy, and and aa few few months months later, later, President President World George W, W, Bush Bush invited invited our our championship championship team team to to visit visit George the White White House. House. What What aa magical magical ride! ride! the A ff tt ee rr aa ll ll tt hh ee pp aa rr aa dd ee ss aa nn dd A celebrations ended, ended, II returned returned to to celebrations my home home town town of of Mesa, Mesa, Arizona, Arizona, to to my enjoy the the off off season season with with my my family family enjoy and friends. friends. As As II had had done done during during and previous off off seasons, seasons, II spent spent some some previous time contemplating contemplating my my future. future. II time had spent spent the the majority majority of of my my adult adult had life as as aa professional professional baseball baseball life player, beginning beginning in in 1993 1993 as as aa minor minor player, leaguer and and then then playing playing in in the the leaguer major leagues leagues with with the the Milwaukee Milwaukee Brewers Brewers and and Florida Florida major Marlins from from 1996 1996 to to 2003. 2003. II was was 33 33 years years of of age age at at the the Marlins time, and and although although that that is is not not old old in in the the real real world, world, as as aa time, professional athlete, athlete, II was was finding finding it it tougher tougher to to professional at the the highest highest level level of of my my sport. sport. As As with with all all compete at compete athletes, Father Father Time Time was was taking taking its its toll toll on on my my body, body, and and athletes, had to to thoughtfully thoughtfully consider consider what what the the second second phase phase of of II had life—life after after baseball—was baseball—was going going to to be. be. life—life
A
returned to to the the Marlins Marlins for for the the 2004 2004 season. season. Early Early in in II returned the season, season, however, however, II experienced experienced aa knee knee injury injury the requiring surgery surgery that that would would keep keep me me from from playing playing aa requiring majority of of the the season. season. It It was was during during that that time time that that II majority first seriously seriously considered considered retirement retirement and and what what life life after after first baseball would would be be like. like. baseball
I was raised to value the importance of higher education and to view service to others as the source of true happiness.
As the the 2004 2004 season season ended, ended, II As announced my my retirement retirement announced from the the game game II loved loved and and from ddeecciiddeedd ttoo ffuullffiillll tthhee promise II made made to to myself myself promise when II left left college college early early to to when pursue my my baseball baseball career. career. pursue That promise promise was was to to earn earn aa That college degree. degree. II was was raised raised college to value value the the importance importance of of to higher education education and and to to higher view service service to to others others as as the the view source of of true true happiness. happiness. source
As aa baseball baseball player, player, II had had As been involved involved with with many many charities. charities. II especially especially enjoyed enjoyed been participating in in activities activities that that helped helped meet meet the the needs needs of of participating children. II enjoyed enjoyed going going to to children’s children’s hospitals hospitals as as aa children. member of of the the local local team team to to visit visit sick sick kids kids and and bring bring member 50
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
them toys. toys. To To these these children, children, we we were were the the local local sports sports them adversity. adversity. So, when when the the time time came came for for me me to to decide decide what what II would would So, do with with my my education education and and the the second second phase phase of of my my life, life, do the choice choice was was simple. simple. Whatever Whatever II decided decided to to do, do, it it had had the to involve involve helping helping children. children. Ultimately, Ultimately, II decided decided to to to pursue aa career career in in dentistry. dentistry. II applied applied and and was was accepted accepted pursue to the the Arizona Arizona School School of of Dentistry Dentistry and and Oral Oral Health Health to (ASDOH) in in Mesa, Mesa, Arizona. Arizona. (ASDOH) Starting dental dental school school in in the the summer summer of of 2007, 2007, II never never Starting had the the slightest slightest doubt doubt that that pediatric pediatric dentistry dentistry would would had be where where II would would put put my my focus. focus. Returning Returning to to school school at at be 37 years years of of age, age, II naturally naturally faced faced some some interesting interesting 37 challenges. Of Of course, course, the the other other students students always always challenges. considered me me the the grandfather grandfather of of the the class. class. When When considered younger, II had had not not always always been been the the best best student, student, so so II younger, had to to apply apply myself myself more more diligently diligently in in the the classroom. classroom. had Things II had had learned learned as as aa baseball baseball player—hard player—hard work, work, Things time management, management, goal goal setting—allowed setting—allowed me me to to finish finish at at time the top top of of my my class class in in dental dental school. school. II was was rewarded rewarded by by the being accepted accepted to to the the prestigious prestigious pediatric pediatric dental dental being residency program program at at Primary Primary Children’s Children’s Medical Medical residency Center in in Salt Salt Lake Lake City, City, Utah. Utah. II finished finished my my residency residency Center program in in 2013 2013 and and returned returned to to practice practice in in my my home home program town of of Mesa, Mesa, Arizona. Arizona. town After working working as as an an associate associate for for six six months, months, II decided decided After to set set my my sights sights on on opening opening my my own own pediatric pediatric dental dental to office. In In March March of of 2014, 2014, we we opened opened Banks Banks Pediatric Pediatric office. Dentistry. Dentistry. Although my my life life as as aa professional professional baseball baseball player player is is Although long behind behind me, me, II still still utilize utilize the the skills skills that that allowed allowed me me long to play play baseball baseball and and win win aa World World Series. Series. These These same same to skills help help me me to to be be successful successful as as aa husband, husband, father, father, skills pediatric dentist, dentist, and and business business owner. owner. pediatric In the the planning planning that that went went into into starting starting my my own own In practice, II constantly constantly committed committed myself myself to to putting putting the the practice, interests of of my my pediatric pediatric patients patients first first and and keeping keeping the the interests focus on on meeting meeting their their needs. needs. II knew knew that that if if II would would focus maintain this this attitude, attitude, everything everything else else would would fall fall into into maintain place .. place Baseball also also taught taught me me the the importance importance of of being being aa team team Baseball player. By By working working as as members members of of the the same same team, team, the the player. 2003 Marlins Marlins were were able able to to accomplish accomplish great great things things 2003 together—winning the the World World Series Series championship. championship. II together—winning now rely rely on on my my office office staff, staff, just just as as II previously previously relied relied on on now my teammates, teammates, to to organize organize our our efforts efforts to to make make the the my experience at at Banks Banks Pediatric Pediatric Dentistry Dentistry aa positive positive one one experience for each each of of our our patients patients and and their their families. families. for
KIDS ON ON MOUND MOUND KIDS The Florida Florida Marlins Marlins celebrated celebrated the the 1010The year anniversary anniversary of of winning winning the the World World year Series and and presented presented my my boys boys with with Series special jerseys—2013. jerseys—2013. special
FAMILY PHOTO FAMILY Dr. Banks Banks with with his his family: family: Tarrah, Tarrah, Davis, Davis, Dr. Carter, Hudson Hudson and and Sadie. Sadie. Picture Picture taken taken Carter, while attending attending residency residency at at Primary Primary while Children's Hospital Hospital in in Utah—2011. Utah—2011. Children's
WORLD SERIES SERIES WORLD CELEBRATION CELEBRATION “After aa long long season, season, the the best best part part about about “After winning the the World World Series Series at at Yankee Yankee Stadium Stadium winning was holding holding my my son son Davis Davis during during the the was celebration in in the the locker locker room.” room.” celebration
On the the baseball baseball field, field, II played played the the game game hard hard while while On always striving striving to to remain remain humble humble and and grateful grateful for for the the always privilege and and blessing blessing it it was was to to play play professional professional privilege baseball. As As aa pediatric pediatric dentist, dentist, II continue continue the the same same baseball. passion and and focus focus on on doing doing things things the the right right way way and and passion caring for for people people so so they they feel feel important important and and loved. loved. caring The message message II try try to to share share with with each each child child who who comes comes The into my my office office is is that that they they can can become become anything anything they they set set into their minds minds to. to. II always always challenge challenge them them to to dream dream big. big. their www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
51
BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY PARK˝ BUTTONWILLOW, CALIFORNIA
52
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
A NEED FOR
SPEED STAYING FOCUSED IN A FAST-PACED WORLD. by Paul Johnson, DDS PHOTOS BY
OXYMORON PHOTOGRAPHY
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
53
J
JOHNSON STARTS
EVERY RACE˝
WITH A CLEAR HEAD & FOCUSED ATTITUDE. Racing a motorcycle can be both exhilarating and terrifying. Viewed from a seat in the stands at a raceway, a motorcycle race may appear chaotic, erratic, on the edge, and at times out of control. The situation in a busy pediatric dental office with the dentist busily involved in treating a patient with a complicated treatment plan may at times look much the same way! But in reality, with proper training and practice, racing a motorcycle or practicing pediatric dentistry is usually smooth sailing, whether your head is in the helmet on the track or your foot is on the rheostat in the dental office. As a young child, I was always fascinated by motorcycles and racing. I believe my fascination all started when I was 6 years old after my father took me to see the movie “On Any Sunday.” That was the era of motorcycle greats such as Malcom Smith, Joey Dunlop, and Wayne Rainy, along with many other talented riders. Evel Knievel’s stunts captured news headlines, and I was transfixed by his showmanship, bravado, fearlessness, and his unique relationship with his motorcycles. Captivated by the sport of motorcycle racing, I admired the riders’ strength and courage. Their intimacy or oneness with their 54
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
Top: Paul Johnson gives a thumbs up signaling he is ready to race. Above: Johnson enjoying a comfortable lead heading into a set of tight turns. Opposite: Tracking tight around a corner, Johnson waits for his opportunity to pass and take the lead.
machines—how they would work together in a seemingly effortless way, man alone with machine, pushing the limits, striving for perfection, working together toward reaching a single goal—was fascinating to me.
I didn’t acquire my first motorbike until I was 12 years old. Until then, my involvement was limited to occasionally reading motorcycle magazines, visiting the local motorcycle dealer, and daydreaming as I read and re-read the stats in my
PAUL JOHNSON (#230) HOLDS A NUMBER OF EXPERT CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES FOR THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MOTORCYCLISTS INCLUDING: 2014 2014 2015 2016 2017
250cc Production Champion 300cc Production Champion 250cc Production Champion Lightweight Twins Champion 350cc Superstock Champion
PART OF “GROWING ACCUSTOMED” TO THE CHALLENGING SITUATION IS THE ABILITY TO
IGNORE DISTRACTING FACTORS AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE
IMMEDIATE TASK IN FRONT OF YOU WITHOUT GETTING FRAZZLED. JOHNSON
collection of motorcycle brochures. In the meantime, as a youth, I sublimated my dreams of racing motorcycles by playing competitive soccer, participating in downhill skiing and BMX racing, and later enjoying a short stint at bicycle road racing. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I had an opportunity to pursue my dream of racing motorcycles. In 2003, a year and a half before entering dental school, I was finally able to fulfill my dream. At first, I was hesitant, vacillating about taking the leap for two main reasons. The first reason was the financial cost involved in racing. The second was the risk of possibly ending my dental career through injury before it ever began. While struggling with making this decision to enter racing, my then girlfriend, Jessica, encouraged me with the fateful—if not regretful— words, “You aren’t getting any
younger. If not now, when?” So, with her support, I made my decision, dove into realizing my dream full steam, crashed a lot, learned a lot, met some great people, and had some success. My first year racing, I came in second overall in my class and was awarded Top Novice Racer. As you might imagine, I was hooked! During dental school and most of my residency, I had to put the brakes on my racing. Both money and time were tight, and I needed to focus 100 percent on my professional training. In my last year of residency, I couldn’t resist the track any longer. I built a vintage race bike and started racing on weekends when I wasn’t on call or working on my master’s thesis. Over the past eight years, I have had the opportunity to live my dream of racing motorbikes www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
55
56
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
“
I would be negligent if I didn't bring up the obvious connection between "speed" and achieving success in both pediatric dentistry and racing. You know what I mean and understand well what happens if you've ever taken too long while working on a 3- or 4year-old patient! Winning racers and their teammates spend an inordinate amount of time attending to their machines, making slight adjustments, and looking for even the smallest advantage that will give them an edge and enable them to race faster. The same emphasis on speed is appropriate when treating children in a dental office. Speediness is a key ingredient to successfully treating children. If you can minimize your time working in a child’s mouth, you will usually be successful. I can say with confidence, as my speed has increased, so has my success rate improved with treating children in the chair.
The same principle applies when racing motorcycles—the faster I have become, the more races I win. So, whether on the race track or in the dental office, remember, success comes only with extensive preparation and diligent practice. Now, should we talk about nitrous? www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
57
competitively. I have competed on a variety of different bikes on various tracks around the West, competing against some of the top riders in the nation.
imagined when I first began racing many years ago. With a goal of being successful in both my profession and my hobby, over the years, I have noticed some remarkable commonalities between pediatric dentistry and motorcycle racing. Like the situation faced by a seasoned and prepared racer, a dentist treating a child grows accustomed to dealing with a cacophony of peripheral stimuli and fast-paced motion. Part of “growing accustomed” to the challenging situation is the ability to ignore distracting factors and stay focused on the immediate task in front of you without getting frazzled. Distractors come in various forms, whether it be a screaming child in the dental office or a sudden inside pass by a racing competitor.
I’ve been very fortunate to have received the support of my family as well as generous sponsorship from private sources. This support has allowed me to pursue my goals, perform and compete at my highest level, win races, and gather championships. This measure of success far exceeded what I
JOHNSON CURRENTLY HOLDS THE
AFM 450 PRODUCTION LAP RECORD
AT SONOMA RACEWAY WITH A
Anticipating rather than reacting appears to be another main attribute contributing to successful outcomes in the environments of both racers and pediatric dentists. Both must have a plan while being prepared to alter their line or
TIME OF
1:47.6
change directions at any moment. Always planning one or two steps ahead—planning your escape route in advance when faced with dental contingencies— usually leads to the most successful treatment outcomes. Also, any racer will tell you, “No matter the vehicle, you go the fastest when you are responding the smoothest. So, go gentle and light on the controls and inputs as well as in your body’s movements relative to the motorcycle.” This advice applies whether turning, braking, or accelerating. I find similar advice applies equally when a dentist treats children. Non-erratic, smooth, consistent movements, and a soft touch dealing with all input and stimuli, goes a long way to helping a child experience a fantastic dental visit. I notice other parallels between racing and the practice of dentistry. In running a business, you have to be humble, honest, fair, forthright, and consistent with both staff and customers. You represent the
CORNER #8A
7a
Super fast, 130-mph, right-hand corner where the front end gets light and you get head shake (wobbles).
7
8
CORNER #9
8a
Great overtaking spot. Going into corner 9A requires heavy deceleration from 130 down to ~50 mph.
CORNER #5
5
4a
9a
9
Fast right-hand corner allowing speeds of ~125 mph on a 450.
CORNER #10
This scary turn has a wall about 30 feet from the outside of the fastest part (~115 mph) of the corner.
10
6
4
1 3
CORNER #4
Downhill braking and an offcamber turn-in make this righthand corner quite a struggle for a lot of racers.
CORNER #6
12
The "Carousel" is a fast >180-degree downhill corner with a huge elevation drop. It requires a quick shift into 6th gear at the bottom down the back straight.
3a
11a 11
2 Sonoma CALIFORNIA
58
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
CORNER #2 This corner at Sonoma Raceway is infamous for taking out racers. It's at the top of a fast 120-foot climb into a blind, flat-camber, 90-degree right-hand turn.
CORNER #11
This last turn is a super tight, almost 180degree corner with huge ripples at the apex that can cause even the most seasoned rider to lose front-tire grip and crash.
vendors, and sponsors help you garner support and excel in the race community.
“THERE IS USUALLY ONE FASTEST LINE, BUT
MORE THAN ONE WINNING LINE AROUND EVERY TRACK” A WISE MAN principles and values of your practice in all your actions, both in your office and out in the community. With racing, consistent sportsmanlike behavior and demeanor on and off the track while interacting with fellow racers, track staff, race officials,
Technology in racing is ever changing. If you adopt early and get it right, technological advantages can make all the difference between coming in first or second. Similarly, pediatric dentistry has benefitted from major advances in technology over the last few years that have been game changers. MTA, SDF, digital radiography, and ceramic crowns are the top four advances that have allowed me to offer attractive alternatives or better options to my patients. Embracing new technologies has helped me both to grow my practice and win on the race track. In the beginning of my racing career, a wise and seasoned racer
once told me, “There is usually one fastest line, but more than one winning line around every track.” I remember one of my wise and experienced residency instructors saying something similar about the secret to being successful as a pediatric dentist. Thus, as both a dentist and as a racer, I approach each procedure or race with my well-thought-out and practiced “fastest line,” but always with one or two secondary “winning lines” in my back pocket. Sometimes I try my hardest but still come up short. In either venue, I always feel like a winner as long as I’ve given it my best shot.
Dr. Paul Johnson Pediatric Dentistry of West Sacramento
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
59
60
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
A
GLOBAL CITIZEN LEARNING TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.
}
John & Brenda Hansen’s daughter reflects on her recent medical-mission trip to Ecuador.
}
by ELENA HANSEN
The morning after my college graduation ceremony last spring, I quickly packed T-shirts, scrubs, and a wide array of unfashionable, but comfortable, clothing sprayed with Deet and headed to the San Francisco airport. With little time to process my thoughts or ponder my plans, and with very few expectations, I dove headfirst into my medical mission adventure, traveling with my classmates from the University of California, Davis to Tena, Ecuador. I never fell asleep faster than I did after boarding our plane, and nearly 15 hours of flying time later, we finally arrived at Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. Yet, our traveling was nowhere near being over, for we had to wait for all my classmates’ flights to arrive. Once everyone had arrived, we still faced a four-hour bus ride to our destination in Tena. I settled down on the bus to snooze until we finally arrived at our hotel.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
61
}
}
“AS AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, I WAS FASCINATED BY THE COMPLEX INTERCONNECTION OF CULTURE, POVERTY, HEALTHCARE, AND GOVERNMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURES.”
The only things that awakened me on the trip were the occasional aggressive Amazonian rain pelting the windows and one jolting bump in the road which caused me to topple forward and land head first on the bus floor. I laughed to myself and saved the story to tell my friends the next day. Once we arrived at our hotel, I wearily crawled into my top bunk, never happier to finally be in a bed. Our trip was sponsored by a remarkable organization, MedLife, a movement founded in 2005 by Dr. Nick Ellis. MedLife emphasizes involvement in medicine, education, and development activities with a mission “to build a worldwide movement empowering the poor in their fight for equal access to healthcare, education, and a safe home” and a vision “to eradicate global poverty.”1 MedLife utilizes the skills of students, educators, and healthcare providers to sponsor mobile clinics in Ecuador, Peru, Tanzania, and Nicaragua. Tena, known as the “cinnamon capital,” was the location of choice because of its proximity via a short bus ride to the many communities that line the Napo River, a tributary of the Amazon River. Such nonurban areas of Ecuador have a poverty rate of 70 percent,2 and Ecuadorians in these regions make most of their earnings as farmers during the growing season with a wage equivalent to only US$15–30 per month. At other times of the year, families search for gold along the river banks or work in tourism, activities which earn even a smaller income. Each day our schedules were planned out by the hour. As an anthropologist, I was fascinated by the complex interconnection of culture, poverty, healthcare, and governmental infrastructures. I saw new perspectives each day shedding more light on these issues through firsthand experience working at various stations of our mobile clinic—pharmacy, primary care, OB/GYN, and my personal favorite, the dental clinic. At the pharmacy station, one of the most common prescriptions for children was for antibiotics to rid 62
Sh i f t m ag az in e / Fall 2018
their systems of intestinal parasites, a condition resulting directly from their lack of access to clean water. In OB/GYN, cultural differences were exposed when women in the communities were ashamed to get pap smears because they feared the stigma of it being interpreted as a sign of disloyalty toward their husbands. The dental station was the busiest one of all, as most patients needed extractions due to a lack of knowledge regarding proper dental care as well as a lack of access to dental-care products. To combat this situation, we gave each child a toothbrush and taught them in Spanish how to brush their teeth. This oneon-one instruction time was probably the highlight of my trip. Interacting with these kids showed me that despite any differences, we all had one thing in common, and that was the human connection we all shared. A friend and I invited the kids to play a game and gathered them in a circle. We taught them how to play the game of duck-duck-goose. I will never forget Nayeli who followed me around for the rest of the day. Although she was only a little girl herself, she was big sister to a number of siblings and carried her baby brother around on her hip. One of the biggest lessons MedLife taught me was the importance of mobilizing ourselves so that we can build powerful individual connections and trust within these communities to make a lasting impact on them as well as ourselves.
ECUADOR Population: 16.5 Million Language: Spanish Currency: US dollar Religion: 95% Roman Catholic Land Area: 256,370 square km (roughly the size of Colorado)
Embracing A Journey: Excited to be in Ecuador, Elena stops for a picture at the entrance to a botanical arch made of hibiscus.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
63
O We watched a Ted Talk by Hugh Evans about being a “global citizen,” an individual who identifies first and foremost as a member of the human race before any nation or religious group. This short video summed up everything I felt about humanitarian work. Deep down, I have always had a lingering and unsettling feeling as to why those in poverty had to live life under their poor circumstances while I enjoyed so much abundance just because of where I was born. I never understood why I was given my life with its many opportunities when I just as easily could have been born in their position. In his talk, Evans also questioned why “the ability to live out dreams depends on what Warren Buffet called the ovarian lottery.” 3 According to Evans, poverty is often the direct result of a succession of colonial powers and corrupt organizations whose chief purpose was merely to look after their own interests. Thus, he believes that “community development should be driven by communities themselves, and although charity is necessary, it is not sufficient. ... We need a sustainable movement, not one that is susceptible to the fluctuating moods of a politician or the hint of an economic downturn. And it needs to happen everywhere; otherwise, every individual government would have this built-in excuse mechanism that they couldn't possibly carry the burden of global action alone.”3 By making the action to fight poverty our own individual goal—instead of leaving it up to other
organizations—we can truly make a lasting impact with long-term results. When Evans realized this, he founded the “Global Citizen” movement and planned a music festival with appearances by headliner musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Beyonce, and Coldplay. The ticket required for entrance into the festival was proving your action to qualify as a global citizen. Through personal identification, Evans channeled millions of individual’s short-term excitement to serve into a long-term global passion.3
Some may think, What is the point? What is my small effort going to do to fully eradicate global poverty? I asked this same question until I mobilized myself to serve the communities along the Napo River and realized I had helped nearly 150 individuals every day. That is nearly 400 lives helped just by our small group of 20 students, three doctors, and one dentist. We worked with local governmental representatives to build trust in the communities and not just apply a “band aid” fix. The short Ted Talk video was so powerful to me because it put into words everything I had learned on this trip and how it applies to my life as a human being living in the modern world. Taking a small amount of time out of your life to provide help in person can really make a difference, and connecting with those you serve face-to-face brings an incredible feeling of understanding that cannot be put into words. You may hear about poverty, but something happens when you see it firsthand and are privileged to alleviate someone’s suffering through providing a human connection.
Pausing my life and serving with MedLife was the best thing I have ever done for myself. It opened a door of self-understanding that can never be closed. I truly believe that the people of rural Ecuador helped me just as much as I helped them. They helped me put my life with its associated problems caused by the stress of an advanced, self-serving, fast-paced society into proper perspective.
As a busy student and an aspiring dentist, I get so involved in meeting my daily deadlines that I forget to maintain those personal connections which I saw demonstrated among the people along the Napo River. The people of those rural communities possessed so little yet were happy and engaged with one another and their environment. Mothers as young as 15 and young children carried their siblings in homemade baby carriers.
It did not take long to notice just how close these people are to one another and that they take care of each other. I made a vow to myself not only to continue offering my body and hands to serve communities in need, but to bring some of the connectedness that I observed into my personal life and encourage others to do the same. We went to Tena for the purpose of helping people by providing them with education and healthcare, but I think they actually helped me even more than
I helped them. Having acquired these new perspectives has changed me forever, and I am excited to start my new life as a global citizen. REFERENCES: 1. MedLife. Inequality and Health Care in Peru. http://www.medlifemovement.org. Accessed August 19, 2018. 2. Encyclopedia of the Nations. Ecuador—Poverty and Wealth. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/EcuadorPOVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html. Accessed August 19, 2018. 3. Evans, H. TED: Ideas Worth Spreading. What does it mean to be a citizen of the World? http://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_evens_what_does_it_mean_to_ be_a_citizen_of_the_world. Accessed August 19, 2018.
Top Right: Showing a group of kids in Ecuador the importance of proper dental hygiene. Top left: Helping a young girl brush her teeth. Bottom: Elena and a friend excited to start their first day in the dental clinic.
Opposite, from top to bottom: Teaching some energetic children how to play duck-duck-goose. Getting ready for a line of patients at the pharmacy.
www. sp r ig u sa.co m / Fa l l 2 01 8
65
A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENE True leaders create their own content and that’s exactly what we do at Sprig. So remember, the beautiful pictures of smiling children in our ads are not stock photos, rather they’re all special because they’re all patients wearing EZCrowns.
SPRIG ORAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FORMERLY EZPEDO, INC.
3-year-old Ava, wearing EZCrowns on D, E, F and G.