b'ABP Diplomate InterviewWhere were you born and raised?I was born and raised in Madison. My father was a Professor at the University of Wisconsin, and my mother was a public schoolByron Wade, DDSlibrarian. The importance of education was always paramount during my childhood.Where did you attend dental school?staff and residents in the Air Force periodontal residency program. I was hooked on becoming a periodontist!I received my dental degree from Marquette University Dental School in Milwaukee.I was very fortunate to have been awardedWhere/when did you complete your a four-year Health Professions Scholarship from the Air Force andperiodontal residency?graduated debt-free! I completed my three-year residency in periodontics in When did you know that you wanted to pursue a1984 at Wilford Hall Medical Center (WHMC), Lackland periodontal residency?What occurred that madeAFB, Texas. The first year of my program included didactic you decide on this career path? courses in the basic sciences and periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio I began my military career as a general dentist at Lowry AFB(UTHSC-SA).The last two years of my residency were at in Denver.As a new dental officer, I was placed in an informalWHMC where my Program Director was Dr. Bill Hallmon. three-month rotation in each department. My interest in specialtyHe was an exceptional mentor who always challenged us in training was inspired during my time with the periodontist, Dr.both the clinic and classroom to articulate the rationale for Sandy Sandoval.I soon immersed myself in patient careour treatment. and loved the challenge of making the periodontal diagnosis, formulating the treatment plan, and performing different typesYour career has ranged from practice in the of surgical procedures. He noticed my enthusiasm for clinicalmilitary and VA settings to academics. Tell us periodontics and invited me to attend continuing educationmore about it.courses with him. I can still vividly remember listening to theAlthough my initial obligation to the Air Force was only four giants of periodontics like Drs. Sig Ramfjord, Bob Schallhorn,years, I soon realized that practicing periodontics in the Bill Hiatt, and Bill Killoy during this two-year assignment.Mymilitary was a perfect fit for me. The ability to focus entirely passion for periodontics was confirmed a year later when Ion providing state-of-the art periodontal treatment to our attended the six-week periodontal short course in San Antonio.service members was very gratifying. I was also able to This comprehensive clinical program was organized by thecontinue my love of teaching with assignments that included AAP Periospectives| 48'