b'One of the great things about being a dentist in the military is that you have the opportunity to explore higher education in a specialty field. I had always loved surgery and periodontics.encompassing basic life support and limb- service commitment to the military, andThen a newly promoted colonel, she flew saving techniques to help wounded or injuredopen a private practice. But then somethingto Hawaii to pick up the remains and bring personnel survive in medical emergencieshappened: I fell in love with the missionthem back for burial at Arlington National until medical help is available. Another of herof serving our nations heroes who raiseCemetery. It was tough going all those responsibilities in Kyrgyzstan was helping totheir right hand and support and defend theyears with my father technically missing oversee the transit center where people passConstitution of the United States, she said.in action and not knowing whether he when entering or leaving Afghanistan.Many of those heroes are around the age myhad ended up in a concentration camp, father was when he was shot down, and itswounded and lost in Laos, or killed in the Its been tremendously rewarding trying toimportant to me that they get the quality ofcrash, and it was important to finally know help communities around the globe in additioncare I would have wanted my father to have. for certain what happened that day in order to keeping our nation safe, she remarked. to get true closure, she said.One of General Bannisters most fulfillingGeneral Bannisters efforts have beenand most difficultassignments was as aPursuing periodonticsrewarded with 21 medals and ribbons,Group Commander at Dover Air Force Base, including the Distinguished Service Medal,One of the great things about being a where she was among a select group ofdentist in the military is that you have the the Legion of Merit, and the Humanitarianofficers who would meet the planes returning Service Medal. opportunity to explore higher education in Americas fallen heroes and preside over thea specialty field, said General Bannister. I Committed to the cause dignified transfer of the heros remains fromhad always loved surgery and periodontics, the arriving aircraft to the awaiting vehicle.so once I decided to make the military a When asked if she had ever dreamed of oneExperiences like seeing the flag drapedcareer, I decided to pursue a periodontal day being a two-star general, she laughed herover the transfer cases, being responsibleresidency and a masters degree from infectious laugh and said, Not even once!for getting those remains identified and backthe University of Texas Health Science Her original plan had been to complete herto the family, and having had a father whoCenter in San Antonio. A few years after Advanced Education in General Dentistrygave his life for his country all remind me ofgraduating, she was brought back to teach (AEGD) residency at Wright-Patterson Airwhy Im here, she said. General Bannistersin the program. I absolutely loved that, Force Base in 1993, fulfill her three-yearfathers remains were not found until 2007.she said.Throughout her Air Force careereven as a two-star generalGeneral Bannister has continued to see patients. Its become more difficult to do that over the years, but its something thats very important to me, she said, adding that being a military dentist has its advantages. In dental school, I hated giving multiple treatment options to my patients knowing they were probably going to have to choose the cheapest option for financial reasons, she said. As a periodontist in the military, I can simply propose what I believe is the best treatment option for the patientand not Continued on page 52AAP Periospectives| 51'