b"COVER STORY school, I discovered the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). This opportunity aligned perfectly with my desire to provide dental care to soldiers and support their readiness for deployments. Captain Gottwald applied for and was fortunate to be awarded the HPSP scholarship, solidifying his commitment to a career in the Army.Several factors influenced Captain Gottwalds decision to pursue dentistry. Growing up, I always enjoyed interactions with my dentist, who not only cared for my teeth but also sparked my interest in dental anatomy by comparing human and animal teeth. Captain Gottwalds passion for science The last time a civilian residency program trained an Army periodontist was 20and health during his college years further drew him to years ago. until now.the field. Additionally, his father's work as a carpenter and plumber instilled in him an appreciation for hands-on work As Colonel Thomas M. Johnson, Army Periodontics Program Director andand the satisfaction of building or repairing things. I saw Periodontics Consultant to the Surgeon General, stated, People are leaving theparallels between his work and dentistry, which involves Army sooner than in the past and many of the more experienced service membersprecision and manual dexterity. Finally, shadowing both are retiring. More periodontists are needed to fill the gap. That need exceeds thephysicians and dentists in college, Captain Gottwald shared capacity of the Army Periodontics Program. To remedy this, the Army has partneredhow he noticed that dentists consistently expressed strong with two civilian periodontics residency programs.enthusiasm for their profession, whereas the physicians Having service members train in civilian programs can result in new knowledgehe shadowed often had mixed feelings about their career shared with the Armys program. Two Army officers were accepted for this excitingchoice. This positive advocacy from dentists solidified his opportunity Captain Drew Gottwald and Captain Khalid Shafie. Captain Gottwalddecision to enter the field.will train at the University of Louisville (UofL) and Captain Shafie will train at AugustaCaptain Gottwald refers to his journey to periodontology University (AU).as unexpected. During his second year of dental school, From a young age, Captain Drew Gottwald felt a strong calling to serve in the armedhe realized he wasn't enthusiastic about becoming a forces. Initially, I received an ROTC Air Force scholarship during high school, butgeneral dentist. I was much more drawn to the systemic I decided it wasn't the right time to pursue that path. Later, when I entered dentalhealth courses than to prosthodontics and restorative dentistry. Additionally, my interest in anesthesiology, Knowledge influenced by my brother who is an anesthetist, and my background in biochemistry, made me initially consider Sharing dental anesthesiology. However, his plans changed when he started shadowing Major Megan Bunting, DMD, a periodontist at Fort Drum. Working with her in the surgical suite revealed that periodontology was a perfect blend of Captain Gottwalds interests: surgery, systemic health, and providing moderate IV sedation. He also found periodontic patients to be particularly rewarding, as their treatment often involves significant patient education and a commitment to managing periodontal disease.One of the most valuable lessons Captain Gottwald has learned is the importance of understanding patients' chief complaints and taking the time to educate them. Effective communication often outweighs the technical perfection of a restoration. Its crucial to slow down and genuinely listen to patients to fully grasp their concerns and provide the best care. Additionally, patients vary widely in their oral hygiene knowledge. Educating them on the significance of oral health is essential to fostering their cooperation and6"