b'GPR, AEGD-1, AEGD-2, and Periodontal Residency30-years of teaching residents was only possible because programs. While stationed stateside I also had the pleasureI was a Diplomate. It is also important for promotions and of serving as an Adjunct Professor at three dental schools:provides a special allowance in your salary. Our patients are Virginia Commonwealth University, UTHSC-San Antonioalso more knowledgeable about board certification and will & Southern Illinois. An added benefit of military dentistryinquire about a periodontists qualifications.was the opportunity to live overseas in Japan and Germany where my family traveled extensively throughout the region.You have been an ABP Examiner for many years. This even enabled me to attend a week-long clinicalTell us why you decided to volunteer to become Branemark course in Gothenburg, Sweden where I workedan Examiner?alongside the pioneers of implant surgery. Following myMy 15-years as an ABP Examiner has been the highlight of retirement from the Air Force I started working in the VAmy career. I first became interested in this position while where I was honored to serve our Veterans. talking with one of my mentors, Dr. Tom Waldrop, who had What do you most enjoy about your currentbeen a former Board Director. He encouraged me to consider work as a periodontist? being an Examiner, but I initially questioned whether I was qualified for such a critical position. After much reflection I am now retired but I have always been proud to say thatand self-evaluation, I decided to accept the challenge. My I enjoyed going to work everyday during my career as ayears of teaching residents, giving CE presentations, reading periodontist. It is an amazing specialty that encompassesliterature, and attending professional meetings made me so many interesting facets of care that continue to evolvemore confident that I could perform the duties required for over the years. The classification of periodontal disease hasthis important process. On the philosophical level I felt that undergone three updates during my career. Our knowledgebeing an Examiner was another way for me to contribute to about the etiology of periodontitis has transitioned from justour profession in appreciation for the wonderful career it has simply looking at the amount of plaque to a more complexprovided for me.system with a myriad of factors. The periodontal-systemic connection has created an awareness that we are notWhat is oral exam week like from an Examiners just treating the mouth but the entire patient. The role ofperspective?periodontal regeneration and implants has transformed theAs an Examiner the first oral exam is probably the most way we treat periodontal destruction. It is because of theseintimidating. We meet the day prior to the exam for and many other reasons that I never felt stagnant being apresentations on updates followed by the calibration session. periodontist but instead was energized by each As I scanned the room full of Directors and Examiners it new breakthrough. looked like a meeting of the Whos Who of periodontists! Why did you pursue board certification? Luckily this feeling soon vanished when I experienced the collegial atmosphere, laser focus, and dedication of everyone All my role models and mentors during my career werepresent. All of us appreciated the hard work and preparation board certified. This is quite impressive considering thatby the candidates and wanted to provide them a fair but diplomate status was attained by a very small percentagechallenging exam experience.of AAP members in the early 1980s. The WHMC residency staff were all board certified and board case presentationsWhat does being a Diplomate of the American were an essential segment of our training. The staffBoard of Periodontology mean to you?emphasized that graduation from the residency was not the final step in becoming a periodontist; the true measureBoard certification has been a source of pride for me. It of professionalism was Board Certification. As an AAPdemonstrates that I have been recognized by my specialty for student member, I always attended the Meet the Boardattaining the highest professional standard in periodontics. Breakfast sponsored by the ABP at the annual meetings.However, I realize this is not an endpoint in my professional This opportunity to interact with Board Directors alwaysdevelopment but recognition that I am expected to be a life-stimulated my desire to become a Diplomate. long learner and leader in my profession. How has board certification helped you throughout your career?The military uses board certification as a criteria for assignment to bases with residency programs. My AAP Periospectives| 49'