Tired of the academics, I spent the next two years working on my parents' farm. While I enjoyed the time spent working with my dad, the economic realities of running a small rented dairy farm became very apparent; I was going to keep involved with farming only as an advocation. I wanted a career that allowed me to be self-employed and to work with people, but not have to deal with tragic illness and death. I had a great rapport with my childhood dentists and after a lot of thought I decided to follow their footsteps.
I graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry with a 3.4 average. While in school I was involved in biochemistry and physiology, specifically in developing alternatives for the use of laboratory animals. At Marquette, I helped to develop a cell culture that utilizes slaughterhouse by-products rather than lab mice. It was published in the Archives of Oral Biology and has been well accepted by the academic community. At some point in my career I hope to return to this and complete my Masters.
After dental school, I enlisted in the Air Force. I completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C., then I served in the hospitals at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York. My career in the military was wonderful. I developed very close friends and refined my clinical skills while not being burdened by the personnel and economic chores of running a private practice office.
After the completion of one tour of duty, I was ready to return to civilian life. Since I was unsure of where I wanted to settle, I took a two year associateship in a clinic in York, Pennsylvania. I am grateful for the learning opportunity and the chance to experience a different philosophy of care, and have realized that my desire is to practice in a small community. We purchased this practice in September of 1996 and have been here ever since.
While my wife Linda and I don't have any children, we have a small brown dachshund that is probably as crazy as any dog could be.
