Member Spotlight: Dr. Robert A. Carmichael - Reprinted from January/February 2022 Newsletter

When I walked into Dr. Carmichael’s dentist’s office, I was immediately aware of the fun, friendly atmosphere that can make clients and visitors feel at home.  I was greeted warmly by the office manager, Janet, who gave me a walk through the office that Dr. Carmichael decorated with a nautical theme. His collection of antique and historical dentist equipment includes electric toothbrushes from far back as the 1940s, bottle openers, a pump drill, and antique dental furniture, including a 1928 dental X-ray machine that was used before the dangers of radiation were known.

Dr. Carmichael is the third dentist to take over his practice. The first dentist was Dr. York and he was followed by Dr. Tye. The original Lane County Dental Society started in 1913 with 12 dentists, including Dr. York. Dr. Tye joined Dr. York’s practice and became a society member in 1919. This was the same year every member of the society pledged to take care of one indigent child every month.  These members would also volunteer their services at the Elk’s Dental Clinic and later at the Woman’s League Dental Clinic.

Before joining the practice in 1968, Dr. Carmichael served in Vietnam working in a forward area dental tent. While I was at his office, he let me examine a piece of shrapnel from a Russian rocket that hit his tent, as well as a picture of the crater outside the tent where the rocket hit. 

Dr. Carmichael said the biggest change during his time in dentistry is that dentists used to stand to work on patients and they only had one dental assistant who did a number of jobs in the office.  Today, each dentist can sit while they work on their patients and they need several staff members to run their office.

One of the biggest honors Dr. Carmichael received in his career was when he was awarded the Lane County Glen Purdy Distinguished Dentist Award, which honors one’s dental career as well as service to the community.  Dr. Carmichael served as LCDS’ president in 1985. When he does finally retire, he will continue to do volunteer work. 

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Member Spotlight: Dr. Peter Snyder DDS - reprinted from March/April 2022 LCDS Newsletter

Dr. Snyder grew up in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from Wilson High School in Portland, he studied biology at the University of Oregon. After which, he graduated from Creighton Dental School in 1984. Dr. Snyder had the opportunity to practice on Hawaii’s Big Island in Kealakekua and Kona. His wife spent part of her childhood on the big island, making the opportunity appealing. While there, Dr. Snyder ran his first marathon, joined a paddle team, and climbed Mauna Loa. During the family’s time in Hawaii, they enjoyed the aloha spirit and the love and kindness of the island people. Dr. Snyder and his family still go visit often, using the island to reboot from their busy lives on the mainland. 

After practicing in Hawaii, Dr. Snyder moved his family to the Eugene area for career opportunities for himself and his wife. Although work-life balance can prove challenging, Dr. Snyder makes sure to enjoy his family including his two daughters and two beagles, as well as attend Duck and Churchill Lancer events. He especially enjoys watching his daughter play soccer. For fun, Dr. Snyder continues to hike, run, and travel. 

Dr. Snyder has now practiced dentistry for 28 years and offers this advice to new dentists, “Be diligent and patient. With hard work, challenging yourself with CE, and time refining your skills, the rewards will come.” He also stresses the importance for new dentists to network with other dentists, seeking their support and mentorship, “We as dentists seem to go out into the working world on our own ‘little islands’ and that can stunt our growth and support for each other. Dentistry is challenging and we need to help each other out.” Dr. Snyder has participated in several study clubs and is currently part of the Gordon Christensen Study Club. Study clubs help dentists collaborate and learn from one another. He is currently interested in digital scanning because it is a great way to deliver cases in a clean and efficient way.

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Dr. Brian Holmes, DMD FAGD, Founder of Spice Isle Smiles - Reprinted from May/June 2022 LCDS Newsletter

 

Dr. Brian Holmes DMD FAGD, Florence dentist, founding member of the student dental care program, and founder and president of Spice Isle Smiles has been in the business of reducing decay in children for many years.  In 2001, Dr. Holmes started a dental outreach program for two schools in Florence and Mapleton, where he performed dental screenings and provided oral hygiene instructions; however, these screenings did not decrease the level of decay.  For this community, there was an 89% rate of decay.  After realizing that more needed to be done, he partnered with Medical Teams International and local service organizations in order to use a mobile dental van. With the van, Dr. Holmes’ team could provide dental restorations, extractions, and sealants. Within nine years of using the mobile clinic, the decay rate dropped to 10% in the participating schools.

Dr. Holmes became the first western trained dentist to work with The Tandana Foundation to provide dental care in rural villages in Ecuador.  In 2012, He started a program in Ecuador utilizing the same methods used by his local mobile clinic in order to provide dental care, train volunteers and Ecuadorian dentists. There was 60% decrease in decay rate over a period of five years for students in this program who were treated annually. 

Dr. Holmes’ experience with the Tandana Foundation inspired him to start Spice Isles Smiles to provide portable dental clinics for three elementary schools in Grenada starting in 2017.  After three years of service of providing annual portable dental clinics with his team and local volunteers, the decay prevalence decreased by 42%. In July 2020, Spice Isle Smiles became an official nonprofit organization. In 2022, Spice Isle Smiles will be adding one more school to their program.  Dr. Holmes is the co-author of the children’s book Sixto the Smiling Starfish. A large portion of the proceeds are donated to Spice Isle Smiles.

Dr. Holmes started his Florence dental practice in 2000 after selling his Idaho practice.  He had previously worked for a corporate dental practice in Grants Pass and as an associate dentist in Gladstone, Oregon.  He was eager to return to Oregon after cold winters in Idaho. Dr. Justin Linton DDS joined Florence Dental Clinic after graduating from University of Maryland’s Dental School in 2008 and is now a full partner in the practice.  Dr. Travis Alcorn DDS joined as an associate dentist in 2020.  

Part of the clinic’s culture includes community service and volunteerism.  Dr. Linton is very involved with the Siuslaw Youth Soccer Program, coaching and serving on its board. Both Dr. Alcorn and Dr. Linton are part of the Kiwanis Club of Florence.  Dr. Holmes is a member of The Florence Rotary.  In 2014, The Oregon Bankers Association honored Florence Dental Clinic with the Community Applause Award. In 2019, Dr. Holmes was awarded Florence’s First Citizen Award but was unable to attend the ceremony because he was providing dental care in Grenada.

Florence Dental Clinic built its new building in 2009 and in 2010 was awarded Outstanding Achievement Design Efficiency in the Dental Office Design Competition.  This award recognition was sponsored by Wells Fargo Practice Finance, Dental Ergonomics, ADA Business Resources, and the American Dental Association. 

When asking Dr. Holmes how other dentists could start giving back to their community, he says, “Find what you are passionate about and do it!” When Dr. Linton arrived in Florence, he found out that there was not a high school soccer team and through the Boys and Girls Club started a youth soccer program.  Now because of these efforts, there is a high school soccer team and the team is now in its second year of having a high school varsity program. Dr. Linton was able to referee the first high school varsity soccer game.

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