{ association insights } by Tom Stone, DDS • MDA President
Dr. Tom Stone Installed as 153rd MDA President
T
he MDA congratulates Dr. Tom Stone who was installed as the 153rd MDA President at the House of Delegates in early
November. Dr. Stone resides in Springfield and has a general dental practice there. He is a 1990 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry and has been an active ADA, MDA and the Greater Springfield Dental Society member for more than 30 years (including four years as a dental student member).
Volunteer positions in organized dentistry have included (MDA) Speaker of the House of Delegates (2014-18); Trustee (2007- 10), Amalgam Best Management Practice Committee Chair and a Delegate/Alternate Delegate; and Washington Leadership Con- ference Action Team Leader. (Greater Spring- field) President; Board Member; Foundation President; CE Committee Member; and, Scholarship Committee Member. Dr. Stone is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy; American College of Dentists; and, the International College of Dentists. Other pro- fessional/civic involvement include Ronald McDonald Tooth Truck (Board Member and Chairman; Tooth Truck Tailgate Fundraiser Chair); Missions of Mercy (Clinical Rout- ing Lead 2011, 2013-2014); Donated Dental Services Program (participant and committee member).
As is tradition, Dr. Stone has answered a set of interview questions to help you get to know him better. Contact him with any questions, suggestions or concerns at president@modental.org.
Please give biographical overview—tell us about where you grew up, went to school, live now, family, etc. I was born in Spring- field, went to school at Greenwood High
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father-in-law was a pediatrician. He taught me how to be a professional. He lived with us the last few months of his life and the best gift he modeled was his advice to “love exces- sively while you are here.”
School and onto Missouri State University. I met my wife, Rachel, while working at Baskin Robbins as a high school job. I taught her everything she knows about scooping ice cream! We live on land that my great grandfather owned. My office is three min- utes away, and as a result, I have the privilege of taking care of the people who raised me. Rachel and I have three children: Andrew is a part-time lecturer at University of Texas School of Architecture and also works for a firm in Austin. William is a Director of Photography in Los Angeles. Sarah is in her third year at Duke Divinity School. Rachel recently started a new job as an associate pas- tor at Campbell United Methodist Church in Springfield.
Tell us about a person who has greatly in- fluenced your life or has been a role model. There are two people I consider particular role models who greatly influenced my life. My dad, Robert Stone, and my father-in-law, Robert Zahn. My dad taught me to respect others, to love and provide for my family. I watched him work tirelessly to provide for our family. I also saw him take risks, change careers and start endeavors. He lives next door and I’m still learning from him. My
What motivated you to decide on a career in dentistry—what was your path? My experiences with dentistry were shaped by my interactions with my general dentist, Dr. Kent Compton. He was kind, empathetic and wanted the best treatment for me. When people started asking me during the last two years of high school what career I wanted, I started thinking about the ability to care for others and the kindness he had shown to me. I also love science and art, and dentistry fit those areas. The cool thing, looking back now, is how much impact he had on my life, probably without even knowing it.
What is the best advice you’ve been given related to your dental career? By far the best advice I received was to get involved in organized dentistry. At an early point in my career, I had an opportunity to go as an Action Team Leader to Washington, D.C. I enjoyed interacting with legislators and helping them understand our patients, how dentistry works and how their laws affect both. I took pride in serving in that role, and it allowed me to start interacting at the local level as I reported back to our society. From there I was hooked. So, along a path of involvement I went. We need to remember as members to ask others along the way to join us and to include them in our journey. The involvement with other professionals is prob- ably one of the most important things you can do to stretch your professional growth and satisfaction of what we do as dentists. I have met people all over the state and made lifetime friends. I highly recommend
