Did you have an ‘a ha’ moment in dental school — perhaps a difficult concept became clear, or you felt reassured about your decision to become a dentist? Not really; I had always liked working with my hands. It honestly came pretty naturally for me.
Is there a specific achievement in your dental career that you are most proud? Along those same lines, was there an experience that really pushed you to stretch yourself? Perhaps some- thing you were not looking forward to doing, which surprised you in the end? To date, probably the biggest honor I have received was the ADA 10 Under 10 Award the first year the award was created. For the past 15 years, I have been working toward a Masters in the Academy of General Dentistry. First, you have to receive fellowship by completing a required amount of 500 continuing educa- tion hours and pass a test. After fellowship, you have to complete 600 more hours with 400 being participation in specific dental fields. At the time of this interview, I have completed the requirements and will receive the award in July. There are only about 10 MAGD dentists actively practicing in the state of Missouri.
What is the best advice you’ve been given related to your dental career? This is a tough one. I certainly have received a lot of good advice over the years. Probably the most practical is that dentistry is a business, just like any business. If you don’t manage the balance sheet and profit and loss correctly, then you will not be able to do the things that you went to school for because you will be broke. I have taken a lot of time over the years dialing in the financials of our practice based on that advice.
What event in your career has been the most humbling/formative—perhaps something you’re willing to share because of the lesson you learned or the impression it made? One thing I learned early on is that “patients don’t care what you know, until they know that you care”. As a young provider, we want to prove our knowledge to patients. What many of us don’t realize is they assume you know what you are doing. There is no need to give them your resume or describe in detail the procedure planned for them (with few personality type exceptions). Take care of
people, give them the best care you can, be humble, and it will work out.
Why do you want be MDA president? This might sound weird, but I felt somewhat obli- gated. When you are on the board, over time with experience, it distils down to one or two people who are ready every year. You look at each other and decide who is up!
What is something you desire to accomplish during your term as President that you hope will have lasting results beyond your tenure in office? For the past few years as treasurer and president-elect, I have been focused on creat- ing more nondues revenue by optimizing existing MDA revenue streams such as MDIS efficiency and helping revamp the EFDA program. We have made amazing progress in these areas, and I think those changes will positively impact the finances of the MDA for a long time. I hope to show our members the value of membership in many areas, but these particularly.
There are a lot of changes happening in the MDA and ADA. Can you tell us about why these changes are important for growth and what impact you hope they will have for the future of the Association? There are many planned changes. Some of the paths are clearer than others. Many pilot programs and trials are running at this moment at both lev- els. For the future of the ADA and the MDA to be a success, we must demonstrate value to members and potential members. If we fail to do that, we will fail to exist.
How did you first become active in (invited to) organized dentistry? What are the reasons you have stayed involved? I think the MDA does a great job with Food For Thought and other programs in the dental schools. I was familiar with the MDA and MDIS well before I graduated. When I moved back to St. Louis after residency, I was asked to join the newly formed New Dentist Committee. I stayed active in that group until I was no longer a new dentist. Then I was asked to join the MDIS board, then I was appointed Treasurer and here we are. “Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in!” It’s easy to stay involved at the state level. The MDA staff and volunteer dentists are so passionate about the future of dentistry in Missouri, it is hard
to not stay involved when you see that level of dedication.
Of all your current activities — dental, civic, personal — is there something you are particularly excited to be part of? Most of my “free” time is spent at a practice field or in the bleachers for volleyball, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, indoor soccer, outdoor soccer, flag football, band concert or strings concert. So, my activities are having three kids that haven’t decided what they don’t like yet! It’s an exciting time and I enjoy (most of) it.
What is something readers would be surprised to learn about you? I like to try new hobbies, usually technical things where having that “skill” has an intrinsic value. For example, I grew up fishing and I like every type of fish- ing, but in recent years I have focused on fly fishing for its increased technical difficulty. Recently, I started two bee hives because I wasn’t satisfied with the pollination and veg- etable production of my garden. I sometimes take my hobbies to extremes!
Favorite … hobby/past time, food, travel destination, book, movie? I don’t read much, but I do listen to podcasts, audiobooks and MasterClasses.
• Favorite Podcast: Jocko podcast • Favorite MasterClass: Doris Kearns Goodwin, U.S. Presidential History and Leadership
• Favorite audiobook: Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• Favorite Musician: Jason Isbell, listen- ing to a lot of Whiskey Myers, Ryan Bingham, Tyler Childers and the like lately.
• Favorite Movie(s): I am a big fan of ’80s movies. I think the two I enjoyed a ton as a kid that my kids also really enjoy are Ghostbusters and Christmas Vacation. We pretty much watch those from October until Christmas. The Burbs might be my sleeper. I partied with Corey Feldman one night in college, so it makes those movies that much more fun!
Contact Dr. Copeland at
joncopelanddds@gmail.com.
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