relationships and commitment to a common cause, building a sense of participating in something larger than yourself. These are all huge benefits to involvement that give back to you while you give to the project. Organized dentistry is a great way to do that, and I would highly encourage anyone to reach out to their local component to ask how they can get started in making a difference in our community.
You currently are enrolled in the Leadership Institute through the Kellogg School of management with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Tell us about this experience. What are you learning? What has surprised you? How are you applying it to your practice and personal life? This has truly been a transformative experience. As dentists we are highly trained to be detail and task oriented which sometimes leaves us vulnerable to miss the bigger picture. The AAPD’s commitment to its members and leadership development is really special and I am thankful to have the opportunity to learn at a world- renowned institution like Kellogg. I think the biggest surprise is how engaged I was throughout the first session. I can honestly say over the course of three days of lectures for eight hours a day, I didn’t check my phone one time out of boredom. The level of teaching excellence and experience was astounding! While this question could fill multiple articles, there are a few main points that come to mind through the first year of the program. First, building culture is Leader Business. If you are a leader in your organization (hint, we all are), then it is our job to build the culture we want. Want a culture that prioritizes empathy? Learn how to show empathy to your team. Want a culture that is gritty and tenacious? Lead from the front and show your team what that looks like. Learning this lesson from a former U.S. Army Brigadier General was a real treat. Second, empathy is everything. Whether you are trying to connect to your patients, your team, or maybe even your family, that connection will go nowhere if they don’t believe that you are both with them and for them. Empathy builds trust, trust builds shared purpose, and shared purpose builds culture. In no time, you are on your way to really changing things in your sphere of influence.
Of all your current activities right now — dental, civic, personal — is there something you are particularly excited about being part of? I remember listening to Frank Abignale from “Catch Me If You Can” fame speak at a conference. He concluded with a question for each of us. “If you could be a really great parent, a really great spouse, and a really great dentist, as in truly great, invested and excellent, would there even be time for anything else?” I think about that talk all the time. Some days it feels like you are hitting on all cylinders, and other days you just can’t wait to go to bed to get a fresh start tomorrow. In the end, for me, I am excited by all of it. To be a great dad, husband and dentist, these are the callings of my life and I am thrilled to be a part of them all.
Tell us about yourself outside of dentistry … family, hobbies, favorite way to spend free time, what recharges you outside the work of your practice? I have a wonderful family, and nothing I do could be done without them. My wife, Erin, is a dental powerhouse in her own rite and serves on faculty at UMKC as well as in a myriad of volunteer leadership roles. She helps me think and recharge. Our two kids, Calvin (6) and Addison (4) are the joy of my life. Having the opportunity to share in their day at the end of my own is definitely something that gives me energy. Personally, I love to play golf, read and travel, preferably all three at the same time!
Distinguished
Service Dr. Rolfe McCoy
This award is presented to a member with a long history of exemplary service and dedication to the dental profession and organized dentistry.
M
ost recently, Dr. McCoy is acknowledged for his tireless commitment to the development of the curriculum and clini- cal testing for the Oral Preventive Assistant pilot program,
which seeks to study the effectiveness of a new type of Expanded Function Dental Assistant to increase access to preventive care. He and a team of other volunteer dentists have helped develop the online curriculum and the content of the clinical skills training and testing of students as well as the training processes for EFDA course trainers. Dr. McCoy has been a lead trainer for all MDA EFDA courses since 2006.
This recent work adds to the body of Dr. McCoy’s volunteer and leadership roles over the years. Within the Northwest Dental Society, a local component of the MDA, he has served as president and trustee to the MDA Board. He has been a delegate to the ADA House of Delegates and served on various state committees. In the larger dental community, Dr. McCoy served on the Missouri Dental Board for 10 years, which included two terms as president. He has been a mentor for many dentists throughout the state, including dental students. He formerly was a UMKC School of Dentistry Adjunct Faculty member and rotated students through his practice from 2000 to 2014. Also, Dr. McCoy has been an examiner with one or more regional dental examination boards since 1999.
His community service includes the local YMCA board, Boy Scouts, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Knights of Columbus and Chillicothe Board of Public Works. In early 2023, Dr. McCoy began working with the Dominican Republic Mission of the Orlando Diocese to start a dental clinic in Padres Las Cacas. After physically laying pipe to extend community water lines, and eventually flying down dental equip- ment and supplies over several trips, the clinic saw its first patients in November 2023, with Dr. McCoy as one of the dental providers.
Dr. McCoy resides in Chillicothe with his wife, Julie, and is a second- generation dentist who first practiced with his father, Dr. Chad McCoy. He now practices with his daughter, Dr. Emily Mattingly and son-in- law, Dr. David Mattingly, as well as four other dentists. The family practice — McCoy Samples Mattingly — celebrated its 70th anniver- sary this June.
The Distinguished Service Award is typically given to dentists trending toward the end of their dental career and volunteer service. You have slowed down in your practice days but seem to be getting your second wind volunteering! What keeps you motivated? Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life!” I wholeheartedly believe in this sentiment, especially considering my hobby aligns with my profession; I feel doubly blessed. At this stage
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
