First and foremost, I am honored that my peers think I am someone who is worthy to lead the society in a few years. I am surrounded by an amazing executive board who have all accom- plished amazing things; Dr. Emily Hahn is our current president, and I could wax poetic about all that she has accomplished. Dr. Elizabeth Fassler and Dr. Sable Muntean are also amazing minds to be in league with. What’s kept me involved this long is just be- ing around people who are passionate about making the profes- sion better. My biggest challenge will honestly be to uphold all the work that has been done before me and fi nd my way to add to it. A big area of focus for me over the last few years is how we can get more new dentists involved and how do we keep them involved after the new dentist period is over. I hope I can make a stride in this leading up to and during my presidency.
Life balance, wellness and connection are high values among cur- rent new dentists. Do you think organized dentistry can help in those areas? Life can be stressful in the early career stage. What ad- vice would you give to new dentists who are trying to improve their clinical skills, make their budget work, maintain a well-rounded social life and pursue other career and family goals?
The tripartite over the last few years has been coming out with resources to help in these aspects so, I defi nitely think this is a great place to start. Personally, I would get to know the newer dentists around you. I am so lucky to have made friends with other dentists around me that I didn’t go to school with; they have become people I refer to, ask for help about diff erent cases and more importantly, they have become my friends who I can celebrate both professional and personal milestones with. I’ve also found myself dabbling into a plethora of hobbies. It takes time but things do work out. I know it’s easy to get bogged down in the details initially because it is so overwhelming, but I look back and what I’ve worried about from being fresh out, to fi ve years out and now coming up on 10 years out, changes. I promise the balance will come with time and as someone that was voted “most likely to need a Xanax”, freshly graduated me would not believe current me is saying this.
Of all your current activities—dental, civic, personal—is there something you are particularly excited about being a part of?
I think I am really excited to see where my next two big leadership roles take me. I am the Council on Scientifi c Sessions Chair for 2028 and GSLDS President in 2029. I am really looking forward to COSS Chair since I’m essentially gathering ideas for our Mid- Continent Dental Congress starting now. Dr. Sable Muntean has done a spectacular job for this year, and I hope I can plan some- thing in leagues with her. The big personal goal I’ve set for myself is I would like to run another marathon at some point, so that is something I have on an adjacent burner, I just need to fi nd some time to make it happen.
Tell us about yourself outside of dentistry … family, hobbies, favor- ite way to spend free time, what recharges you outside of dentistry?
What’s the phrase, jack of all trades, master of none? I am a big
fan of projects and fi nding new hobbies and often have many going at once. Currently, I am in the process of making a French beaded fl oral bouquet; so far, it has not ended in a trainwreck. I love going on walks and being outside. On the fl ip side, you can also fi nd me attached to my kindle. Traveling and getting away always recharges me.
Distinguished Service Award Dr. Travis Shearer
This award is presented to a member with a long history of exemplary service and dedication to the dental profession and organized dentistry. This commitment and dedication are refl ected in Dr. Shearer’s 31 years of membership and broad record of service, most signifi cantly in public health dentistry.
D
r. Shearer has demonstrated lifelong dedication to the dental profession through more than three decades of public health practice focused on access, prevention and
clinical excellence. From being named one of only six nationwide recipients of a National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship early in his career to later receiving the NHSC Dentist of the Year Award, his career refl ects sustained professional commitment. He has served as Dental Director across multiple community health systems, delivering comprehensive care to underserved popula- tions while advancing prevention-focused models of oral health.
His distinguished service is not only marked by longevity, but by consistency of purpose. He embraced public health dentistry well before it carried signifi cant professional prestige or competitive compensation and remained committed to it throughout his ca- reer. His leadership refl ects the rare combination of clinical skill, administrative competence and moral clarity. He has built lasting systems, mentored professionals who carry his values forward and improved oral health outcomes on a community scale—precisely the type of legacy this award exists to honor.
Dr. Shearer founded and led a pediatric-exclusive dental clinic at Southern Missouri Community Health Center in West Plains, serving rural Missouri children for more than 20 years. While in this role, he mentored young dentists and emerging community health center leaders throughout Missouri and provided leader- ship as a governor-appointed member of the Missouri HealthNet Oversight Committee to infl uence statewide dental access and delivery. Prior to practicing in Missouri, he was Dental Direc- tor within Indian Health Service facilities on reservation land in Minnesota.
He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center-College of Dentistry in
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