Category: Opinion & Editorial

Approximately 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck the earth, triggering a mass extinction that killed off the dinosaurs and some 75% of all species. Marking the end of the Cretaceous period, it was a life-altering event! Somehow, mammals survived and thrived in the new landscape, becoming dominant across the planet. Paleontologists ... [continue reading]

When I first started this leadership journey in dentistry several years ago, I relied on the sage advice of mentors before me. Though I had certain identifiers … female, endodontist, mother, married and ahem … Canadian (lol), I was told to not make it about being female or a specialist or a minority. To have impact in this domain, I needed to ... [continue reading]

Happy 2022! Resolutions are generally associated with the New Year ... those pledges you make to yourself to do (or not do) something starting January 1. They are often things like exercise more, eat healthier, read some good books, learn a new skill, do something on your “bucket list” … a decision to make some change and aspiration to stick ... [continue reading]

I was relaxing in the courtyard outside of new Postle Hall at Ohio State. It was a warm fall afternoon and I had decided to eat my lunch out on one of the park benches. Sitting in the sun, I must have dozed off … It was a quiet cough, really just an “Ah-Hem” that drew my attention. He had politely roused me from my nap. I squinted in the ... [continue reading]

Dear Dr. Commarato, While I do not have the space nor the inclination to address every issue in your letter I find troubling, I feel there are several assertions you make that warrant a response. In your letter you mention the word “science,” or some version of it, 11 times. Yet nowhere in the text do you site any actual sources to ... [continue reading]

WARNING, LONG RANT COMING!! So I just got an email from a local medical center’s foundation. It asked for a gift to support their nurses. Nurses are certainly among the most over-worked and under-appreciated health care workers out there. Hospitals are under-staffed as COVID continues to fill beds and nurses are sick or afraid to work. I don’t ... [continue reading]

The ODA Leadership Institute is a great way for Ohio Dental Association member dentists to hear about the latest information related to dentistry from experts in the field, get some free CE, and enjoy some fellowship with dental colleagues. What? The ODA Leadership Institute is a two day in-person event that will feature informative sessions ... [continue reading]

Welcome to 2022! A chance to turn the page and try to start anew. But how to begin? My suggestion is to start with something simple. I’m recommending a new motto for 2022. “Use Your Best Judgement” or “UYBJ.” Business guru Seth Godin wrote recently advocating for this idea. I’m in agreement with him! There are no guarantees in life. ... [continue reading]

(This column isn’t about dentistry, or COVID-19, as I think we all need a break!) Having lived in Ohio for over 30 years, a number of driving-related observations have perplexed me and may be unique to Ohio. My mother was born and raised in Cleveland, so understanding some of these ought to be instinctive, but explanations still escape me! My ... [continue reading]

“Why join organized dentistry?” It’s a question I have heard many times during my short time in practice. Usually asked by an enthusiastic new graduate wondering how to get involved or a more cynical seasoned doc really asking “why spend the money?” My answer always centered on the community organized dentistry offered with a brief ... [continue reading]