GDAction 0913 USING.qxd
9/23/13
8:39 PM
Southwestern District Dr. Greg Morris The Family: I met my wife Megan after returning to Valdosta once I completed my orthodontic training and residency at Vanderbilt. I practiced general dentistry in Valdosta before I made the decision to specialize. We have three sons, Nicholas (4), Andrew (2), and Connor (1 month), who keep us on our toes! We attend Crossroads Baptist Church and enjoy the church family found there. The Practice: I currently practice in Valdosta with long-time partner and mentor Wayne Hester. I opened a satellite office in Waycross in 2003 where I continue to practice, and also operated a satellite practice in Moultrie from 2005 until earlier this year. With the boys coming along in the last few years, I recently sold the Moultrie location to devote more time to my growing family. The Hobbies: Jogging and biking with Megan and the boys around our neighbor-
Page 21
hood provides some key family relaxation. We love boating and wakeboarding at our lake house in Cherry Lake, Florida. I have been fortunate to participate in several pheasant hunting excursions in South Dakota and I also have the opportunity to quail hunt with some dear friends each year in South Georgia. I love college football and Nicholas and I are coaching Andrew on his “GO DAWGS” chant! District Challenge: Our district is spread over a large geographic region. Our district charitable care events require careful consideration and even with the best logistical planning, it is difficult for some of our members to participate. Hosting multiple district patient care events allows more members to get involved in improving access to care in our area. For example, last year we held the Give Kids a Smile program in the western part of the district in Albany and this was balanced by the annual Kingdom Care event held in Waycross. It is also necessary for us to host two legislative events each fall to accommodate our member locations.
District Asset: Without question, the Southwestern District’s strongest asset is and has been our people. We have been blessed to have members such as Mark Ritz, Bill Broadfoot, Ed Green, and Wayne Maris, just to name a few, who have contributed so much to our district as well as the GDA. Ed is still extremely active and has been joined by Jay Phillips and Chris Hasty in filling some key GDA positions. Within our district, I have been involved with a fantastic Executive Committee including Amanda Merritt, Keith Crummey, Bo Broadfoot, and Bonita Richter. Alan Sanders has been a phenomenal organizer during his tenure as Secretary / Treasurer and Larry Black has served admirably as our district’s editor and been a key participant in our EC structure. Steve Sample has been a dedicated Trustee to the GDA and does an outstanding job keeping us involved at the state level. These people, and many others like them, have served as inspiration to me LEADERS Continued on page 22
GDA ACTION SEPTEMBER 2013
21