Journal: What would you do to reverse the decline in the VDA’s “market share”, that is, the percentage of Virginia dentists who are members? Dr. Abbott: As I have said before we as an organization must stop the decline in the market share or we will not be here in the future. Journal: Does your specialty, oral surgery, give you different perspective as President? In what way?
An Interview with:
Dr. Michael Abbott - 2010-2011 VDA President VDA Journal: What would you like to accomplish during your term as VDA President? Dr. Michael Abbott: Prior to July 29th, I would have answered this question with increasing the membership numbers and the market share. Now, my answer would be to rebuild the VDA central office. I believe now that both goals are important to our organization.
“I was about two years old - 1954 - my Mom took the photo at the Heironimus Department Store in Roanoke”
“We always wore white shirts at Our Lady of Nazareth School. I was in the fourth grade and my teacher was Mrs. Mears. I attended the Catholic schools until we moved to the county, and my Mom said it was too far to drive.”
Journal: Who are some of your mentors and role models? Dr. Abbott: Where do you start? I feel that my family dentist and friend Dr. Walter Dickey had a huge influence on my development as a dentist. Of course the many past Presidents of the VDA have been role models for me. And finally, my friend Dr. Terry Dickinson has been instrumental in my development in the VDA.
Journal: Is the debate on health care reform over? What role(s) do you see for organized dentistry in the near future?
Journal: What changes in the VDA do expect between now and, let’s say, 2015?
Dr. Abbott: No, I do see an ongoing process that will be paralyzed by the lobbyists for big business. We, as dentists, need to be proactive and attentive to the proposed changes. Dentistry continues to be an attractive and desirable profession.
Dr. Abbott: I think we as dentists will see some changes in the way we practice that will increase the procedures that we now perform. These changes will positively impact the perceived access to dental care problem.
Journal: Dentists, as businesspersons, are always cost-conscious. Do you have any proposals that would add value to VDA membership?
Journal: One last question – what would you like to be doing five years from now?
Dr. Abbott: I am open to any suggestions that are brought about from our membership committee. One specific incentive that might benefit membership, for example, would be to automatically enter the member in a raffle for a weekend getaway or big screen television. “I was a Cub Scout in ‘62...my ‘den mother’ took the picture.”
Dr. Abbott: Oral surgery is a dental specialty that works closely with the general dentist to provide optimal care to our patients. I feel that being involved give us a different perceptive in which we view the world, but in the end we are all dentists. I am here to listen to problems and help resolve the problems that all of our practices face.
“When I graduated from dental school in ‘78 we attended the ceremony at the Coliseum. The dental school graduation was held at a Baptist church in Richmond. My Dad is with me in this picture.”
Dr. Abbott: Hopefully, I will be able to continue the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery and stay active in the many aspects of organized dentistry. Top left photo caption: “We celebrated our 25th anniversary (and my 50th birthday) at the Greenbrier. (Clockwise) next to me is my wife Carol, my son Tom, and daughters Kelly and Katie. We’ve been there often.”
“The family went with me to an air show at the Roanoke airport...this is the tail end of a B-17 that landed. Dr. Scott Anderson, who’s now a pedodontist, took this photo.”
Volume 87, Number 4 • October, November & December 2010
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