You Are the Bright Light of DOS! – Chelsey Banaskavich, Program Coordinator, Donated Orthodontic Services

What did you take for granted that are now priorities?

Inman: High quality WiFi service is a priority.

Savage: I learned to prioritize spending time with family and good friends. I also miss hanging out with the SAO Executive Committee.

“I took online ukulele lessons, followed by online mandolin lessons. As a pilot, I took simulator courses for citation Jet and also for Twin. We enjoyed lots of hot tub time as well as time on boats spent safely distancing with family. Lastly, time spent with our grandchild, shooting at the gun range, and most important - Bourbon.” – Dr Anthony Savage

Do you have any funny COVID stories to share?

Stull: During shutdown, prior to laying off my team, the only thing that made me happy was clearing the woods around my house. Using my chainsaw (only bushes, vines, and small trees were at risk) and burning the results. I had some massive fires and became the talk of my neighborhood. I don’t think it takes a therapist to interpret how I feel about loss of control.

Rigsby: Gloria (wife) became my backporch barber. She kept telling me to trust her. When I was able to see my bona fide barber, he related that Gloria is good at many things, but cutting hair is not one of them.

How are you coping since the outbreak? What do you miss the most from the pre-COVID world?

Savage: I miss flying off on 4-day weekends with family and friends as well as Flying Dentists flights 4-5 times per year when COVID numbers did not have to be checked. I really miss traveling.

Rigsby: I miss being able to visit with colleagues in person, especially our SAO friends.

What is the most important advice you can give to orthodontists struggling with the pandemic?

Stull: Get online and do continuing education! Learn about new technologies like Dental Monitoring. This has been a great tool to offer patients that do not want to come into the office as often.

Stull: The chainsaw is in retirement and I am coping well with my new normal. However, I hope we can get back to the pre-COVID normal one day! Inman: I am staying in the routine of working Monday through Thursday and enjoying family time Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I am concentrating on worrying only about the things that I can affect.

Inman: Reach out to your friends and colleagues if only to commiserate. We are all in this together.

Did COVID-19 change how you foresee your career?

Inman: COVID revitalized my love for treating patients and for running a successful, growing practice.

Stull: COVID made me realize that I was tired of being a single doctor practice. So, I decided to affiliate with Smile Doctors! It has been a very positive change due to the HR support, systems support, and patient care.

What good life lessons did COVID teach you?

Savage: Don’t let others around you define the situation for you. Develop your own view. Never ever give up, always captain the ship, fly the plane into the weeds if you have to, but land softly to be able to go on for another day and another and another...

Rigsby: I think above all, the COVID shutdown taught us all to be patient. No matter what happens, it is good to stop and count our blessings and be thankful for our profession.

“I miss live concerts, parties, face-to-face meetings, hugs, and handshakes. Most of all I miss ‘normal’ for our children! I ache for their loss of a normal school experience.” – Dr Jeri Stull

You Are the Bright Light of DOS!

Chelsey Banaskavich

Program Coordinator, Donated Orthodontic Services

Good news spreads like a morning light across a landscape. When one family finds something good, word spreads

far and wide. And when the good news is the life-changing work of our specialist volunteers through Donated Orthodontic Services (DOS), the light is especially bright! Our American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) members

across the country that are volunteering with DOS are

currently changing the lives of 225 children who are receiving

Orthodontic treatment. We celebrate all the work being done nationwide, with a special spotlight on one of our most prolific regions. Of our country’s eight regions, members of the Southern Association of Orthodontists (SAO) are providing care for 49 of the country’s children in active treatment (22 percent).