Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Winter 2023 - 75

My Style
president. An opening on the PSCO board gave me
the opportunity to engage with exceptional leaders
throughout the region. Currently, I am the Southern
Association of Orthodontists (SAO) representative for
the AAO Foundation (AAOF) and liaison for the AAO
Planning and Awards Review Committee (PARC).
These have been fabulous opportunities for me to get
to know more leaders and great people involved in
SAO and AAO and residents from across the country.
My personal and professional life has been enriched
by each of these experiences. I encourage new and
younger members to get involved and maintain the
enviable position we hold as professionals and to be
prepared for changes we most certainly will face.
JP: As a seasoned practitioner of both pediatric
dentistry and orthodontics, you have chosen to spend
the twilight of your career in academics. How was this
transition?
WC: At the time of my graduation, few full-time
academic positions were available, although my
dream to teach never died. While in private practice
I volunteered weekly to teach University of Southern
California pediatric residents and helped prepared
UCLA orthodontic residents for the ABO exam. Winding
down my clinical practice, I felt teaching would
not be as physically tasking. As long as my brain could
take in new concepts, my hands and back still worked
well, my " give back " would be through teaching. I
looked for an opportunity to combine my pediatric
and orthodontic skills, to treat special needs and
craniofacial patients, and to fulfill my commitment
to serve marginalized communities. The University of
Tennessee in Memphis (UT) fit my criteria.
My first class was a weekly two-hour predoctoral
Growth and Development course. Armed with a few
slides and the Commission on Dental Accreditation
course objectives I dove in. After decades in clinical
practice where the days are fast paced, the work is
physically active, and I always felt productive at the
end of the day, I found myself mostly sedentary,
scouring texts and the internet to put together a
cohesive lecture. Each two-hour lecture took 60 hours
of preparation. The UT Teaching and Learning Center
was valuable for providing resources and training in
this new high-tech environment. Teaching clinical
skills to residents was much easier because in private
practice we often trained new clinical staff in the
basics of patient care. Chairside in private practice,
you direct your assistants. As a clinical instructor I was
forced to slow down and guide residents through
the decision-making process. Teaching forces me to
articulate not just the how but the why or why not of
clinical choices.
I have an obligation for research as well. The director
of research in our department has been generous in
inviting collaboration in his area of expertise regarding
sutural loading with rapid palatal expansion. I'm
working with residents to develop research projects
involving 3D printing of brackets and testing adhesives.
My clinical experience has helped me direct
research to problems we face in the clinic.
My pediatric credentials created an opening to gain
hospital privileges; thus, I became the first person in the
department to have access to newborn cleft palate patients
to take impressions for nasoalveolar molding. My
dual training is a tremendous benefit in the Craniofacial
Anomalies Clinic, allowing me to collaborate effectively
with the team for the benefit of our patients.
The orthodontic department at UT is well respected
within the College of Dentistry and is a leader
in adopting new technologies such as cone-beam
computed tomography, scanning, and 3D printing.
COVID-19 brought new challenges, and I developed
the personal protective equipment protocols for the
department and implemented virtual visits when clinic
time was restricted. Our department promotes collaboration
with other specialties, such as periodontics,
prosthodontics, oral surgery, and pediatrics, to better
coordinate care in these complex cases. I'm able to
share my real-life practice management experience
with residents exploring options upon graduation.
In reflecting for this article, I am grateful to share my
story. What a rich and interesting career I have had. I'm
thankful for the encouragement and opportunities
afforded me. While shepherding the next generation
of orthodontists, I am inspired by their intelligence
and enthusiasm.
Winter 2023 PCSO Bulletin
75
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Winter 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Winter 2023
