Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2023 - 33

People in Orthodontics
Portrait of a Professional
A Nontraditional Path
Dr. Patricia Beals
Phoenix, AZ
Dr. Patricia Beals is a cleft and craniofacial orthodontist
in Phoenix, Arizona. She has dedicated her
career to building the orthodontic component of
the largest center for cleft and craniofacial care in
the state. Formerly the Barrow Cleft and Craniofacial
Center, the program has most recently integrated
into Phoenix Children's Hospital and is now called
the Phoenix Children's Center for Cleft and Craniofacial
Care (PC5). Dr. Preston and Dr. Beals work together
as partners at PC5, and Dr. Preston is proud
to share this story, in Dr. Beal's own words.
Dr. Kathryn Preston
Phoeniz, AZ
PCSO Bulletin Section Editor
I was a classic mid-century, middle child, born
into a blue collar town in Pennsylvania. I was the
peacekeeper, the people pleaser, the flexible one.
My mother was a very hard worker who started in
the typing pool but went on to be a very successful
administrator. Because of this, I learned to value
hard work, but I did not grow up in a family where
academic achievement was encouraged. There
were more important social dynamics that occupied
most of my time and energy. At least in part,
because of this, I did not attend college seriously
until I was 27 years of age.
There were no health care providers in my family
of origin. I became interested in medicine, and
later dentistry, when I was expecting both of my
children. The process was daunting, beginning
with a college experience that spanned seven
years. I graduated from Muhlenberg College in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, worked for a year in
health care, and then began the long commute to
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to attend the University
of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and
later Temple Dental School for my orthodontic
residency.
My educational path would be considered nontraditional.
At least it was at the time. Today, furthering
one's education in adulthood is quite common, but
in the early 1990s, it was unusual. I was the oldest
in my class, the only student who started school as
a parent, and I had the longest commute-three
hours per day. I chose dentistry over medicine
because of my concern that I could not manage
the call schedule and other evening responsibilities
that becoming a physician involved.
My career path was also nontraditional. I loved
school, and the thought of it concluding played
into what was a series of choices, made at critical
times that led me to craniofacial orthodontics. In
my junior year, I decided that I was not well suited
to the solitude of general dentistry. I applied to orthodontic
residencies and was accepted to Temple
University, where I continued my commute. Near
the end of my residency, I was growing apprehensive
with the private practice model, fearing
the daily absence of the community of peers and
mentors that I had come to enjoy and rely on. In my
last semester, I rotated through the Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia Facial Reconstruction Center,
where I eventually started my career. The delivery
of care to patients and families affected by cleft and
other conditions of facial difference spoke to me.
Standard-of-care treatment involves a team of professionals,
all with different training, all focused on
a plan of care that is efficient, effective, and holistic.
I have often said that I was called to this profession
Dr. Patricia and Dr. Stephen Beals in Mackinac Island
(July 2021)
Spring 2023 PCSO Bulletin
33
Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin Spring 2023

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