Captain Mike Kahn
CPT Kahn and I established a close relationship out of the gate.
Colonel Maddox had to ensure his newest dental officer was clinically sound.
Unknown to me at the time, COL Maddox had a favorable view of UT-trained dental officers he had encountered over his twenty year career.
Nevertheless, right out of dental school...
I had confidence in my abilities in that regard, but COL Maddox threw me a curve ball:
After four years of dental school and all my treatment being rendered from the right side of the dental chair, I was now about to switch to the left side.
CPT Kahn's chair was assigned to me as he was about to start his annual 30 day leave.
Mike wished me luck in this most remarkable task - mirroring of patient treatment delivery from the right side...
Martha, I couldn't help thinking of those stereoisomers...
Muscle memory be damned; let's create more...
God, again, to the rescue. There was a surprisingly easy transition to this new position.
I was, however, quite thankful that, after a month, COL Maddox assigned me to 'team' status.
And I was assigned two brand new dental assistants who are such an integral part of the dental team.
One of those assistants was Dottie Murray, transplanted from Massachusetts.
Or should I say 'saved' from Massachusetts?
A good friend as well as a highly talented dental assistant, Dottie truly made dentistry even more enjoyable that it already was...
Our team DTA was Kathy; I would provide anesthesia, move to a second patient I had previously anesthetized and was ready for treatment. After my operative procedures were accomplished, Kathy would place the restorations; I cycled back to the other patient who was now comfortably numb.
I know, Martha - Pink Floyd...
After completion of the operative procedures on that patient, I would evaluate the just-completed work of my very talented DTA.
Kathy did beautiful work...