Dr. Trice enjoying himself at the 2004 Annual session with Dr. Jay Eshleman (left) and former Journal editor Dr. Rich Galeone (center).
Bill spent many years in dental education as well as his
private practice. An expert in electrosurgery, he was on
the faculty as a visiting lecturer at his beloved Pitt as well
as Alabama, Connecticut, Detroit, Emory, Loyola, LSU,
Maryland and West Virginia University. He noted that he
also had the opportunity to travel the world to lecture.
Bill was the coordinator of continuing education for the
University of Pittsburgh’s programs in Erie for many years.
He served in the Department of Dentistry at Hamot
Medical Center for over 30 years.
procedure back in Hawaii. Bill made it a point to tell me
that so many years later that man joined the Trices for
Bill’s presidential party at the conclusion of his term as
PDA president. That had to be something special.
Asked if there was anything he would do differently,
he told me he would do it exactly the same. He said
he feels like he has been the luckiest guy.
I was interested to know what changes he had seen
in his over 60 years practicing dentistry. He immediately
said it was a change in the image of a dentist. He believes
that the profession has moved further than any other
from a trade to a healer. We are now part of the “medical
puzzle” and there has been a change in perception of the
dentist and dentistry integrating with the health care
team. As these changes occurred he noted that there was
a change in how his