DR . APRIL DETAR
Seventh District
Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist when you were younger ? If not , what did you want to be when you grew up ? No , when I was 16 , I was in a cheerleading accident and # 9 became necrotic and black ; my dentist at the time was “ unable ” to fix it , and as a teenager this didn ’ t work well for me . I saw a few other dentists who also were not able to help and was quite frustrated , so decided that I was going to learn how to fix it myself one day .
I wanted to be a teacher but my dad was a fifth-grade teacher and told me it was the only thing I was not allowed to do ; way too much work for too little pay ; in hindsight , I think dentistry is quite similar … I don ’ t think I would want my child going into the health care field at this time .
When and where did you attend dental school ? University of Pittsburgh .
Where do you currently practice ? State College .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing dentistry as a profession ? Staffing … staffing has never been more challenging . No one wants to work hard at an office , no one wants to work more than 4 days a week , and everyone feels we ask for too much , which was not too much 10 years ago .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing organized dentistry ? Insurance companies and staffing .
DR . DETAR ’ S PERSONAL STORY
Dr . Detar grew up outside of Pittsburgh and graduated from Penn Trafford High School . She is happily married for 23 years and has two dogs , Daisy and Duke .
She enjoys doing agility with her dogs . She also enjoys Penn State athletics and is a big supporter of their basketball and football program . “ I like to hike and golf but I need more time to get better at golf !”
What community activities are you involved in ? I like to do volunteer work . I always do MOM in Pittsburgh , and the local ones here in Spring Mills . I have been on a mission trip to Jamaica right before COVID and hope to go again soon . That work is so much more meaningful than what I do on a daily basis ; the people who live here have no idea how fortunate they really are .
Name some fun / interesting things about yourself that others would be surprised to learn .
• Ice cream is my favorite food .
• Suits is my favorite series on Netflix .
• I love to travel ; our rule is never go to the same place twice until we have been everywhere . The people that you meet and the cultures that you learn are the best things about traveling .
• Faith in God is without a doubt the No . 1 thing that gets me through the day .
Who was your greatest role model ? God ; is there a better one ?
What famous person would you most like to spend a day with ? In dentistry it would be Gordon Christensen . I think that man has been a pioneer for dentistry and I would love to be able to just poke his brain . I would also enjoy Carl Misch .
Matt Damon would have been my famous crush years ago but I don ’ t really have one now ; not really a fan of a lot of other “ famous people .” I would also love to be able to go back and spend a day with my grandmother who spent a lot of time raising me . She was right about so many things .
MARCH / APRIL 2024 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 21