GET TO KNOW YOUR PDA Board of Trustees
Dr . Michael Gans
TENTH DISTRICT
Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist when you were younger ? No . I always wanted to be an astronaut as a child , but started college wanting to be a chemical engineer .
What motivated you to pursue a career in organized dentistry ? Mentorship from several dentists over the course of my career .
When and where did you attend dental school ? University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine 1982-1986 .
Where do you currently practice ? Washington Road in Pittsburgh , the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing dentistry as a profession ? Limiting outside interference as to how our practices are managed .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing organized dentistry ? Having dentists realize that everyone has a voice and MUST belong to share that voice and we are stronger as ONE !
Dr . Gans ’ personal story
He grew up in Arnold , Pa ., and has a brother ( Andrew ), and two sisters ( Joanne and Judy ). Dr . Gans and his wife Carissa have three daughters , Nicole Lazzaro , 31 ( husband Matthew ), Amanda , 29 and Haylee , 25 . They have a granddaughter named Isabella Anne ( 7 months ).
Dr . Gans enjoys playing golf (“ poorly ”), playing tennis and gardening . He is involved in the Lions Club and several church organizations .
Name some fun / interesting things about yourself that others would be surprised to learn . I earned my Eagle Scout as a teen . Maybe that is what also drove me to a leadership position in dentistry . I have continued my father-in-law ’ s lunchbox collection after he passed in 2003 . He had over 400 unique lunch boxes , and I have added about 25 to that collection .
I was the McGuire Air Force Base tennis champion in the late 80s .
I was involved in theatre in my youth and love attending Broadway productions in the Pittsburgh area .
Both of my parents lived to 100 years old ( my mom will be 100 on Nov . 13 ).
Who was your greatest role model ? G . V . Black ( every one of his filling preps were PERFECT ).
What famous person would you most like to spend a day with ? Roberto Clemente . We could talk baseball all day and still have time to solve world hunger .
Dr . Gans said , “ I am a proud graduate of The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and a four-year veteran of the U . S . Air Force .”
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 15