Thanks For The Memories
By Richard J . Galeone , DDS , Editor Emeritus
In some ways I feel like I ’ ve been around for the entire 150 years of the Pennsylvania Dental Association . I had the privilege of serving full terms both as Associate Editor and Editor of the PDA .
I attended Board of Trustees meetings , Council on Communications and Public Relations meetings , our Annual Meeting and meetings with the PDA Communications staff . I was in Harrisburg more than the governor . And before EZPass , I had developed a magic trick where I would pick the worst line at the toll booth . I nailed it , every time !
I think I enjoyed being Associate Editor more than Editor . There had not been an Associate Editor before me so I was able to carve a place out for myself .
Dr . Judith McFadden , our Dental Editor Extraordinaire , telephoned one day to ask if I might like to write a humor column for the Journal . Humor in dentistry ? It seemed a novel idea . I remember being apprehensive but it turned out to be the most enjoyable chapter of my 30 years in dental journalism . The column was called On the Lighter Side .
I had previously done some creative writing . It was my hobby . It was my “ escape ” from dentistry . However , my professor always admonished me to write about things I knew . But this assignment gave me writers ’ and brain block . Having volunteered to man a dental table at my local YMCA ’ s annual health fair one Saturday morning , I brought along a pad , pencil and several erasers . I think I bumped up my coffee to extra bold that morning . I was able to conjure up an unhappy memory of dental school . And 25 years distance allowed me to see how some might think it was funny . The people at the health fair must have thought I was insane sitting there alone writing and trying to contain my laughter . But after that first try , the ghosts of teachers , patients , dental students , commanding officers , employees and stewardesses all ghoulishly rose up to remind me of my pathetic life . People seemed to enjoy reading about my problems . Compared to me they were incredibly well-balanced geniuses . I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the feedback from readers .
Another of the things I especially enjoyed was interviewing Pennsylvania dentists , and writing articles about their avocations . One of our members ran a side business with his wife , breeding , raising and racing thoroughbreds . These lucky fillies and stallions lived and romped on some of the prettiest pasture land I ’ d ever seen . And the stallions were sent to the best stud farms in the country for two month vacations . I couldn ’ t decide if I was more jealous of the dentist or the horses .
Another man built and flew his own aircraft and he brought me to his shop where he had more tools than the Sears catalogue . We then took a long ride through the countryside to visit the hangar where he kept his planes . They were very light , about half way between the Wright brothers and the Red Baron . I was in panic attack country until I saw they were all single passenger jobs .
An oral surgeon from eastern Pennsylvania donated a couple of weeks every year to a dental mission in Nepal . He was excited about an upcoming trip and told me about his preparations . I had always realized that these volunteers had to worry about supplies and facilities , but this doctor opened my eyes to something else . He was a solo practitioner . For a
1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
1977
PDA purchases 3501 North Front Street in Harrisburg to become the new home to PDA ’ s Central Office .
DEC 2
1978
PDA moves Central Office headquarters from 217 State Street in Harrisburg to 3501 North Front Street in Harrisburg .
JAN
1981
For the first time , National Children ’ s Dental Health Month is observed nationally for the entire month . Governor Dick Thornburgh officially designated February as Children ’ s Dental Health Month in Pennsylvania .
FEB
26 MARCH / APRIL 2018 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL