GET TO KNOW YOUR PDA Board of Trustees
Dr . James Mancini , NINTH DISTRICT
Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist when you were younger ? When I graduated from high school , I went to college with the idea of going into health care . No absolute career path . A good friend was going into dental and brought me along to dental society meetings . By my senior year , dental was my direction .
What motivated you to pursue a career in organized dentistry ? Organized dentistry is essential to the profession of dentistry . It ’ s through organized dentistry that state and federal level change occurs . When I was a younger dentist , I didn ’ t understand this concept or see the value . I gained this knowledge as I advanced into my career . As I saw the need for change , I realized that the way to achieve change was the combined efforts of myself and my colleagues .
When and where did you attend dental school ? University of Pittsburgh , class of 1986 .
Where do you currently practice ? I practice at the Meadville Dental Center , part of the Meadville Medical Center .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing dentistry as a profession ? My professional focus at this stage of my career is on public health dentistry . In this corner of the dental world , the biggest challenge is recruiting dentists to practice under this practice model .
What do you believe is the most challenging issue facing organized dentistry ? The biggest issue , for myself , in organized dentistry is the dwindling participation and membership within the organization . We need more dentists , and more of those dentists need to be more involved in the decision-making processes .
Dr . Mancini ’ s personal story
I grew up , and still live , in Pittsburgh . I have two brothers . My older brother , Vic , lives in Atlanta . My younger brother , Dan , lives in Seattle .
My wife Denise , and I have been married for 41 years . We have two children – my daughter Cyndi , ( a music educator ) and my son Jimmy ( a Fraud Specialist for PNC Bank ). And , I have one Granddaughter , Addie . She is 10 and is the best grandchild I could ever ask for !
In my spare time , I like to golf . I am very passionate about Pittsburgh sports teams , and my wife and I travel to as many away games as we can . Denise and I love to travel , and never pass up the opportunity to embark on epic road trips . As far as community , I am an elected member of the Robinson Township commissioners . I have served for 7 years , and plan to run again in 2023
Name some fun / interesting things about yourself that others would be surprised to learn . I have driven the entire east and west coast of the U . S . From Seattle to San Diego in the west , and from Key West to Bar Harbor , Maine , in the East .
I helped found our local ambulance service in Robinson Township in 1979 , and volunteered as a paramedic for 37 years for this group .
I was the recipient of the City of Pittsburgh Civilian Service Award in 2007 . On September 23 , 2007 , a gentleman seated behind me at a Pittsburgh Steelers game suffered a heart attack . I performed CPR on this individual for over 30 minutes until the Pittsburgh EMS crew could arrive . The gentleman survived , and to this day , we still keep in contact .
Who was your greatest role model ? My greatest role model is my father . He was a tireless worker , always was the person who friends and family called when help was needed . He could literally fix anything , and I have always been amazed at the depth of his knowledge .
What famous person would you most like to spend a day with ? I have always been a history buff . I could name hundreds of people from history that I would love to spend a day with . Abraham Lincoln , John F . Kennedy , Thomas Jefferson to name a few .
Dr . Mancini said , “ I tell every patient that I have the greatest job ever in the world !”
36 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2022 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL