"I live by the words of Sir William Osler: ‘It’s more important to know what kind of a patient has the disease than what kind of disease the patient has.’ Start here, and everything else falls into line."
- Dr. Harvey Winter
The Incisor spent a few minutes with DOCS Education Fellow Harvey Winter, DDS, to hear how his father guided his career choices, what he considers rewarding in dentistry and where he thinks problems lie. Dr. Winter practices at Albany Dental Care in Albany, New York. He’s part of the teaching staff for the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, where he trains dentists and other health providers in the use of Botox® and dermal fillers. He also volunteers in the Give Back A Smile Program of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, helping victims of domestic violence. What made you choose to become a dentist? My father’s example taught me a lot about what I didn’t want to do. He was a salesman in the Garment District in New York City. He had some very mean bosses and labored in a boiling hot office. One sweltering day I asked his advice about what I should do for a living. He said, ‘Be your own boss and work in an air-conditioned office!’ That remark, and the fact that I really liked what my dentist did, sparked my own interest and the profession and the journey that followed. Describe the single most attractive aspect of dentistry. People! I consider myself unbelievably fortunate. I go to work and my friends come to see me all day. While we’re visiting I help with their teeth. What about the least desirable part? The business aspect is not very thrilling. I want to help someone but they can’t pay for what they need. It’s upsetting. Describe some of the biggest challenges facing dentistry today. The economy without question. Patients are having a hard time obtaining necessary care. Insurance is not user-friendly from the dentist’s perspective. So insurers are becoming more and more of a wedge between patients and dentists. Who is/was your mentor in the dental world? I started my own practice right after residency but also worked part-time in the office of one of my attendings, who was chief of dentistry at a hospital. After about 18 months the doctor needed me to cover his office while he recuperated from heart surgery. That made a huge impact on me. I met all of his patients and learned first-hand how his office worked. I saw that it was more important to care about people than about teeth. I knew immediately that this was the kind of practice I wanted.
