2025 District Presidents MEET Tell Us About Yourself I was born and raised in Columbus, GA. I have been married to my wonderful wife, Sarah, for nine years, and together we have two beautiful children, Baylor (3) and Collins (newborn). I attended the University of West Georgia, where I studied Sports Psychology. I received my Doctorate from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine – Illinois in 2020. Upon graduation, I wanted to move back to my hometown to provide a service to the people within my community. Since then, I have been practicing general dentistry with a focus on cosmetics and dental implants. In my free time, I enjoy running in half marathons, playing a round of golf, attending concerts, and being outdoors with my family. Organized Dentistry I have been a member of the GDA since I graduated back in 2020. Throughout the years since joining the GDA, I have seen the many benefits that the association has to offer to its members. From continuing education courses to resourceful information to stay informed about our profession. I feel that I can always count on the association to have my best interest in mind. Current Challenges in Dentistry I believe one of the biggest challenges facing dentistry today is the rising cost of dental care and the lack of available coverage for patients. It’s one of the most common issues we hear from patients. They need a procedure to improve their dental health, but the out-of-pocket cost becomes a challenge. One of the largest challenges I see for the GDA is getting the younger generation of dentists involved. The GDA is an important organization for all dentists to get involved in networking and collaboration of best practices. The Year Ahead In the upcoming year, I plan to work towards increasing the number of new members and host more local Continuing Education courses and social events to increase collaboration between members within my district. I believe it is important to provide events that help build camaraderie in order to grow stronger and attract new members to want to join. Dr. Zach Murphy Western District 36 | Jan 2025
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Nzc3ODM=