2025 District Presidents MEET Dr. Robert O’Brien Central District Tell Us About Yourself I grew up in Douglas, GA, and somehow knew I wanted to be a dentist by the 6th grade. After high school, I served a two-year church mission in Thailand, then finished my undergraduate degree at Valdosta State University in 2009. In 2013, I graduated from MCG/GHSU/GRU (yes, I went through all 3 name changes in my 4 years there), then joined my current practice in Macon, GA. My amazing wife, Angela, and I have been married for 13 years and have 2 little boys - Jace (2) and Aiden (8 months). We actively serve in various positions at our church and are foodies at heart who love to travel and see all the world has to offer. When I’m not busy chasing the boys, I’m an avid Atlanta United fan and attend most home games. I also enjoy working out, 3D printing, planning our next great adventure, and supporting my wife’s cosplay addiction. Organized Dentistry I joined ASDA in dental school and then joined the ADA and GDA upon graduation. While at the time, I didn’t fully understand what they did for our profession, I felt it important to support those who support us. I’ve been active in the Central District since graduating, and in 2019, I got poked/prodded/voluntold to be an alternate delegate for the House of Delegates. Next thing I knew, in what had to be a moment of December desperation, the district leaders asked me to go through the chairs, and here I am. As I’ve gone from alternate delegate to Vice President/President-Elect to on the BOT and now to President, I’ve seen firsthand just how much the GDA does for its members. Behind the scenes, there are many outside players trying to change the way we practice dentistry, usually in a way that is not in our profession or our patients’ best interest. Even if you are not active in a leadership position on the district or state level, your continued membership in GDA does more for you than you will ever know. Current Challenges in Dentistry I believe reaching out and getting the younger generation of dentists involved in our local districts is of the utmost importance for the future of our profession. Without strong, active participants at the district level, the strength that organized dentistry has enjoyed will slowly erode. GDA’s greatest strength is an active, united profession. District meetings are a great time to meet fellow colleagues, meet face-to-face with any referring dentists, and talk about things that are important to you and your dental career. The Year Ahead For the upcoming year, I would love to strengthen the district through increased meeting attendance and providing more opportunities for our members to interact with each other outside of the office. There are also several key issues going on at the capitol, and we need to make sure our voices are heard. The legislators don’t know what they don’t know. If someone else has their ear and we don’t give our side, then we can’t complain when things don’t go our way. | 37 Jan 2025
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