In his words
I've always felt extraordinarily lucky to be a pediatric dentist. It's more of a passion with me than a profession. Where others find their "work" a means to earn an income so they can lead the life they would like to enjoy, pediatric dentistry is an integral part of what I enjoy most out of life.
Ernest Gallo once said that he felt no need to retire from his job "just so he could do the things he always wanted to do." Why? Because he was already doing them. In large part, I feel the same way.
My vision has been to use my education and experience to build a practice that cares for all types of children: chief among them the medically complex child and children with special needs, such as those with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental disabilities and ADHD, as well as healthy children. I am very proud that this vision has become a reality, and that caring for so many kinds of children is not only highly rewarding but a never-ending journey.
Everyone on my team believes that all children are special.
We make personal decisions about each child's needs and recommend treatment in the setting that will not create a negative psychological impact.
One of the advantages of our practice is our long-standing relationship with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, where I have been on staff for more than 25 years and have served as an adjunct clinical assistant professor. Dr. Jon continues that relationship, which lets us consult with community pediatricians and the pediatrics department at Stanford. It means we can treat children whose medical conditions may be made worse by dental problems: children on chemotherapy, for example, or a child whose immune system has been suppressed before a heart or liver transplant.
I was born in Camp Campbell, Kentucky, while my father was in the service. Our family moved to Europe when I was six months old, and we lived in France and Germany until I was 14 before settling in Monterey. After college, I went east to Harvard for my dental degree and then to UCLA for my pediatric residency. I practiced as a pediatric dentist in Monterey for nine years before moving to the Peninsula to start this practice, which emphasizes care for the medically complex child both in our office and at Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital.
In my spare time I am a semi-prolific reader, I enjoy swimming and cycling, and I am an avid Formula 1 fan who travels to catch a race whenever I can.
Training and education
- Harvard University, Doctorate of Dental Medicine
- Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, Los Angeles, and UCLA, pediatric dental residency, 1979
- UCLA, research associate in oral biology, 1979 to 1980
- UCLA, clinical instructor in pediatric dentistry, 1979 to 1980
Practice history
- Founded Pediatric Dentistry of Palo Alto, 1994
- Pediatric dental associate, Milpitas and Alviso, California, 1989 to 1992
- Private practice in the Monterey Bay Area, offices in Salinas and Marina, 1980 to 1989
Hospital associations and staff appointments
- Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, staff, 1993 to present
- Assistant clinical professor (VCF), Department of Pediatrics
- Adjunct clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics
- Staff, Natividad Medical Center, Salinas, California, 1980 to 1989
Professional memberships
- California Dental Association
- American Dental Association
- Mid-Peninsula Dental Society
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Society of Dentistry for Children
- California Society of Pediatric Dentistry
- Santa Clara Pediatric Dentistry Academy
- Academy of General Dentistry
Community service
- Pediatric advisory board, Palo Alto School District, 1991 to 1996
- Board of directors, Head Start Program, Monterey County, 1980 to 1989
- Board of directors, Family Resource Center, Monterey, 1984 to 1988
- Dental advisory board, Monterey County Happy Tooth Program, 1981 to 1985
- Dental advisor, Childbirth Education League, Monterey County, 1983 to 1987
- Board of directors, Regional Opportunity Program, Monterey County, 1980 to 1983
- Committee chair, Dental Health Week, Monterey Bay Dental Society, 1983
- California Pedodontic Research Conference, 1989
