It’s the month that we celebrate Halloween, the beginning of the last quarter of the year and the time that marks the upcoming Holiday season along with the hustle and bustle of that goes with November and December. For me and Dr. Pettit, the month of October will be an exceptionally busy month. On the 14th and 15th, I will travel to New Orleans to present my second lecture in the Orofacial Pain Continuum program. This is the third year that LSU has hosted the Orofacial Pain Continuum. This is a mini-residency program that consists of five, two-day weekends totaling approximately 120 hours of continuing education. The participants in this program are practicing dentists throughout the United States. They travel to New Orleans for the sole purpose of receiving advanced training in the field of TMD and Orofacial Pain, which is not available anywhere else in the country. I am very proud to be a part of this program. It is my desire that in the future, I will play an even greater role than I have in the first two years.
On October 20th, my wife and I will travel to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to visit my son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. My oldest granddaughter is a junior in high school this year. She is a member of her high school’s dance team. They perform at halftime during football and basketball games. It just so happens that Thursday night, October 20th, is their last football game of the season and the last opportunity I will have to see her perform. So, I have canceled all of my plans for the weekend and will travel to South Dakota to be a part of that experience. I am really looking forward to spending the weekend with my son and his family.
We continue to research new ways of being able to deliver the very best care to you, our patients. I could not be more pleased to have someone with the quality and expertise to be a co-member of MedCenter TMJ, as Dr. Pettit. As many of you know, Dr. Pettit was one of my residents at the VA hospital. He was in a three-year specialty program within the Department of Dentistry. His specialty is in the full mouth reconstruction of broken and destroyed dentitions. During his 3 years, Dr. Pettit became very interested in my work and wanted to specialize in the field of TMD and Orofacial Pain. It was with that special interest, that I offered him a position in this practice. He has been with MedCenter TMJ for two years. He joined the practice in July of 2014. Those of you who have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Pettit know that he is extremely caring and competent in what he does and has a wonderful attitude toward the treatment of chronic pain.
I am not retiring!! I do not plan to go anywhere. I am simply cutting back on my time in the office by only one day a week. I work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and Dr. Pettit covers Thursdays and select Fridays. I know that you will extend to him the same warm courtesy that you extend to me.
Our goal at MedCenter TMJ is to provide you the very best care anywhere in the world. We both attend seminars. Dr. Pettit is now teaching seminars and giving lectures to local groups and each day grows and matures in the treatment of TMD and Orofacial Pain. We will continue to work diligently researching and constantly looking for new methods of treatment. Our number one goal is to provide you, our patient, with exceptional service. We have a dedicated staff who shares our passion and together we strive to make your experience with us the very best. You are our greatest asset and we will continue to work diligently on your behalf.
Sincerely,
Ronald C. Auvenshine, DDS, PhD
Diplomate, American Board of Orofacial Pain