Published in the Fall 2016 UCLA Orthodontics Newsletter
Harmony, balance and rhythm. Author Daniel James Brown observed that the oarsman obtains these qualities from rowing and carries them throughout his life. These traits provide the oarsman with the ability to take on life’s challenges with ease. A rich legacy of friendship, loyalty and consistency is what Dr. Eric Loberg leaves behind. For decades, the residents at UCLA had the opportunity to observe the habits and qualities of Dr. Loberg, an eight-time US National Champion oarsman.
Harmony, balance, and rhythm- those were his greatest lessons which he so aptly applied on dry land and incorporated into his artful craft as a teacher. He mentored and played a pivotal role in the development of hundreds of UCLA Orthodontic Alumni during his career as a member of the faculty of the UCLA Section of Orthodontics. The impact on the lives of the residents he mentored is truly incalculable.
Residents remember a father-figure who was a personal and professional role model. Members of the Bruin orthodontic alumni family share in the same fond feeling that to know him was to love him. Dr. Loberg had a unique way of approaching life with a compelling combination of kindness, levity, strength, intellectual curiosity and grace. Although we have lost an extraordinary teacher and friend, we were fortunate to have all been touched by such a wonderful human being. We now have the honor and privilege of bearing the bright torch of his rich legacy, always remembering the personal and professional lessons he instilled.
He taught us to strongly follow our convictions, to defy the status quo, and to be true to our own cadence as individuals and as professionals. In a commencement address to Stanford University of 2005, Steve Jobs said the following:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
This quote sums up Dr. Loberg’s profound impact perfectly. We will miss him, and we will NEVER forget him. Harmony, balance and rhythm.
Our dogs can be our greatest teachers. Personal and professional lives are often crafted around service and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Many volunteer their time and efforts in service to others for the immense reward of knowing they made a difference. Some also see service as a means by which they are answering a higher calling and fulfilling a greater mission larger than any one person. Ask a member of our military or those of faith and they will tell you. At DCO Orthodontic Specialists, we continually ask the question- “How do we best serve our patients?” We always dig deep to look in unconventional places to find innovative and unconventional answers.
My wife Sarah and I are animal lovers and we have two rescue dogs named Genco and Riley who are at the beginning and end of their life journeys at ages 1 and 15, respectively. Dogs are extraordinary animals and their core ability to instinctively love and to feel is remarkable. One day, I was walking Genco and saw his tail beginning to wag and felt subtle tension on the leash as he gazed across the street. In the distance, he spotted a young child holding a balloon walking with her parents. He was so excited to cross the street to say hello, he sensed the child’s energy and curiosity that matched his own and was also excited to try to play with the balloon she was holding. This small moment gave way to the profound realization that there is a great deal that we can learn from our dogs about serving others. Below are three lessons that our four-legged little friends teach us on a daily basis.
The Beauty of Simplicity
William Martin’s poem entitled Make the Ordinary Come Alive illustrates the beauty in teaching children to unlock the magic that exists in ordinary life instead of encouraging them to search for that which is extraordinary. Here is an excerpt:
“Help them instead to find wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears…”
A dog teaches us to appreciate the powerful joy that can be delivered by the mere sight of a person- whether that be a loved one or a new person to meet. They illustrate the beauty of nature, the wonderful smells of leaves on a crisp fall day, and the great fun that can be had by bounding through an open field. They show us the art of digging one’s nose into fresh snow and then sneezing and rolling around in it just before eating a few mouthfuls. For us humans, dogs show us the beauty that lies in the simple things we often take for granted. They make the ordinary truly come alive. If we can learn this lesson, we can serve others by showing them something incredible and powerful that lies within them that they may have previously assigned as simple or ordinary. By doing so, we may also turn simple aspects of our own nature into superpowers.
Unconditional Love
Unconditional is defined as that which is not limited by conditions; absolute. In a dog, we find the lesson of a truly unconditional bond. A dog sees you at your absolute best at all times and wastes no time in the contemplation of your flaws. You are a companion, a friend and somebody who is deeply missed the moment when you leave the room. If you have a bad day or are down on your luck, a dog will respond by making you instantaneously feel treasured and important. If we can demonstrate that we feel this way, we can provide an uplifting positive spark to others.
Energetic Greetings
The art of the greeting has been perfected by our four-legged friends. Although dogs lack the opposable thumb required for a firm handshake, they make up for this and more. Dogs miss you when you are gone and put that sentiment on full display when you return. Your value to a dog is expressed in the energy and enthusiasm that is shown when you enter the door after being away. We have all heard stories of dogs walking for miles to navigate back home to reunite with their owner. The same phenomenon exists when a dog explodes with excitement to meet a new friend. How we greet each other can set an uplifting tone for a positive relationship. A dog can teach us much about the value of enthusiastically greeting customers, friends, family and new acquaintances in a manner that truly brightens their day.
In Closing...
At DCO, we believe that gratitude is reciprocal and we tirelessly strive to make our patients feel valued. We seek to learn the lessons our dogs can teach us to continually improve in being supporters of our patients and their families. We hope to demonstrate to each of patients how much we value all the simple things that make them an extraordinary, unique individual to us. At the recommendation of an orthodontist colleague, I recently read a book entitled The Art of Racing in the Rain. It is story completely told from the perspective of the family dog Enzo and it seamlessly mixes observations ranging from the mundane to the deeply philosophical. One of Enzo’s most memorable observations in the book is:
“May you growup to be righteous. May you growup to be true.”
Bob Dylan (Forever Young)
During my first few weeks of dental school, I took some time one afternoon to find the Department of Orthodontics to explore my interest in pursuing an orthodontic speciality training program after the completion of dental school. To my surprise, I did not find a Department of Orthodontics listed in the school directory. I learned eventually that orthodontic education and training took place in the Department of Developmental Biology. As a newly minted dental student I found this confusing, but years later the semantics became accurate and meaningful. Orthodontists have specific and intensive training in human growth and development for important reasons. The comprehensive understanding of normal human physiology, growth, and development is what arms us as clinicians to detect and correct that which is abnormal and problematic. An orthodontist is trained to possess profound expertise in skeletal, dental, and some aspects of psychological development.
Each day in my office, I am challenged to diagnose and treat developmental problems. Sometimes the cause of the problem may be abnormal growth of the mandible (lower jaw) or maxilla (upper jaw). Other times, unerupted, missing, or malpositioned teeth may be the primary cause for concern. It is not unusual to treat a seven year old child and a 65 year old adult in the same afternoon. You can imagine the variety and complex nature of the problems that fall within these parameters. Skeletal problems (problems of the jaws) many times require a different treatment approach than those of a purely dental nature (problems of the teeth). The seven year old child and 65 year old adult both require the same excellent standard of care, but meeting that standard requires a drastically different approach in treating and communicating to the patient. For instance, the primary psychological focus of treatment in a 65 year old is rendering treatment in a dignified way that does not interfere significantly with the patient’s lifestyle. For a seven year old, the primary focus may be alleviation of anxiety about the new office, exam chair, instruments, and appliances that the patient has never seen before.
Successful treatment begins with highly accurate diagnosis or discovery of the underlying problem. In order to understand the cause of orthodontic problems, orthodontists engage in extensive study of the normal pattern of growth of the dentition and facial skeleton. In addition, we focus on understanding psychological development in order to motivate and communicate with patients of diverse developmental statuses. The challenge of utilizing knowledge of development to improve confidence and quality of life is one of the most rewarding aspects of practicing orthodontics in my view. Despite Bob Dylan’s wishes in the aforementioned quotation, growth can sometimes be abnormal and causes functional and esthetic problems for people of all ages. Orthodontists are armed with sophisticated technology to identify these problems and work with the patient to select individualized, viable treatment options to improve quality of life by means of functional, esthetic and self-confidence enhancement “when the winds of changes shift.”
If you are looking for inspiration this weekend, look no further. Please read about the journey of Tom Morris, University of Indiana Strength and Conditioning Coach. He has recovered from a spinal injury to return to triathalon competition for the first time since his injury. He is competing in the Maytag Ironman 70.3 Steelhead on August 14th.
Tom and his wife Christa have joined forces with KentuckyOne Health and the Frazier Rehab Institute to set a goal of raising $70,300 (signifying the 70.3 miles of the race) by Sept. 1st. The funds raised will go toward helping those with spinal cord injuries return to performing physical activities. But even more than finances, Tom is seeking to help others feel the sense of community he felt as he put his life back together.
“Life is all about perspective,” he said. “What I go through day to day can either drive you to the ground or make you excel. I want to get better every single day. That’s what I’m all about. Make today better than it was yesterday.”
Tom is from my hometown of Hazleton, PA. As kids, my friends and I grew up looking up to Tom as a great athlete and a person of character. I never have admired him more than I do right now. Best of luck to Tom in competition on Sunday and please consider helping to support Tom in reaching his awesome goal.
