As a child of the 1980s, "Saturday Night Live" has played a formative role in my life. One of my favorite people to ever grace the stage of SNL was Jon Lovitz. I remember, from time to time, he would come on the set of "Weekend Update" and talk about how wonderful a person he was. At the end of every sentence, he would scream, "Get to know me!"
Well, here I am, doing my best Jon Lovitz imitation. I'm not going to tell you how wonderful I am, but I will ask you to get to know me.
My name is Kevin Henry and I'm the new editor of Dental Equipment & Materials. Let me take a moment to tell you about my dental experience - I have none. I've never been a dentist. I've never been a hygienist. I've never been a chairside assistant. I've never even played one on TV. Wait! You almost stopped reading, didn't you? My lack of dental experience in the "real world" is the downside of the equation. Here's the upside - I'm a fun guy.
So now you're thinking to yourself, "Wonderful. He's never worked a day in his life in a dental office, but he's fun. Oh, well that makes up for it then." Then you decide to buy that bridge in Florida you've always wanted.
Here's my background: I first started working on the dental magazines at PennWell 18 months ago, being hired as as assistant editor for PennWell's five dental publications (including Dental Equipment & Materials). What did I, with a background in sports public relations, know about the dental industry when I was hired? I could tell you which teeth were incisors, and that's about it. Curing lights, composites, etc., etc., were all about as Greek to me as ... well ... Greek.
I know what you're asking: "So why did PennWell hire this guy?" I told our then-publisher (Lyle Hoyt, now our vice president) and our group editorial director (Mark Hartley) that I was willing to learn and that I would put a ton of energy and enthusiasm into the job. And here I am.
You wouldn't believe how much I have learned since that blazing hot Oklahoma June day I was hired. I've been to New York, Chicago, Anaheim, Honolulu, Las Vegas, and many other destinations and listened to dentists, hygienists, assistants, dealers, and manufacturers talk about what is important to them. Basically I've been a sponge, trying to soak up all of the dental knowledge I can.
Now here I am, ready to roll up my sleeves as editor of Dental Equipment & Materials. My goal for this magazine? It will be timely. It will be educational. It will be filled with useful information. Enough said.
It will also be fun. We'll bring you profiles of dentists and assistants who are "real people" with interesting hobbies and interests. We'll talk to dental team members from all corners of the country and ask them questions that will help you. You'll be able to learn some secrets that may help you in your practice. We'll bring you surveys, charts, tidbits, and lists that will be easy to read, remember, and implement in your practice.
Teamwork is a key in any dental office, and it's a key here at PennWell as well. From our nationwide sales staff to my wonderful friends/co-workers who will help me put this magazine together, we're going to work as a team to make this a magazine that is fun, informative, and useful. That's a big challenge, but it's one we're willing to take on and conquer.
I welcome any comments you may have about Dental Equipment & Materials. Keep watching as this magazine evolves. I think you'll like the changes.
Read on, this is your magazine...
Kevin Henry, Editor
[email protected]
