Why He Was Nominated

Dr. Baird is both a skilled clinician and a creative businessman who earned an MBA before entering dental school. A blend of marketing savvy, warm interpersonal skills and a strong commitment to thorough patient education and advanced technology enabled him to launch two successful practices in as many years.

Inspiration

He and his staff have read numerous books together and have studied companies such as Toyota, Disney and Southwest Airlines. “We analyze the way everything is done,” Dr. Baird says. “We look outside of our industry for best practices we can adapt and adopt.”

Favorite Part of the Profession

People and education. “I left engineering because I love people — I love talking with patients and helping them attain oral health,” says Dr. Baird, whose goal is to double the continued education required by the state. He has also set aside monthly office meetings for continuing education. “I love training my coworkers and helping them reach their potential.”

Biggest Challenge

Meeting his own expectations.