Why He Was Nominated

His lifelong passion for the profession. Few 6-year-olds, after all, like going to the dentist, and even fewer are sure they want to be one when they grow up. Dr. Bishop was- and the probably reason, he says, was all the bright, shiny doodads. “I loved the tools the dentist was using,” he recalls. He volunteers extensively, sponsoring needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and offering free services to patients without insurance – %40,000 in the last two years alone. He’s also a board member of Mom’s house (moms house.org), which provides support for single parents.

Philosophy

“Replace what has been lost and restore what remains in a minimally invasive manner.”

Tool He Can't Live Without

“My intraoral camera. It enables me to communicate and discuss treatments more easily.”

Most Memorable Patient

“Santa.” Or, at any rate, a man who looked exactly like him, and who made appearances at local nursing homes and day-care centers. Under the drill, however, Santa had a highly unusual request: no anesthesia. Says Dr. Bishop: “I would sweat bullets every time I worked on him.”