EIOH Resident Spotlight 鈥� Dr. Lucy Marie Johnson
You might not expect a dentist to have a sweet tooth, but Dr. Lucy Marie Johnson (Perio ’24) cannot imagine a life without Peeps marshmallow chicks, her all-time favorite food!
Q: Where are you from?
A: East Lansing, Michigan (Go Green!)
Q: Why did you choose Eastman?
A: Eastman Periodontics is one of the most prestigious programs in the country, with a strong history for groundbreaking research in the field and a high volume of advanced and complex surgical cases. It was an honor to be accepted here! My husband and I also have strong ties to the area. Both of my in-laws were born and raised in Rochester and the majority of our extended family remains in the area. My in-laws still frequently visit to spend time at a second home on Canandaigua Lake.
Q: One thing few people know about you?
A: I grew up on a lake and have been slalom water skiing since I was around nine years old, and I can also barefoot water ski.
Q: Best memory of your EIOH residency?
A: All my favorite core memories of Eastman are tied to my singular co-resident Leah Baldinger. We started off as strangers and formed an intense bond very quickly. She has been by my side through everything. After these three years together, I see her as more than a best friend- almost a sister. I will be forever grateful to Eastman for bringing her into my life and I know we will continue to make memories together for the next fifty years. I wouldn't have been able to do this program without her and I cannot imagine my life without her in it.
Q: In what way did your Eastman experience allow you to grow?
A: Eastman presented me with a unique set of challenges that I had yet to encounter during my prior career as a general dentist. I feel that as a result, I have grown professionally, obviously expanded my surgical skills exponentially, and have become tremendously more resilient personally. This is all due to the support from my family, co residents and the constant push from my faculty to improve my knowledge and clinical skills.
Q: Any papers published while you were at EIOH?
A: I presented the following research at the 2022 American Academy of Periodontology Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.: , published in the Journal of Periodontology.
Q: Next steps after graduation?
A: I have accepted an associate position at Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester, owned by Eastman AEGD & Perio alum Dr. Thomas Zahavi. I am hoping to serve as part-time clinical Perio faculty at Eastman.
Q: Other than dentist, what career would you choose?
A: I have my undergraduate degree in chemistry from Michigan State University and if dentistry didn't work out for me, I planned to attend a Cosmetic Chemistry graduate program. I would have wanted to work at a cosmetics manufacturer in their research and development division formulating products.
Q: Your biggest fear?
A: I am terrified of earthworms, and walking into the front entrance of Eastman when it is rainy is my nightmare. There are hundreds on those sidewalks.
Q: A person who has inspired you?
A: My mother has always been, and still is, my biggest inspiration. She had a long and successful career in an extremely male dominated industry. She has this uncanny ability to always make everything look easy. She was actually the first woman ever hired as a broker at her national brokerage firm. I was never raised with the mindset of "girls can do anything boys can do" because that was never a topic up for debate.
Q: Best advice you ever received?
A: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.