Staff Spotlight

Staff Member: Dr. Sean Kelly, Dental Department Director

By Clare Jensen

For Puyallup Tribal News
cjensen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: July 24, 2008

Dr. Sean Kelly changed his mind about being a veterinarian about halfway through his undergraduate degree. He decided dentistry was a good fit for him because it was the perfect balance of medicine and hands-on dexterity practices.

It also – as fate would have it – brought him to the Pacific Northwest, where he met his wife, Margo, and they had two children, Aspen and Forest, who honor the cool, green surroundings he has grown to love.

Originally from California, Sean Kelly served as a naval dentist for 11 years, during which time he was stationed in the area and met the love of his life. They will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary next month.

Five years ago, he started at the PTHA because he wanted to be back in the Northwest, and wanted to serve the community as well.

He went from serving a relatively monotonous population of healthy, 20-somethings to working with a wide range of ages and health levels at the Tribe.

“That has been a really positive thing for me,” he said. “It has taught me a lot while allowing me to utilize my additional training in comprehensive dentistry.”

During his half-decade working for the Tribe, Sean Kelly said he has always been observant of how to improve and implement better service models for patients.

Since May, Sean Kelly has taken over the role of dental department director, which allows him to have an even greater impact on the service at the clinic.

“The dental clinic is an organism that is alive and changing. We are always looking for ways to improve service.”

Sean Kelly is currently focusing on how the dental clinic can increase access to dental services for tribal members, since the demand for care is greater than the supply.

In his daily clinical practice, he is always working to provide the highest level of service to individual patients, whether it is easing them through a dental fear, or restoring an unsightly tooth. Either way, he is always pleased to see a patient leave who is grateful for their visit, and when they leave the dental office in a better state than when they entered it.

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