NSU CDM Lasting Impressions Spring 2019

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 21 FAST FACTS BRITTANIE DILLON, D.O., D.M.D. Hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Education D.O., D.M.D., Nova Southeastern University B.S. in Biology, Creighton University Professional Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (medical intern) Harvard School of Dental Medicine (dental resident) Tufts University (family medicine resident) oral health educator Sharewood Clinic (clinical preceptor) Personal loves her golden retriever and running Little-Known Fact hopes to run the Boston Marathon After his NSU graduation, Goodwin also chose a path where he could focus on bridging medicine and dentistry. He completed a medical internship at Florida Hospital East Orlando, worked at a corporate dentistry practice, and then joined his current practice, Tiralosi Dental, which he considers a “like-minded” practice. “I am passionate about finding that space between medicine and dentistry, where the two specialties overlap,” Goodwin said. He mentioned that he was fortunate to find his current position, which allows him to practice his comprehensive approach to dentistry and to be mentored by the practice’s experienced dentists, Tim Tiralosi, D.M.D., and Gary Pileggi, D.D.S. When dental patients come to Goodwin, they get more than the typical set of X-rays and checkups. Goodwin takes a thorough medical and dental history, inquires about medications they are taking, and then performs an osteopathic structural exam to identify areas that may be contributing to their oral and overall health. “I incorporate the osteopathic philosophy that people are healthy or diseased based on their mind, body, and spirit,” he said. “Basically, I’m looking at the patients and their overall health to see how their oral health may be affecting the rest of their body.” Brittanie Dillon Goodwin said his main goals are to keep learn- ing, gaining experience, and exploring more ways to blend all he learned from his osteopathic and dental education. “NSU’s dual-degree program was really forward- thinking about dentistry and what it’s going to look like in the future,” he said. “The two colleges are being innovative toward health care. I do think we’re already seeing it happen with the uprising in sleep dentistry, for example.” “So many dentists are becoming aware that the way the patients’ teeth and tongue rest in their mouths determines whether they are going to be at higher risk of stroke and heart attack while they sleep at night,” Goodwin added. “Dentists are becoming more aware that their realm influences the health of the whole body, and I think that’s a huge success for dentistry.” u