On August 27, my friend and colleague, Bill Ardary, MD, DDS; is retiring. And Bill’s been the Gold Standard of surgical care.
On learning that I’d been accepted into the School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California, I knew exactly who and where I’d be on completion of the specialty training extending way into my distant future. Yeah, I’d be an oral surgeon removing wisdom teeth in Santa Barbara.
But after four years of dental school, I was just happy negotiating my escape, living the Miracle on 34th Street, and staying close to home. After a year and a half as an associate dentist and doing all of the extractions with only local anesthesia, I was determined to have an oral surgeon as one of my best friends forever. And in due time, I found him.
On August 27, my friend and colleague, Bill Ardary, MD, DDS; is retiring. For somewhere around a quarter of a century, Bill has served our mutual patients and community with absolute Gold Standard surgical care; without ever having taken a vacation…or even a lunch hour.
While in his 20s, Bill was Program Director at USC for the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; his successor at the Arcadia office, Dr. Nam Cho, presently continues to serve at that same post. And there’s a common thread beyond all the good that comes from folks who teach. When I’m on the phone with Bill or Nam, I can always sense the reassuring smile on the other end of the line.
When I call Bill to discuss a mutual patient, the clinical part of the conversation is always clear, concise, and reassuring; the rest of the call has always been much lengthier and that’s what happens when the consistent concern is the fate of USC Trojan Football.
Over at Temple City dental care, we’ve always seen co-workers and patients alike as friends and family. And from Day One, my team and patients have felt that same warmth generated by Docs like Bill and his amazing team; it’s the magical stuff that comes from true care (as in…they really care.)
I don’t play that much tennis these days but when Bill and I started hitting balls his two sons were just little kids. Today, one of those little kids is a physician and the other is starting his final year of dental school at USC.
I can’t imagine anything more fulfilling than having your children follow in your footsteps. All I can add is all of my respect, a heartfelt appreciation for true friendship, a resounding “Thank you” and of course…the usual and customary…Fight on!
