Craig Vacek, DDS, is moving what he called “from strength to strength” and hopping on a new growth curve in his career. He’s served for 25 years in private practice and still loves it, but teaching at the UNMC College of Dentistry, shepherding its practice management course, showed him some new possibilities. Could becoming more involved with dental education allow him to “multiply” his impact on the dental profession?
“At this point in my career,” Dr. Vacek said, “I saw it as a chance to affect a lot of young dentists in a positive way.”
And so, Dr. Vacek recently accepted a faculty position at the UNMC College of Dentistry as its assistant dean of clinics.
Though he is new to academia, he and college leaders believe his extensive experience in private practice will help prepare UNMC’s dental students for their future profession.
“I have a lot to learn, but I think that experience is viewed as a real positive and I’m confident it truly can be,” Dr. Vacek said.
Having served for decades in private practice “gives you great insight into the layered roles of a practicing dentist, and the type of clinicians needed to go out into the world,” he said.
“The reason I teach is to further of mission of creating world-class clinicians.”
Dr. Vacek, who has Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, wants students to know that running a financially sustainable business is not at odds with being a great clinician. In fact, he said, it’s the solid foundation that allows a dentist more freedom to make the right decisions for patients. And, to invest in the newest technology and best clinicians and staff.
That’s another way he believes his private practice experience will be beneficial to UNMC’s future dentists.
“There’s something to the fact that it’s good for our students to learn from doctors who have walked in those shoes,” he said.
“I hope they can learn from some of my mistakes-every dental career has both strikes and gutters along the way.”
Dr. Vacek will still see patients each week – which he also believes to be beneficial.
“We have a dean who spends time in the clinic, which speaks volumes,” he said of his new boss, Dean Gerry Kugel, DMD, PhD.
Dr. Vacek has a son and daughter at the college, in dental school and the dental hygiene program. “It’s really exciting to me,” he said. “I haven’t had a spot where my kids can pop in and see me at work.”
Now, he is looking to the future. “The puzzle pieces are in place,” he said of the college. And he is happy to have become one of them.
“This place is about creating dentists who will serve Nebraska and way beyond and we want them to go out and be great.”