Virginia Hughson-Otte, D.D.S. Santa Clarita , CA ADA member for 18 years How many years have you been an ADA member? 18 Briefly describe your practice. A wonderful, energetic, patient-focused, all-female practice nestled in the growing community of Santa Clarita. What generation dentist are you? First What's the most-often asked question from your patients? How many female dentists are there in the United States? What is the most interesting thing that has happened or you’ve done as a dental professional? Took on a challenging dental reconstructive case brought to me via the first Give Kids a Smile Day. I provided over 30K dollars of free treatment to, what we came to call, our "Smile Child". She went on to graduate high school with a B average after coming to us as a failing student two years ago with terrible social issues due to her teeth.		ADA member Virginia Hughson-Otte, D.D.S. Dr. Hughson-0tte is a eighteen year member of the ADA.

Why did you choose dentistry as a profession?
I wanted to make a dramatic difference in the well being of others after my mother had all of her teeth extracted at the age of 26 and never, ever seemed to get over the terrible experience.

What's the most difficult challenge you've faced in your practice?
Damage control from sub-standard colleagues.

Name one unique thing on a wall in your clinic or displayed in your waiting room.
A personal picture of me and Dr. Richard Carmona, our former U.S. Surgeon General.

What is/was the most challenging aspect of dental school?
Not having enough time to learn the advanced aspects of cosmetic dentistry.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a dentist?
Law

Name/describe your favorite CE course taken in the past two years.
Women's Oral Health & Geriatric Dentist and the changes that are unique to these two patient populations and relating them directly back to my practice every single day.

What do you do to relax?
Sing, speed walk, bicycle ride, read, swim, and dance with friends if they're up to it!

What is the most daring thing you’ve done in your lifetime?
Sky Dive

What are you most proud of?
Being the first college graduate and the first dentist in my family as well as having the love of my family, friends, staff, and patients.

What is the last book you’ve read or are currently reading?
DaVinci Code

How do you deal with stress?
Exercise and venting with friends.

Where is your favorite vacation spot or activity?
BoraBora. Snorkeling and parasailing

What are your hobbies?
Scrapbooking, writing, paddle tennis.

Who is your favorite singer or musical group?
Billie Holiday. Journey.

What do you do for exercise?
Speed Walk. Bicycle. Dance. Swim.

Name one thing you have in your home from your childhood.
Floyd and my hair from my first haircut in my baby book.

Name the last movie you saw.
Must Love Dogs

Name your favorite movie.
Ghost

Whom do you admire?
My mother and my Aunt Maryellen, Dr. Gene Sekiguchi, Dr. & Mrs. Howard Jones, Red Cross volunteers, the victims of Katrina.

Who has most influenced your life?
My Mom

What musical instrument do you play?
My voice

What's your favorite Web search engine?
MSNBC

What concerns you about the future?
Poor public education, lack of dedicated health professionals, socialized medicine...

Any words of advice?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...always.

Anything else you’d like to mention?
Never allow organized dentistry to go away...We would all be lost as a respected profession and our future's would no longer be our own. What we invest in today hopefully will be in those who will be looking out for us when we come of "age".