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Dentist returns from Iraq
to practice in Cape Coral
- This article appeared in the Cape Coral Edition of News-Press
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in February, 2009.
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- Navy lieutenant served in
Fallujah
By Joy Peterson
Special to The News-Press
He no longer wakes to the sound of helicopters coming and going
at all hours of the day. The temperatures of 110 to 115 degrees
in the Iraqi desert have been traded for the slightly cooler,
albeit more humid climes of Florida, his home state.
Bradley Woodham, 39, is a doctor of dental medicine and a
lieutenant in the U.S. Navy. He served for three years at Marine
Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., but he spent
seven months of that on a tour in Fallujah, Iraq, as one of two
dentists for the base.
Woodham returned to his family early last year and began taking
care of Cape Coral residents at Gary Shierling, DDS, PA family
dental practice in December.
Woodham, originally from northwest Florida, joined the Navy
through a scholarship program at the University of Florida
College of Dentistry, where he received his doctoral degree in
2005. For Woodham, whose great-grandfather served in World War I
and whose grandfather served in World War II, joining the Navy
was the natural thing to do.
"I always wanted to serve," Woodham said. "But it didn't come to
fruition until I got to dental school. I appreciate the training
that teaches you we're all in the same boat, with the same
mission and the same goals."
During his active duty at Camp Lejeune, Woodham completed the
Advanced Education in General Dentistry training, a program
accredited by the American Dental Association.
"I spent time with specialists and learned a lot of areas,"
Woodham said. "I improved my skills and gained confidence in
treating patients."
His additional dental training in the Navy equipped him with the
expertise to treat his patients in Fallujah. With the number of
total personnel reaching 4,000 on base, Woodham treated not only
those on active duty, but also contract workers from Southeast
Asia and West Africa as well.
"These are people in their mid-30s who've never seen a doctor in
their lives," Woodham said. "Seeing those people and how happy
they were to get treated really made you feel like you were
helping someone out."
He rarely dealt with anything life threatening, but he
frequently had 18- and 19-year-old patients sitting in his chair
dealing with more than the war.
"You just don't understand what those guys are going through,"
Woodham said.
"The biggest problem was helping them through family
situations." Woodham used conversation to help keep his
patients' minds off their lives in the field.
"It was very important for each person I saw to talk about their
job and what units they were with," Woodham said. "Most guys
also talked about guy stuff, like sports, fishing, and the
outdoors. They loved coming to dental.
They weren't doing their normal routine."
The highly guarded Fallujah base was relatively safe and most of
the mortar attacks Woodham experienced were inaccurate, causing
little damage. The deafening sound of helicopters and rattling
windows soon became common.
"You soon learn to block everything out," Woodham said.
Woodham is married - his wife, Denise, is a native of Cape Coral
- and has two children, ages 7 and 4. His seven-month absence
took a toll on his family, but he enjoyed his time serving his
country.
"It was a great experience," Woodham said. "If it weren't for my
family, I'd still be there."
He finds that his strong family values translate easily into the
local practice.
"We don't refer services out if we can avoid it," Woodham said.
"We keep as much as we can in house. I treat each patient like
my mom."
Ann Meyer is a patient of Woodham's and is very satisfied with
his work. She highly recommends him as a dentist.
"I like him. He's very nice," Meyer said. "He talks you through
everything so you know what's going on and I like that. My
husband has to go for a checkup soon and I told him to see Dr.
Woodham."
Gary Shierling, a doctor of dental surgery, has had his
state-of-the-art practice since 1990 and is happy to have
Woodham on board.
"The Navy taught him well," Shierling said of Woodham. "You
can't teach drive. You either have it or you don't."
If You Go
- What: Gary Shierling, DDS, PA
- Where: 521 Cape Coral Parkway West, between Pelican and
Skyline boulevards
- When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday
- Phone: 542-1500
- Web:
www.garyshierling.com
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