Dr. Ronald Horne
Volunteer dental providers are the heart and soul of the Capital Area Dental Foundation. Every day in offices across the Austin area, dentists and their staff are transforming lives through dental health.
Once a quarter, CADF shines the spotlight on these dedicated providers. This month, we are proud to highlight the work of two oral surgeons, Dr. Ronald D. Horne and Dr. Michael Shedlosky of Lone Star Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
“Helping someone out and not expecting anything in return feels really good. It is an addictive feeling. I promise you will want to do it again.” Dr. Ronald D. Horne.
In practice for over 30 years in Austin, Dr. Horne is a devoted music fan and a drummer himself. When he had the opportunity to support local musicians by becoming a HAAM dental provider, he jumped at the chance. “Live music is such a big part of who we are in Austin. The big headliners do pretty well, but most musicians are struggling to make ends meet. That’s why I have always supported HAAM. I want to help these hardworking musicians access the healthcare they need. Plus, we get to meet a lot of fun people.”
Dr. Horne often takes on complex cases, many which go over the $600 allowance that each HAAM member receives for dental care. “We work with our HAAM patients on a reduced fee schedule and concede a portion of our fee. It is working out great for us.” In 2014, Lone Star OMS treated 25 HAAM patients.
Dr. Horne offers the following advice to young dentists just starting out: “One of the best ways to build your practice is to get involved with charitable dentistry. Word of mouth builds your practice and everybody is going to like the fact that you are doing things to help people out.”
Dr. Michael Shedlosky
Dr. Michael Shedlosky, also with Lone Star OMS, is a volunteer provider with the St. Vincent de Paul emergency dental program. A retired Air Force Colonel, Dr. Shedlosky learned about the program through his church. “The patients I treat through the St. Vincent de Paul program are financially challenged and have nowhere else to turn. Dental pain and infection should be the last thing they need to worry about,” Dr. Shedlosky said. In 2014, Dr. Shedlosky treated five St. Vincent de Paul patients, eliminating their pain and suffering so that they could move on with their lives. “Volunteering is a way of giving back to the community and gives you a sense of satisfaction,” he said.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with the Capital Area Dental Foundation, please contact Liz Rubio at l.rubio@capitalareadentalfoundation.org or 512-992-1217.
If you are interested in treating just one CADF patient, please consider joining CADF’s One Smile Campaign now by clicking here and filling out a simple form. It is easy to try out our programs in your office and on your time. It only takes one smile to change a life.
The demand for charitable dental care in the Austin area is growing. The Capital Area Dental Foundation is up for the challenge, but we need more dental providers to stand with us. We currently have over 90 volunteer providers participating in one or more of our four dental care programs, but we need more to have an even greater impact on the community.
