Northern Virginia Health & Life Magazine: January/February 2010
"Spotlight on Gary Greenspan, DDS"

Gary Greenspan, DDS

Gary Greenspan, DDS, is a long way from his native Southern California, but his heart is never too far from the Golden State. “One of the greatest loves of my life is the Los Angeles Dodgers,” he says. “I follow them religiously.” Those who root for the home teams, fear not: The self-professed “huge sports enthusiast” is also a Washington Nationals season ticket-holder, as well as a devoted fan of Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball.

One of the other loves of his life, of course, is dentistry. Dr. Greenspan received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Irvine, and moved east to attend the Georgetown University School of Dentistry. He joined Dental Associates right after graduation in 1981. “My mother always said I would be a great dentist, because everything had to be just so,” Dr. Greenspan says with a laugh. As it turns out, mother knows best. Dr. Greenspan has been recognized by his peers, with inclusion in Top Dentists of Northern Virginia Magazine; and by his patients, with top honors in Washington Consumers’ Checkbook. “To be recognized by both my fellow dentists and by my patients is an honor. I love what I do, and I truly feel like a member of the community.”

Dr. Greenspan, on being a “people person” … “As much as I love dentistry, I couldn’t be a dentist who works in a lab; I love working with patients. I learn as much from them as they learn from me. I talk to them about what they read, see, do, know … There’s a very high IQ in this area.”

On a truly memorable experience … “For my birthday one year, my patients and the staff sent me to Dodgers Fantasy Camp in Vero Beach, California, where I played alongside former pros. Duke Snider, Tommy Lasorda, Bill Russell, Rick Monday—these were guys who played in the 1970s when I was growing up, and there I was on the field with them!”

On striking the right chord … “I love music, especially classical. And I took accordion lessons as a kid. I even formed a band in high school and played all through college, until I left for dental school. The accordion isn’t popular anymore, but it really is a great instrument.”

On putting family first … “My wife and I were always dragging our kids to do things when they were growing up,” he says of his daughter, Jenna, a recent graduate of the University of Virginia, and son Ethan, currently enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University. “We would go to Broadway shows, ballgames, concerts ... When they got older, all four of us went as a family for the first time to Paris, London, and Rome. That was a fantastic trip, and I have so many great memories.”