This year, twenty-six members are recognized for twenty-five years with DOCS Education, honoring their steady role in advancing better, safer care across dentistry.
By Genni Burkhart
In 2024, DOCS Education marked twenty-five years of helping dentists bring safer, more comfortable oral healthcare to patients who struggle with dental fear and anxiety. This year, DOCS celebrates the 25th anniversary of twenty-six members who've been part of the journey since the beginning. Their long-standing commitment reflects the impact DOCS Education has had on clinical practice, patient trust, and the growth of safe sedation dentistry.
From the start, DOCS Education has focused on giving general dentists practical sedation education so they can serve patients who might otherwise avoid care altogether. That vision began with Dr. Michael Silverman, a general dentist who saw how deeply dental fear affected his patients. After advanced training in anesthesia, including a mini-residency in IV sedation at Montefiore Hospital in New York City, he joined with Dr. Anthony Feck in 1999 to launch what would become DOCS Education. Since then, thousands of dental professionals have trained through DOCS, and countless patients have benefited.
Long-time Members, Shared Commitment
A few of the twenty-five-year members who've chosen to share how DOCS Education has shaped their practices and their patients’ experiences include:
- Dr. Kimberly Dankworth: “Working with Dr. Feck and the DOCS Education team has made us better in all ways. Dental sedation for our patients changes their lives and makes doing long appointments so much easier on everyone.”
- Dr. Pete Hehli: "DOCS changed my practice and my life. From Michael and Tony through today's team, all is well with DOCS! Sedation dentistry has allowed me to help so many people, a true blessing. I recommend them to anyone who asks.”
- Dr. Ted Morgan: “Conscious sedation has been a core component of my practice since the 1990s, and I have been closely associated with DOCS since its founding. As a result of DOCS training, we can safely serve a patient population that would not otherwise have access to dental care, while also differentiating the practice and improving profitability. DOCS deserves credit for vastly increasing the availability of sedation dentistry nationwide while courageously defending general dentists' right to continue this essential service to the public. For all of that, they have my gratitude.”
- Dr. Douglas Watanabe: “I have been utilizing oral sedation since the very beginning when Dr Silverman started DOCS. Tremendous practice growth due to marketing for oral sedation.”
Several other silver anniversary members include:
- Dr. Jerry Simon
- Dr. Stanley Asensio
- Dr. Rick Hagstrom
- Dr. Stephen McAnaney
- Dr. Brandon Kasch, along with his father, Dr. Floyd Kasch (retired), and the team at Sleep Dentistry of Portland
Together, all twenty-six silver anniversary dentists represent decades of safe sedation care, thousands of positive patient encounters, and countless cases in which anxious patients were finally able to say yes to treatment.
Members Reflect the DOCS Education Mission
The loyalty of these members aligns with DOCS Education's core mission that sedation training isn't simply about adding a new service. It's about changing the experience for patients who have avoided dentistry for years, opening doors for those with complex medical histories, and giving practices the tools and capability to work more efficiently and confidently.
Over time, DOCS Education has grown from a single course to a broad range of offerings, including oral and IV sedation, pediatric considerations, advanced life support, and emergency airway management. The faculty brings real clinical experience to the classroom, and that practicality is just one reason members often stay connected for decades. Our members aren't simply collecting continuing education credits; they're building a safer, more flexible way to care for patients.
Building On a Strong Foundation
Reaching twenty-six years with twenty-six silver anniversary dentists is no coincidence. It’s a reminder that DOCS Education has impacted the patients these doctors treat, the teams they work with, and the communities they serve.
As DOCS Education looks toward the next chapter, it’s clear these long-time members have helped define safe dental sedation. Their steady connection over twenty-five years is a reminder that the strength of this organization has always come from its members. For that, the faculty and staff at DOCS Education offer a sincere thank-you to the clinicians for the dedication and service they have put into this community.
Author: With over 15 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer, Genni Burkhart's career has spanned politics, healthcare, law, business finance, technology, and news. She resides in Northern Colorado, where she works as the editor-in-chief of the Incisor at DOCS Education.
