When they’re not using their hands to practice dentistry, the staff at Dr. Patrick Pirkle’s office enjoy a variety of hobbies with an emphasis on handiwork, from cooking to carpentry.
Meet the hands behind the dentistry through these portraits and personal accounts shared by the Pirkle team.
Kim
I used to think working 100 hour work week as the only female executive at my Los Angeles/San Diego firm was exhausting. I could do it standing on my head now – nothing compares to sleepless nights with a newborn, or my child’s first stomach flu as a new mom. Motherhood has changed me in so many ways and I believe true unconditional love is the most important lesson I have learned. Until I looked into those big eyes that first second of his life, I never knew what true love was like. I had no idea raising a roaring two legged locomotive would be so fulfilling and exhausting. My son is a ball of energy and keeps me on my toes 24/7. He is obsessed with dinosaurs and monster trucks, and likes to greet people with a very loud T-Rex roar. We laugh all of the time – he has the best sense of humor. The best part of being a mom is during story time, when he leans over to get a hug and a kiss, and he tells me I’m the most beautiful mommy ever and that he loves me. The greatest gift and blessing for me is my child’s love.
Maggie
I have been involved in dentistry since 1993 in all aspects such as dental hygienist, dental assistant, receptionist and office management. Although dentistry is my life’s passion, I am also an avid gardener. I enjoy growing all types of fruit and vegetables, and I propagate from seeds and cuttings. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to nurture the plants from seeds to harvest. There is nothing more fulfilling that to eat home grown produce – it’s a great sense of accomplishment for me.
James
I am one of the hygienists you may see at Dr. Pirkle’s office. I am a graduate from Santa Fe College and have been practicing dentistry in Gainesville for eight years. Patients love to come see me because I am great with kids, and I make even the most anxious patients feel comfortable during dental procedures. I have four children of my own, and have lived in Gainesville for 24 years. When I’m not at work, I love to cook. My wife’s family owns Chopstix Café. They are a family full of chefs, so I have to be able to hold my own when it comes to cooking. I enjoy food from all over the world, but I really enjoy creating different sushi rolls as well as grilling with Vietnamese recipes.
Dr. Pirkle
For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed being creative with my hands. I took as many art classes as were available while I was in high school. Later on in college, I built a lot of my furniture out of necessity. While in college, I realized I wanted a career where I could be creative with my hands and help people out at the same time. So, I decided to follow the footsteps of my grandfather and father and pursue an exciting career in dentistry. Every day at work is fun and enjoyable because I can be creative and help out patients at the same time. In my spare time, one of my hobbies is woodworking. I love the process of designing a project and starting from scratch in the pursuit of making a piece of furniture. With two great boys at home, it’s a lot of fun to build beds, Lego tables, stools and other toys for them.