Ronald Lambert, D.D.S., MHA, CHE

Class 1994-1996

BA, Jamestown College, Jamestown, ND, 1973
DDS Univ. Iowa, 1977
MHA, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX, 1996

Diplomate, Federal Srvc. Board General Dentistry
Diplomate, American Board of General Dentistry

DENCOM, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 2002 to present
Commander, DENTAC, Fort Drum, NY, 1996-98
Resident, Fitzsimons AMC, Denver, CO, 1995-96

Narrative

I applied for entry into the US Army-Baylor University Masters in Healthcare Administration Program to better prepare me for future assignments and broaden my administrative background. The academic year at Baylor proved to be a challenging, but extremely rewarding experience. Perhaps more than the exposure to economics, healthcare theory, statistics, finance, etc., was the intellectual engagement with faculty and classmates. During our academic year, the focus of discussion was on universal healthcare coverage and cost containment through managed care and the debate in Congress about adopting the proposals of the Clinton administration. Ironically, the United States did not adopt a universal healthcare plan and costs are now spiraling as the initial cost containment measures of managed care dissipate. My administrative year was spent at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center under the direction of Colonel Rick Booth, the Deputy Commander for Administration. Shortly after I arrived at Fitzsimons, the medical center begin preparing for closure under the base realignment and closure (BRAC) process. This proved to be a fascinating process as I observed all the detail and planning that went into a well-planned, phased closure. The year also offered the opportunity to attend the Region 8 TRICARE Conference in Breckenridge, Colorado, the Colorado Healthcare meeting in Aspen, the American College of Healthcare Executive Meeting in Chicago and various local meetings. Most important was the mentoring I received from BG James S. Parker, the Commander, COL Booth, my preceptor, and a score of other dedicated military officers, enlisted soldiers and civilians.

From Fitzsimons, I went to Fort Drum, New York, where I served as the DENTAC Commander from 1996-1998. During this time, I also became involved in the Army Dental Care System’s (ADCS) Dental Care Reengineering Initiative (DCRI). I served as the Chair of the Oversight Committee and traveled extensively to visit various installations and develop a campaign plan for improvement of our system. The efforts of our initial group led to beta testing at 5 installations within the ADCS by the summer of 1998. The initial test phase has now spread to 15 installations under the Dental Care Optimization (DCO) umbrella. The goals of our efforts were to improve efficiencies in clinical practice resulting in improved dental outcomes for our patients and to improve the quality of practices for our providers. From Fort Drum, I moved to Germany, where I served as the Program Director of the Landstuhl Dental Activity’s Advanced General Dentistry - 1 Year Program, the Army’s first post-graduate residency in an overseas location. It was a hectic tour as the first class of residents arrived shortly after I did and we gained full accreditation by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation by the time they graduated a year later. This experience proved to be one of my most rewarding, as I was able to actively mentor new dental officers. My present assignment is Chief of Staff of the Army Dental Command (DENCOM), a position that challenges my multi-tasking skills learned at Baylor.

The skills and contacts I gained at Baylor have served me well at succeeding assignments. Tangible tools include financial management and analytical skills. The contacts from Baylor have been extremely valuable as I engage instructors and classmates at the senior executive level within the Army Medical Department. My advice to incoming Baylor students is to recognize that healthcare is more than a business - you have been entrusted with the health of the Army’s most valuable asset, it’s people. What we do on a day-to-day basis shapes the career choices of all we encounter - never take this responsibility lightly. In management decisions, always take the high ground, never compromise your integrity, and do the right thing. Finally, keep balance in your life - work hard and play hard. Life and continuous education and self-development are a journey to be enjoyed.