Denturist Profile: Shawn Murray |
Shawn Murray’s career in denturism began in Washington State, where she worked as a dental laboratory technician. In 1986 she attended a class offered at the Oregon Denturist College, where she met Lillian Peterson. Lillian introduced herself as living in Florence and talked about wanting to sell her business there. Shawn had dreamed of living in this coastal community. Wanting to expand her professional horizons to include more patient contact, she decided to explore other ways to do the work she enjoyed. She learned that Oregon laws governing denturism would grandfather in those with relevant practical experience (relieving them of the requirement of 1,000 hours of internship practicum) and allow them to take the licensing examination if they completed the necessary classroom training. Shawn saw this as the opportunity she had been looking for and began attending classes on weekends through the continuing education program at Oregon Denturist College.
After finishing the necessary coursework Shawn again spoke to Lillian about her practice and made a trip to Florence. In the end, she returned to Washington, sold her lab, bought Lillian’s practice and moved to Florence. In 1990 Shawn sat for the Oregon denturist licensing examination, passed it and received her Oregon denturist license.
As a sole practitioner with a two-person staff, Shawn is one of two denturists now practicing in Florence. She also has a practice in Eugene, where she works 2 and a half days a week.
Shawn’s involvement in denturism has extended beyond her local practices since the very beginning. She joined the Oregon State Denturist Association in 1989 and served as president in 1992 and 1993. She remains an active leader in the OSDA through her Platinum level membership and long standing service as a member of the Board of Directors. At another level, Shawn has mentored four denturist students, providing them with an opportunity to obtain the 1,000 hours of internship training needed in order to take the licensing examination. To date, three of these four students have gone on to establish practices of their own: two in Oregon and one in Washington.
In 1994 Shawn became a member of the Oregon Board of Denture Technology, the state body that oversees the profession as well as establishes the policies and procedures under which it operates. She served as Board chair from 1994 to 2001. Shawn believes that it is important for denturists to remain politically informed and active. “If we don’t make the effort to control our own practice, someone else will. But being politically strong does not mean that good working relationships with other dental professionals cannot exist”, she says. “If we can find a way to build these relationships, we can create incredible products and provide exceptional service to the public.”
Shawn is confident that denturism is here to stay and that one day it will be a nationwide profession. While she views the expanded scope of practice that now includes partial dentures critically important to the vitality of the profession, she also recognizes the additional responsibility that is involved, especially where skill development is concerned. “Now, more than ever, continuing education is critically important if we are to guarantee the best quality products and services for our patients. I always strive to be the very best denturist I can, and I try to make myself available to those who want to do the same.”