TEAMS Faculty Profile: Dr. Christopher Spencer

Dr. Christopher SpencerDr. Christopher Spencer earned his dental degree from the University of the Pacific in 1978 and practiced dentistry in San Rafael, California, for 24 years. This general dental practice incorporated many aspects of comprehensive dentistry, implementing principles from the Dawson Academy and the Pankey Institute. Dr. Spencer’s interest in dentistry continued to grow and develop. His restorative practice evolved further with a greater interest in the diagnosis and treatment of difficult dental masticatory conditions.

In 2003, Dr. Spencer began teaching Fixed Prosthodontics at the University of the Pacific. This began a whole new career that involved a two-year fellowship in craniofacial pain in the Parker E. Mahan Facial Pain center at the University of Florida. Dr. Spencer subsequently served as clinical director of the Facial Pain Center and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthodontics for two years.

Dr. Spencer has enjoyed teaching here at the University of Florida and at other continuing education venues. He has lectured and taught courses in head and neck anatomy, prosthodontics, occlusion, splint therapy, TMD, dental pharmacology, and other orofacial pain conditions.

Dr. Spencer is happily married with five children and three grandchildren so far. He would love to be involved in mission trips here with the dental students and has spent time in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. He believes that dentistry is a wonderful way to express appreciation for the gifts and opportunities we have received.

Where were you born?

Los Angeles, CA – 1952.

What made you decide to go into dentistry?

Dentistry offered an opportunity to provide a balance between my desire to help people, interest in health care, and satisfaction from utilizing my hand skills.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

Receiving letters from students and patients explaining how my small efforts on their behalf had made a difference in their lives.

If you could live anywhere on earth (and money was no issue) where would you choose to live?

Wherever the good Lord wants me today!
A favorite spot though: Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite.

How do you most like to spend your free time?

Spending time with my sweetheart (married over 33 years), my children and grandchildren.

What was the last book you read?

Faith in Future Grace by John Piper – an awesome book.

Who are your heroes in real life?

  1. Mother Theresa
  2. All of the janitors, service people here at the school that clean and serve the rest of us
  3. Jesus Christ who gave His life to save me from my sins

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

I would have loved to have been capable of a .300 major league batting average. (In other words – hit a baseball and have much more large motor coordination!)

What is your motto?

Help others – believing that even small efforts can make a difference.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of an excellent group of Team leaders and desire that this new program be truly patient centered (and provide the excellent learning environment we all envision).