Dr. Jim Cottle

I grew up in Orange, Connecticut – near New Haven. It was a classic, small New England community that was anchored by a town square with a church at the end. My childhood revolved around Long Island Sound, where my siblings and I spent summers at the beach while our father raced sailboats. He taught all of us to sail. After several moves, we settled in Worthington, Ohio, where I continued sailing and racing on local reservoirs. Racing sailboats taught me that teamwork is essential for success. My greatest adventure was crewing on a Beneteau 36.7 yacht in the Bayview Mackinac Race. We sailed from Port Huron, Michigan to Mackinac Island—259 nautical miles over 2.5 days. It was a super cool opportunity, and we won our class!

My family was pretty typical for the era. My dad was a mechanical engineer, and my mom stayed home to raise the three of us—very common in the 1950s and 60s. As the youngest, I was unquestionably the most obnoxious child. My brother and sister would confirm that without hesitation. Thankfully, I eventually grew up.

I attended Worthington High School and loved my time there. Beyond academics, music was my world. I played drums and percussion in the marching band, orchestra, jazz band, and a vocal ensemble with piano, bass, and drums. I also played in a rock band with friends my age. I’d love to hear a recording of that band today. A rock star career wasn’t in the cards, but it sure was fun while it lasted!

My path to dentistry began in my sophomore year at Ohio University. I had an appointment with my family dentist, Dr. James Pardi, and he asked about my future plans. When I admitted I was an undecided pre-med student, he invited me to shadow his dental practice. Two weeks later, I knew dentistry was the right path for me. Looking back 45 years later, I know I chose the perfect career.

The most amazing difference is the extraordinary technology we have now—composite materials, digital X-rays, CAD/CAM, 3D imaging (CBCT), 3D printing, clear aligner technologies, lasers, dental sleep medicine, and more. These innovations were unimaginable when I graduated. I’d love to know what dentistry will look like 40 years from now!

My career has been filled with opportunities for which I’m grateful. Completing a GPR program significantly strengthened my confidence and competence with patient care. Even in dental school, I knew I wanted to teach part-time while practicing. Thanks to Dr. Robert Jaynes (then Director of Radiology), I joined Ohio State’s dental faculty in 1984 – the first year of my private practice – and continued teaching part-time for the next three decades, serving in the Dental Emergency Clinic. In 2015, I joined the full-time faculty, taught practice management, served as GPR Co-Director, and lectured on laser dentistry, dental sleep medicine, and other topics. Now, as Director of Community Education and Outreach in the Division of Dental Public Health, I’m privileged to oversee the OHIO Project. This 22-year-old access to care initiative enables D4 students to bridge the gap between service and education as they provide faculty-supervised dental care in diverse clinical settings throughout Ohio. 

I’m especially proud of co-creating the Dental Practice Opportunity Network (DPON) with Ellen Hoover, a former College of Dentistry staff member. DPON is the college’s first centralized resource for students to find jobs and dental practices to hire new associates and dental hygienists. I’m also deeply involved in organized dentistry, serving as past president of the Columbus Dental Society, and I’m active in the Ohio Dental Association and the American Dental Association. This is our profession, and we must stay engaged in shaping its future.

I have two. If you don’t reach beyond your comfort zone, you’ll miss some of life’s adventures, preventing you from discovering new passions and limiting your true purpose and potential. And be a volunteer. I encourage all dental professionals to share their knowledge and skills with those who face barriers to care. Volunteering even a few days each year can transform patients’ lives and remind us that service is at the heart of our profession. To get started, reach out to the Ohio Dental Association’s Volunteer Connection or your local dental society.