Dr. Nusstein, Faculty Member
Dr. John Nusstein received his DDS degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry and then served 12 years in the U.S. Air Force. After earning an M.S. degree and certificate in endodontics from Ohio State’s College of Dentistry, he joined the faculty in 2000 and has served as Chair of the Division of Endodontics since 2006. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, a widely published author and researcher, and he holds the William J. Meyers Endowed Chair in Endodontics.
Spend some time with John and learn about his early years in Chicago, his decision to become a dentist, as well as his passion for baseball and the thing that “keeps him young.”
- Question Where were you born? And what was it like growing up there?
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Answer
I was born and raised in Chicago. My parents moved to the northwest suburb of Morton Grove when I was about two years old. I had lots of friends in the neighborhood, a giant park behind the house to play ball, and I could walk to school. It was just a great place to be a kid.
- Question When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up?
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Answer
I wanted to be a baseball player, but I just didn’t have the size or skill. I loved playing though.
- Question When did you first become a baseball fan? And what’s the best baseball game you’ve ever been to?
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Answer
I became a fan very early on. I started as a Cubs fan, but they broke my heart in ’69 and the early 70s. So I switched to the White Sox, then the Cardinals, and then the Oakland A’s, but I always returned to the Cubs. When they won the World Series in 2016, I got a tattoo to commemorate the once-in-a-lifetime event. But the best game I’ve ever been to was four years ago. It was a Louisville Bats game and I caught my first foul ball on my birthday!
- Question How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a dentist?
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Answer
I decided to become a dentist when I was in my 20’s in undergraduate school. A family member had a successful practice in Chicago. I was really considering optometry as a career, but my college advisor said not to waste my time with that and go into medicine. Hmmm.
- Question Your DDS degree is from the University of Illinois at Chicago. What made you choose Ohio State for your graduate degree in endodontics?
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Answer
I was in the Air Force and Ohio State’s program was one of five highly recommended programs by the Air Force Chief of Endodontics. Once I interviewed and met Drs. Reader, Nist, and Meyers, I was really impressed and so happy when Dr. Reader selected me.
- Question If you could own any car in the world, what would it be? And where would you drive that dream car?
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Answer
The car would be a 1969 AMC Javelin AMX – it’s a real wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’d drive across the U.S., maybe route 66.
- Question What's the best restaurant you’ve ever been to – in the U.S. or beyond? And what meal did you choose when you were there?
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Answer
There are too many great places to pick from. I do miss one though – Esposito’s in Morton Grove in my old neighborhood. It was a family-owned Italian restaurant that closed when the family patriarch passed. Those were the best pizza and pasta dishes I ever ate.
- Question What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
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Answer
White-water rafting with my future wife in Wisconsin on a river way beyond our skill. We got wedged on top of a rock and I had to jump in to push the raft off. Once it came free, it took off and I was holding on for dear life until I could get pulled in.
- Question You spent more than a decade as a dentist in the U.S. Air Force. Describe one experience that made a lifelong impression on you.
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Answer
A great experience was meeting and working with Dr. Ron Milnarik, the endodontist in my General Practice Residency. He turned me on to endodontics and he did that for a lot of young dentists. He still teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Question As an endodontist who works with residents, patients, and also conducts research, what is most rewarding about “wearing all those hats”? And what is most challenging?
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Answer
One of the best things is working with and teaching the residents and dental students. They keep you young, on your toes, and excited to be a teacher. Watching for the moment when the light goes on and you know they finally understand a concept/process/technique is so rewarding. The hardest part is getting to the point where that light goes on.
- Question If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
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Answer
Telekinesis. I’d be able to throw a baseball 120 mph, and I’d probably still be in the show at age 65!
- Question What’s your life motto?
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Answer
“Service above self” was what I lived by for 12 years in the Air Force and that has sort of stuck.