Bruce William Smith
Encyclopedia
Bruce William Smith (b. March 3, 1951) is a dentist, LGBT advocate, and philanthropist residing in Houston, Texas. In 1981 he established a private practice in the Neartown
area of Houston. and has been practicing there since.
Smith is noted for being the first dentist in the Houston area to treat persons with HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s. He was the founder the Houston District Dental Society's (now known as the Greater Houston Dental Society) infectious hazards committee and is a co-founder of the Bering Dental Clinic (which is now part of Bering Omega Community Services).
required the family to move often during Smith's childhood. Eventually, this brought his family to Richardson, Texas
in the mid-1960s. He graduated from Richardson High School in 1969. He attended University of Texas at Arlington
and graduated in 1975 with a B.S. in biology with an emphasis in microbiology and a minor in chemistry. While he was in college he worked in a dental lab where he learned how to work with plaster and molds. This combined with an interest in working with his hands led him to pursue a career in dentistry where he could utilize his love of science and artistic ability. He earned a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating in 1979, he spent two years in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, rising to the rank of Lieutenant
. During his time in the Corps, he focused on sterilization and infection control practices. He was stationed at Prairie View A&M in Hempstead, Texas
. In 1981, he left the corps and established a practice in the Neartown
area of Houston, Texas, where he currently resides with his partner, Tony Carroll
. They were married in 2003 in Canada.
/AIDS
patient who was suffering from an excruciating toothache. No other dentists that the physician approached would treat the patient due to his
HIV
/AIDS
infection. Using his background in microbiology and knowledge gained working in the corps with sterilization and universal precautions
, Smith agreed to treat the patient. For several years after, it was only Smith and a small number of other dentists in Houston that would treat HIV/AIDS patients. Smith would go on to advocate more frequent dental care for patients with HIV/AIDS in order prevent life threatening complications which are often trivial or minor for healthy individuals.
Smith used his knowledge and experience to teach other dentists universal precautions
that made treating HIV/AIDS patients as safe as treating any other patients, though initially was met with resistance by some professionals. Eventually, universal precautions
were accepted as proper protocol for all dentists. Since then the CDC
has established 'Standard Precautions' to deal with individuals with blood-borne pathogens. The threat of transmission of such viruses is very real, but if proper guidelines and procedures are followed, the risk of transmission is virtually nonexistent.
In spite of increased awareness and education about AIDS, many dentists at the time still refused to treat HIV/AIDS infected individuals. Smith and other dentists sought to establish a clinic specifically for HIV/AIDS infected patients where these individuals could receive adequate dental treatment without discrimination. They were turned down by many private organizations and Harris County
for a location where they could treat their patients. However, they finally found a location of practice at the Bering United Methodist Church.
The Bering Dental Clinic offers treatment to these individuals free of charge and without prejudice. It was initially funded by the Bering Memorial Methodist Church, the Bering Community Service Foundation and the Houston District Dental Society; the clinic received no public funding. Now, they also receive Federal and State funding in addition to the continued donations of individuals and private foundations. In 2005, the clinic served 2,351 patients.
As of 2010, Smith is still a Board of Trustees Member for Bering Omega.
, Lambda Legal
, the Texas Freedom Network
, Planned Parenthood
, the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby, the American Civil Liberties Union
, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
.
Neartown Houston
Neartown is an area located in west-central Houston, Texas, United States and is one of the city's major cultural areas. Neartown is roughly bounded by U.S. Highway 59 to the south, Allen Parkway to the north, Bagby Street on the east, and Shepherd Drive to the west...
area of Houston. and has been practicing there since.
Smith is noted for being the first dentist in the Houston area to treat persons with HIV/AIDS in the early 1980s. He was the founder the Houston District Dental Society's (now known as the Greater Houston Dental Society) infectious hazards committee and is a co-founder of the Bering Dental Clinic (which is now part of Bering Omega Community Services).
Personal Life and education
Smith was born in Troy, New York. His father's job with IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
required the family to move often during Smith's childhood. Eventually, this brought his family to Richardson, Texas
Richardson, Texas
Richardson is a city in Dallas and Collin Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 99,223. In 2011 the population was estimated to be 107,684. Richardson is an affluent inner suburb of Dallas and home of the Telecom Corridor with a high...
in the mid-1960s. He graduated from Richardson High School in 1969. He attended University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
and graduated in 1975 with a B.S. in biology with an emphasis in microbiology and a minor in chemistry. While he was in college he worked in a dental lab where he learned how to work with plaster and molds. This combined with an interest in working with his hands led him to pursue a career in dentistry where he could utilize his love of science and artistic ability. He earned a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. After graduating in 1979, he spent two years in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, rising to the rank of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. During his time in the Corps, he focused on sterilization and infection control practices. He was stationed at Prairie View A&M in Hempstead, Texas
Hempstead, Texas
Hempstead is a city in Waller County, Texas, United States. The community, located at the junctions of U.S. Highway 290, Texas State Highway 6, and Texas State Highway 159, is around fifty miles northwest of Downtown Houston. The population was 4,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
. In 1981, he left the corps and established a practice in the Neartown
Neartown Houston
Neartown is an area located in west-central Houston, Texas, United States and is one of the city's major cultural areas. Neartown is roughly bounded by U.S. Highway 59 to the south, Allen Parkway to the north, Bagby Street on the east, and Shepherd Drive to the west...
area of Houston, Texas, where he currently resides with his partner, Tony Carroll
Tony Carroll
Tony Carroll, LCSW, established a psychotherapy practice in the Neartown area of Houston in 1983, making it the oldest GLBT psychotherapy practice in the city. He served as the first openly gay president of the Texas Society for Clinical Social Work and conducted one of the first studies on the...
. They were married in 2003 in Canada.
Treating Patients with HIV/AIDS
Smith was approached shortly after establishing his practice by Dr. Dodiér Piot who had a HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patient who was suffering from an excruciating toothache. No other dentists that the physician approached would treat the patient due to his
HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
infection. Using his background in microbiology and knowledge gained working in the corps with sterilization and universal precautions
Universal precautions
Universal precautions refers to the practice, in medicine, of avoiding contact with patients' bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields. The practice was introduced in 1985–88. In 1987, the practice of universal precautions was...
, Smith agreed to treat the patient. For several years after, it was only Smith and a small number of other dentists in Houston that would treat HIV/AIDS patients. Smith would go on to advocate more frequent dental care for patients with HIV/AIDS in order prevent life threatening complications which are often trivial or minor for healthy individuals.
Smith used his knowledge and experience to teach other dentists universal precautions
Universal precautions
Universal precautions refers to the practice, in medicine, of avoiding contact with patients' bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields. The practice was introduced in 1985–88. In 1987, the practice of universal precautions was...
that made treating HIV/AIDS patients as safe as treating any other patients, though initially was met with resistance by some professionals. Eventually, universal precautions
Universal precautions
Universal precautions refers to the practice, in medicine, of avoiding contact with patients' bodily fluids, by means of the wearing of nonporous articles such as medical gloves, goggles, and face shields. The practice was introduced in 1985–88. In 1987, the practice of universal precautions was...
were accepted as proper protocol for all dentists. Since then the CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
has established 'Standard Precautions' to deal with individuals with blood-borne pathogens. The threat of transmission of such viruses is very real, but if proper guidelines and procedures are followed, the risk of transmission is virtually nonexistent.
Infectious Hazards Committee
In 1983 Smith founded and headed the Houston District Dental Society's infectious hazards committee for five years. The committee's goal was to find a way to provide care for HIV/AIDS patients in Harris County.In spite of increased awareness and education about AIDS, many dentists at the time still refused to treat HIV/AIDS infected individuals. Smith and other dentists sought to establish a clinic specifically for HIV/AIDS infected patients where these individuals could receive adequate dental treatment without discrimination. They were turned down by many private organizations and Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
for a location where they could treat their patients. However, they finally found a location of practice at the Bering United Methodist Church.
Bering Dental Clinic
With local dentists, philanthropists, and charities, Smith helped found The Bering Dental Clinic on September 4, 1987, which consisted of a staff of about 35 volunteer dentists donating their services to treat individuals with HIV/AIDS on a rotating schedule. Most dentists at the time were reluctant to treat patients with HIV/AIDS for fear of contracting or spreading the disease and potentially alienating other patients due to the stigma attached to the disease. Individuals could receive the preventive care that they had been denied but so crucially needed.The Bering Dental Clinic offers treatment to these individuals free of charge and without prejudice. It was initially funded by the Bering Memorial Methodist Church, the Bering Community Service Foundation and the Houston District Dental Society; the clinic received no public funding. Now, they also receive Federal and State funding in addition to the continued donations of individuals and private foundations. In 2005, the clinic served 2,351 patients.
As of 2010, Smith is still a Board of Trustees Member for Bering Omega.
Private practice
Smith continues dentistry in Houston, Texas. His practice has earned him the Favorite Dentist Award from OutSmart Magazine since 2000.Advocacy, philanthropy and charity work
In addition to his extensive work with the Bering Dental Clinic, Bering Omega Foundation, and Bering Community Service Foundation, Smith is also involved in a number of political and charitable causes, including the Victory Fund, the Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
, Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal
Lambda Legal is an American civil rights organization that focuses on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender communities as well as people living with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.Lambda's founder William J. Thom, Esq...
, the Texas Freedom Network
Texas Freedom Network
The Texas Freedom Network is a Texas organization formed to protect religious freedom, defend civil liberties, and strengthen public schools in the State of Texas...
, Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
, the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby, the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
.