David Gonzalez, third-gen UC employee
Share This Article
Meet the unsung hero playing a ‘small part’ in dental students’ success
By Eric Brooks, UCSF
David Gonzalez could be the UCSF School of Dentistry’s best kept secret.
The clinic administrative services coordinator, husband, and father of three has been at UCSF for 27 years, and has his hands in most every aspect of a Dentistry student’s journey. “You name it and I probably do or have done it,” Gonzalez said.
Among those responsibilities, Gonzalez maintains the academic schedule for all third- and fourth-year Dentistry students – a “grid” he works on year round that essentially tells students where they’re supposed to be each week of the academic year.
“Whether it’s in the clinic on the second floor seeing patients or on rotations, it’s a big, big chunk of my year,” Gonzalez said. “Every student does a rotation through specialty clinics like Oral Surgery, Endodontics, and Periodontics. That’s all part of the grid.”
He also organizes the annual American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) assessments, a series of simulated and clinical tests given to graduating dental students. The exams are required to gain licensure as legal dentists in many states around the country, including California.
But it’s the mission of UCSF and support for its students that’s quite literally baked into his DNA. Gonzalez is a third-generation UCSF employee, following in the dedicated footsteps of his grandfather, uncle, sister, mom, and dad. “We always joke about having a Gonzalez statue outside of UCSF,” he said. “A lot of blood, sweat, and tears from the Gonzalez family have been shed here.”
There’s more, too.
His wife, Vanessa Campos-Gonzalez, is clinic supervisor at the School of Dentistry’s Orthodontic Clinic. The two start every workday with a ride in together.
This one will be no different with a big day looming at Parnassus Heights.
Tag along as we follow Gonzalez through a day in his life.
7:25 a.m. | Home away from home
The couple pulls into the UCSF Dental Center to start the day.
The two — who met at UCSF — commute together from their home in the Outer Sunset District to the Parnassus Heights campus.
Final ADEX exams are taking place the next day.
So, today is all about preparation for Gonzalez.
Any students who haven’t yet completed the fourth section of the test have one more chance to pass, ensuring they gain licensure ahead of commencement. Gonzalez will spend most of his day getting ADEX exam materials in place and doing final checks.
“We want to make sure from the back end that nothing goes wrong that’s going to cause these students to fail,” Gonzalez said. “That’s the big priority from our end. We want to make sure that our students are successful.”
First things first. As he settles in, he checks his email from overnight.
9:30 a.m. | Sweet treat
Even dentists deserve some sugary goodness.
Gonzalez brings smiles to the Dental Center with a tray of doughnuts, a monthly staff appreciation treat from the School of Dentistry Dean’s Office. He talks with Diana Nguyen, DDS, associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, and Iris Xie, practice coordinator in the Predoctoral Clinics, as they partake in the mid-morning snack.
10:10 a.m. | Behind the scenes
The coveted ADEX exam materials are in the house.
Gonzalez needs to make sure they get to the right place.
The exams are tucked away in heavy, locked crates – not an easy lift. These items must be set by 6:30 a.m. the following morning when students arrive. Gonzalez is also preparing to meet with ADEX test administrators, scheduled to arrive at Parnassus Heights later in the day. “It never stops,” he says.
11 a.m. | One-time coworkers to forever best friends
Gonzalez has squeezed two profound perks out of his career at UCSF.
One was falling in love with his wife, Vanessa. The other was meeting two of his best friends, Petri Gordon and Frank Vinculado. Gordon is a former employee who worked with Gonzalez for 14 years at the Dental Center, while Vinculado used to work in the School of Dentistry’s Oral Radiology Clinic.
“We’re all lifelong friends,” Gonzalez said.
The three walk up Parnassus Avenue for lunch at Millberry Union.
2:30 p.m. | A small part of the success of our future dentists
Back at the Dental Center, Gonzalez talks with Lingyi Xu, a first-year dental student, and Morgan Ng, a second-year dental student, in the Oral Radiology Clinic.
They’re simulating a patient visit inside the exam room.
“We’re molding the future of the dentists in this country,” he said.
2:45 p.m. | I always enjoy collaborating
If the students are the glue, then Gonzalez is the connective tissue.
He’s a collaborator, a trait that helps move things along at the School of Dentistry.
In making the rounds, he meets with Jack Gormley, Ed.D., assistant dean of Learner Success and Belonging in the Dean’s Office.
Later, he huddles with Heidi Hirsohn and Gary Kwong, both appointment assistants at the Dental Center front desk. Some patients drive hours to receive care at the Dental Center — even as far as Nevada – because they are unable to find a dentist near their home who accepts Medi-Cal Dental, California’s dental program for Medicare patients.
UCSF is the state’s largest provider of dental care for this population, and the Dental Center’s Student General Dentistry Clinic plays an outsized role delivering a full spectrum of oral health care for these patients, from cleanings and X-rays to specialized treatment for complex conditions.
Gonzalez works to make their experience at UCSF smooth, efficient, and compassionate.
“The patients that we have here at the School of Dentistry are our main focus,” he said. “We can’t just look at the student academic side of it all. Nobody likes going to the dentist. We want to make sure that their teeth and mouth are healthy. By providing excellent care and service to patients, we are making our students better clinicians.”
5:15 p.m. | Finishing the day off
Gonzalez, his wife, Vanessa, and their family dog, Lance, enjoy a relaxing moment in the family garden to bookend the day.
It’s just what the dentist ordered.