Scott G. Stafford inducted into 59th Medical Wing Honorary Commanders Program
Scott G. Stafford, DDS, MBA, FICD, associate dean of patient care at UT San Antonio School of Dentistry, was inducted into the 59th Medical Wing Honorary Commanders Program during the Honorary Commanders Induction Ceremony and Welcome Social in October.
The 59th Medical Wing Honorary Commanders Program is designed to strengthen relationships between the medical wing’s senior leaders and the greater San Antonio medical community. Through open dialogue, shared learning and increased understanding of each other’s missions, the program fosters partnerships that support healthcare delivery, leadership development and community readiness. Participants are paired with key 59th Medical Wing leaders for a two-year term. Opportunities include networking with military and community leaders, gaining behind-the-scenes experiences at 59th Medical Wing facilities and engaging in discussions around shared challenges in healthcare, leadership and public service.
Building bridges and leadership
In a city where military and civilian medicine are closely intertwined, Stafford views the role as both an honor and an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between military and civilian dental training programs that share a commitment to service. He emphasized the value of building bridges between training environments, exploring how residents and faculty can learn from each other, identifying where partnerships might make sense and how collaboration could broaden program experiences to the benefit of students, residents and patients.
Stafford also highlighted the breadth of dental specialty training available within the military system and the unique access it provides service members. For him, engaging directly with military health leaders provides a deeper understanding of their training model and helps identify areas where the School of Dentistry and military programs can mutually benefit.
“I see the honorary commander role as an opportunity to strengthen leadership development on both sides,” Stafford said. “The military’s training environments emphasize not only clinical excellence, but also leadership discipline, experience I hope to translate back to our School of Dentistry learners.”
When asked about a leadership skill he didn’t learn in school but relies on every day, Stafford pointed to being a good listener and asking better questions. He also said that dental education can better prepare future leaders by providing students with more frequent, meaningful interactions with patients — helping to strengthen communication, confidence and the relationship-building soft skills that many learners are still developing.
A partnership grounded in service
The 59th Dental Group is led by Col. Carl P. Bhend, a career Air Force dentist and commander whose background reflects the military wing’s commitment to readiness, comprehensive care and training. The 59th Dental Group is the Department of Defense’s largest dental service and worldwide consultant center, with 400 personnel, providing comprehensive oral and maxillofacial healthcare to 253,000 beneficiaries.
As the Honorary Commanders Program continues over the next two years, Stafford looks forward to collaborating with Bhend and other military leaders, learning from their leadership approaches and identifying opportunities that support both institutions’ shared mission: developing excellent clinicians and leaders while advancing care for the communities they serve.