We sat down with Dr. Michael Kirk, managing dentist and owner of Grand Dental Studio OKC, to learn more about his background, his passion for dentistry, and his life outside of the dental office. Dr. Kirk celebrates 33 years in dentistry this month.
Where did you grow up, and do you have a favorite childhood memory?
My family is originally from Southeastern Oklahoma, and my early childhood was spent in Stringtown and later in Ada. We moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and I started at Jenks Schools when I was in 8th grade. My favorite childhood memory is spending summers helping on my grandparents’ farm and riding my bicycle back and forth to Main Street in Stringtown on the gravel roads to get treats.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I’m not sure, because during high school I mostly just thought about sports. I knew I liked science and enjoyed being creative, so I thought medical or dental school would be a good fit.
Where did you go to college and what is your dental education?
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry in 1993 after attending Texas State University on a track scholarship. I later finished a special program for dental implants at the University of Texas in 1997. This helped me gain advanced skills to better care for my patients. Continuing education in general, cosmetic, implant, and sedation dentistry has been continuous for me. Within the last few years, I have really begun to increase my knowledge of AI and the new technical advancements in dentistry. I have had many mentors and colleagues provide advice to me along the way.
What are you most passionate about professionally?
I am passionate about many parts of dentistry. I love helping our patients and improving their lives using advanced general and cosmetic dentistry techniques. I’m also proud of the professional team we have at Grand Dental Studio in Oklahoma City. We are very intentional with our training, experience, and the services we offer. We don’t take shortcuts. It takes a lot of focus and effort to provide the best care and customer service every day, which makes me very proud of my team.
Has your definition of success changed as you’ve developed your career?
Most people would call me a motivated and driven person, but over time I’ve learned that things change and evolve and usually work out for the best. I don’t let stress get to me as much as I did when I was younger, so I think I’m more relaxed now. My definition of success has changed to just having more time to relax, exercise, and watch my two sons grow into adults.
What is a perfect day for you?
My wife, Sandra, and I have established a wonderful Friday routine. We walk our two German Shepherds, Noble and Atoka, through Grand Park in Nichols Hills and attend a gentle yoga class. I also participate in a virtual dental education course around midday, and then we enjoy lunch at a new spot each week in Oklahoma City. This fall, our evenings will be dedicated to watching our younger son, a senior at Heritage Hall School, play football as we cheer on the Heritage Hall Chargers.
What is some of the best advice you’ve received in your life?
Time seems to move faster as you get older, so remember to enjoy this moment, this day, and who you spend it with, as it will not come again.
What is No. 1 on your bucket list?
I am really looking forward to traveling with my wife in the future. We have loved every minute of family life, but next year we will enter the empty nest phase. I owe my wife a honeymoon since we never took one. For many years, our lives have revolved around our family, work, and our children’s activities. We both had a lot of obligations at an early age. We spent many years caring for Sandra’s wonderful parents. It will be nice to explore travel and other hobbies. However, I love practicing dentistry, and Sandra has asked that I not retire any time soon!
Oklahoma has had an amazing sports history, which has featured a lineup of individuals such as Mickey Mantle, Shannon Miller, Jim Thorpe, Patty Gasso, etc. Did you have any sports heroes growing up?
Johnny Bench and the Cincinnati Reds were one of my favorite teams as a young boy. The fact he is from Oklahoma just made it better.
How would you like to be remembered?
I haven’t thought much about that. I try my best to stay focused on the present and do good work for my family, my community, and the people I help at work.
You mentioned community. What organizations are you involved in?
I have to mention our church, St. Luke’s Methodist (Downtown OKC). It is a great part of our city. Sandra and I also support the Oklahoma City Ballet and Oklahoma Contemporary. We love helping the arts in Oklahoma City.
Do you have any advice for young people?
I believe in hard work and discipline. I also think you have to be able to quickly recover when life gets difficult. Small, steady steps add up over time. Young people should focus on making progress instead of being perfect and try to let go of disappointment and self-doubt. Keep going; change directions if you need to; and be thankful. Gratitude goes a long way in this life.