School of Dentistry Award Recipients

YOUNG ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD

Barrett D. Straub, D.D.S., Dent '04

Cedarburg, Wis.

There is one clear reason why Barrett enjoys dentistry — he has the ability to positively impact lives.

“There continues to be a great fear of the dentist in our society,” Barrett says. “Overcoming this hurdle is near and dear to my heart, and I am passionate about helping those that can’t access care due to fear.”

Barrett, a general dentist in Port Washington, Wis., has provided sedation dentistry for the past 12 years. The reason for doing so is to give those with high dental anxiety who have been avoiding the dental office a solution to overcome their fear and a chance at having a healthy mouth. He views his role in helping them to regain their self-confidence an honor and providing excellent care his responsibility.

He credits Marquette School of Dentistry’s focus on quality first and doing dentistry “the right way” for helping him become the dentist he is today. He defines success as “doing the right thing, even when it is difficult, and especially when nobody is looking.”

As a student, he served on the Wisconsin Dental Association Board of Trustees as the student representative, and as the national consultant on legislation for the American Student Dental Association. He has continued to stay involved with the WDA over the years and currently sits on both the WDA Legislative Committee and Political Action Committee boards.

“It is also my responsibility to be as generous as I can for those less fortunate,” he says. “Some of the most gratifying dentistry I have provided has been the pro-bono work and the free dentistry provided through the WDA Foundation’s Donated Dental Services program.”

Fun Facts:
Someone with whom you'd like to have dinner: I would choose to have dinner with my two grandfathers, who are no longer with us.

Favorite Marquette memory: Watching Marquette men’s basketball go to the Final Four in 2003.

Favorite quote: “If you think you can, or think you can’t, you are probably right.” – Henry Ford