Mister Media

A funny thing happened when I went to visit my father at the Midwestern University Dental Institute the other day.

I noticed that after the staff would give me their friendly welcoming smiles, they would sneak a peek behind me. Like I was being followed.

I quickly figured out why - they have come to expect that when I drop by for a visit, I'm usually bringing along someone from the media.

It has gotten to the point that I have been able to see what our Clinical Psychology program faculty might call "the flight reflex" from some of the dental students when I appear in the suite area of the Dental Institute.

Our student practitioners have earned raves for their cheerful and pleasant chairside manners from their patients. And when I do bring media members into the Midwestern University clinics, the faculty, staff, and students respond like champions - certainly better than I could do myself if the circumstances were reversed. Our people represent so well in the media that the demand from the media for availabilities has been skyrocketing over the past year.

That increased demand is why, when I say "Hello" to someone at the clinics, I can see, "Let me guess, you want me to give an interview" writ large in their body language behind their friendly smiles.

At some point I'm going to have to bring gifts with me, or take everyone out for lunch, or do something to convince them that I don't exist simply to fill their world with voice recorders, notepads, and cameras. Right now, I feel a bit like Cliff Claven from Cheers when I walk into the lobby.

All joking aside, though, I'm very proud of how well everyone here has responded to the increased media demands we have experienced in 2011. It is a testament to everyone's professionalism that they make my job so easy while I am making their jobs more difficult.

I promise, everyone... next time I'm bringing cookies.