Dr. Bray Joins Foundation Board
Dr. Bray earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry before obtaining his Certificate of Orthodontics at EIOH in 1975. He also earned a Master’s in Science at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry the following year with a major course in genetics.
As a past president of the American Association of Orthodontists, Dr. Bray facilitated meetings with the American Dental Association and the Dental Specialty Group. Dr. Bray also chairs the Board of Trustees, made up of eight components across the United States and Canada.
Facilitating relationships with foreign orthodontic societies has been a goal of Dr. Bray's and has led to meetings between the American Association of Orthodontists and orthodontic societies in Australia, Britain, Europe, Japan, China, Taiwan and India.
He is past president of the Middle Atlantic Society of Orthodontists and previously served as its trustee to the American Association of Orthodontists. Additionally, Dr. Bray is a member of the American Dental Association, a founding member of the American Orthodontic Lingual Association, and a member of The Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists, North Atlantic Component. He was treasurer of the local Atlantic Cape May County Dental Society for 20 years.
Dr. Bray is an avid supporter of education. He has served on the Brigantine Board of Education, including working as Board president for 11 years. For more than 20 years, Dr. Bray has taught orthodontics at the Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry and is also a visiting professor at Eastman Institute of Oral Health. He has published and presented nationally and internationally on effective practice management, among other topics.
In addition, Dr. Bray works to advance the profession, as well as other civic causes close to his heart, including Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and the United Way. He is a trustee on the Board for Shore Medical Center and Vice Chairman and a Board member of the Shore Physician Group.
Today, Dr. Bray has seven locations for his private practice that he shares with partners, including Dr. Rob Tarby (Ortho ’12., MS ‘12). He also owns two liquor stores, run by son Michael Bray and a realty company, with a huge amount of help from his wife Mandi.
Q. When did you know you wanted to be an orthodontist?
A. I decided I wanted to be an Orthodontist when I traveled to Philadelphia from the suburbs when I was in 6th grade going through treatment myself. Never looked back.
Q. Favorite memory and/or describe the quality of your education from your residency at Eastman.
A. My favorite memory from education was at Eastman. It was the tremendous impact both Dan Subtelny and Dr. Bob Baker had on me as a student and later. They were both remarkable!! I will never forget Dan's question to me from the hot seat seminar was what happens when the baby goes through the birth canal. To me, Dan was so wise he was like Socrates, but better.
Q. Why do you want to serve on the Board?
A. It was an honor to be asked by the Board to serve. I owe it all to Eastman for what I have been able to do so if there's anything I can do to give back in any small way I'm happy to do it.
Q. When was the last time you challenged yourself?
A. As chairman of the J Daniel Subtelny endowment fund. I was proud that we raised over $2 million for such a worthy cause and I was President of the American Association of Orthodontists. I dedicated our national meeting in Washington DC 2010 to both Dan Subtelny and Bob Baker. They were truly outstanding leaders in the field of orthodontics.
I continue to try and raise money for this wonderful profession and was recently asked when Dan passed away by his family to accept gifts in Dan's name to the Dan Subtelny fund in which we raised almost $20,000.
Q. Married? Kids?
A. Yes, my wife's name is Mandi. I have 2 grown sons, Ryan and Micahel, from my previous marriage and I have the privilege of helping Mandi raise her three children, Claire 18, Ellie 17 and Jack 14, from her previous marriage.
Q. What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A. Spending time with my wife Mandi and the kids. We also have two beautiful grandchildren that we adore. Living on an Island we love and enjoy sailing, traveling and continuing to grow and learn each day.
Q. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it would be?
A. I'm sure like many of us, we would all prefer to have more time. I would love to be able to get all accomplished that I set out to do within a certain time frame. Having more time would allow me to continue my passion for orthodontics and be able to give back to this wonderful profession. It has truly given me and my family and extended family so much over the years. We are truly blessed!!