Dr. Walker completed his three years of specialty training in Periodontics and received his Master’s degree from the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.  He has specialty training in dental implants, periodontal plastic surgery, advanced bone grafting, and periodontal disease treatment. Dr. Walker holds certification for IV and oral sedation.  Dr. Walker conducted clinical research relating to bone grafting and dental implants during his residency for completion of his Master’s degree, which has been published in the Journal of Periodontology.

Dr. Walker’s wife, Kati, is a practicing dentist in San Antonio who works at a pediatric dental office. In their free time, he and his wife enjoy traveling and spending time with their four children.

What lead you to become a Periodontist?

I had a fantastic mentor in dental school who taught me the importance of a team approach to treatment planning in dentistry.  He opened my mind to what is possible for patients with the help of a great team, and how healthy gum tissue is the foundation of oral health that supports a comfortable and beautiful smile.  I owe my focus to become a periodontist to him and other great faculty at Colorado’s Dental School.

What are your favorite books?

Miracle Morning — Hal Elrod, Essentialism — Greg McKeown, The One Thing — Gary Keller

Three books that come to mind are Miracle Morning, Essentialism, and The One Thing.  Miracle Morning inspired me to create some time and peace for myself, which will only predictably happen early in the morning with four kiddos and a dental practice to run!  It helped me appreciate things in life I hadn’t before, and gave me a solid routine to start my day focused and refreshed.  Essentialism taught me to constantly evaluate what is truly important in life, and try to eliminate a lot of the noise in our world.  And The One Thing was very helpful in giving me a systemized approach to getting more out of my day and helping achieve my goals for family, health, and for the practice.

What’s the best business advice you could give to someone?

That likely comes from the book E-Myth by Michael Gerber — make systems for everything, and make sure your systems evolve as your business evolves.  That’s what makes running a business so challenging, but that keeps it exciting.

Who Inspires you?

My wife pushes me to be and do better each day.  I admire how much fun and work she is able to pack into one day — she brings an incredible energy with her to each activity, especially with our crazy kiddos!  She continues to inspire me in so many facets of life.

How do you relax?

I love all sorts of sports, and starting to teach my kids how to swim, ski, bike, wakeboard, and skateboard gives those activities even more enjoyment to me.  But there’s nothing like curling up on a cozy couch with my wife and a bowl of popcorn to watch a good show to unwind.