In the heart of the California wine country, Darlene Scott works in a practice notable for its art and good humor. Dr. Sam Gittings created the metal tooth on the barn in the photo, which is surrounded by the cabernet sauvignon grapes from the Blue Tooth Vineyard.
She says, “Our office is full of his, and others, original artwork where humor oozes from each canvas. It is impossible to work there and not laugh a lot.”
The barn is adjacent to the doctor’s home, which is situated on 35 acres, including 20 acres planted with grapes.
The dental practice also has made her an advocate for magnification. “It was Dr Gittings that encouraged me to use magnification to practice dental hygiene. Without a doubt, this single addition renewed my enthusiasm to practice. There is no other single instrument that has made me a better hygienist. I am sure I would have retired years ago had I not made this move to better vision.”
During the summer, she hiked along the John Muir trail in the Sierra Nevadas for the third time.
“It is a 211 mile-long fabulously scenic trail that crosses no roads and is, thankfully, out of cell phone range. I have also hiked the Haute Route from Chamonix, France, to Zermatt, Switzerland. It was a 110 mile trek. Also, I have hiked in New Zealand, Italy, Germany, and Austria.”
Napa, California
Dental Office: Sam Gittings, DDS
College University Attended: 1980 graduate from Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke.
Family: Husband Ray, sons Jeffrey and Daniel, and Ruby, a two-year-old Australian Shepherd.
Famous colleagues: Works in the same dental practice as Lory Laughter, a columnist in RDH.
Other interests: Skiing, piano, travel, food, and wine.
