During my formative years, my parents instilled in me how to properly use time,
commitment and solid work ethics in ever task that I performed. This was
extremely helpful as it prepared me for various work experiences from moving
lawns, shoveling snow, delivering newspapers, caddying at the local country
club and painting houses. Before I started a task, they recommended that I
developed a plan, organized that plan and have control of the plan as I
performed that task.
Both my Mom
and Dad encouraged me to be an active participant in team sports such as
Baseball, football, basketball and hockey. This helped me to understand
the value of working together as a team to accomplish a goal. Baseball
was my best sport. I played little league, Babe Ruth league, American Legion,
High School, College at The Ohio State University and Semi-Professional.
These experiences were very beneficial as I also coached Baseball teams from
Little League through the College level.
In high
school I was also encouraged to pursue a higher level of education as it helps
you increase your knowledge base and trains you to be more disciplined which enable
you to think things through and make wiser decisions on the information
acquired. This training helps prevent making a quick judgment with an
insufficient knowledge base.
My initial
studies at The Ohio State University such as Accounting, Economics, English,
Marketing, and Plant Management were not very exciting. Playing Baseball
was more entertaining. It was not until the summer after my freshman year
that I began to appreciate the value of the courses that I completed. My
summer vacation consisted of painting houses for income and playing baseball in
a summer league. That summer I doubled my income from painting and was able to
provide a quality service by applying the techniques I learned in time and
motion studies in the Plant management course. The accounting courses
were helpful as now I had 2 employees.
Playing
baseball while going to school helped me to use my time more efficiently.
Dental school was very demanding. At this time I had 8 classmates working for
me on the weekends and at short vacation breaks. This taught me how to
delegate and manage time and my employees efficiently.
Shortly
after graduation from dental school, I went on active duty as a Navy dentist to
Camp
Pendleton,
California. My Commanding officer said “You
are single Lt. Cloonan.” “Yes Sir”, I responded. He said “You will not be
here very long”. 3 months after arriving and completing Field Medical
School Service, I was sent to Mag-16, a Marine Helicopter Base near Marble Mountain outside of Danang, South Vietnam.
I was the
Senior Dental officer of a 2 Dentist and 4 Dental corpsmen technician dental
clinic. Captain Quilter appointed me to be the Infection control officer
for the 11th Dental Company and I was to train the dental corpsmen.
While
working with the Marines and out at the local village and orphanage, I
encountered an overwhelming amount of tooth decay and gum disease. The other
dentist and myself worked from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm 6 ½ days on base and the other ½
day at the orphanage and village. In a war zone you cannot function very well
with severe tooth decay with an abscess or sore mouth due to infected, swollen
gum tissue.
When I did
an exam and saw swollen gums and decay, I would ask “Are you brushing your
teeth with the toothbrush that I gave you?” The answer is “No sir, I am
using it to clean my rifle. What is more important, my life or my teeth?”
I would say “Both, here is a 2nd brush for your teeth.” Even with
the 2nd toothbrush, I could appreciate their dilemma. Brushing with toothpaste
and rinsing with water is dangerous out in the field as the Marine would have
to put down his rifle.
Noticing
the shortcomings of this type of dental care, I spent 12 years developing a
liquid oral health care solution called THE ANSWER® and it is fully
patented. The product contains XYLITOL to prevent tooth decay and has
multiple ingredients to help maintain healthy gums. The San Diego
Reference Lab analyzed THE ANSWER® and found that all of the ingredients are
compatible and nontoxic. It is now being used in Hospitals, Developmental
Disabled facilities and State Veteran Nursing Homes.
Dr. James
Stenger, Chief of Service at the Children's Hospital in Michigan states “The most notable
improvement using THE ANSWER® has been with patients who exhibit trauma to the
oral tissue from accidents, surgical wounds, and especially post radiation
patients with mucositis.”
American
Medical Director Association announced that Rebecca Ferrini, MD, MPH, CMD, full-time medical
director at Edgemoor Hospital in Santee, CA, and avid user, supporter of THE
ANSWER® was named the organization’s 2009 “Medical Director of the Year.” Dr.
Ferrini said, “We have noted improved oral hygiene and gum health. We
plan to continue use of this excellent product.”
I have been
sending 1 oz bottles to the deployed troops through Operation Interdependence
for the last 7 years. Now we have two separate platoons of Army troop’s
trialing THE ANSWER®.
Our primary
goal is to supply THE ANSWER® in 10 ml vials in the MRE’s so that the Troops
will be provided with an excellent daily oral care program to maintain healthy
teeth and gum tissue. The second goal is to introduce THE ANSWER® into
the hospitals to prevent dental infections for the returning injured troops.
Dental
infections left untreated can enter the blood stream and lead to serious and
occasionally life threatening conditions.
My goal for
the business is to hire more Veterans as our business grows. The Veteran
learners like me are an excellent place to start. This will encourage
more Veterans to become Learners as it will help them secure a position in the
work force.
A welcoming home for our Troops.
