Why He Was Nominated:

Dr. Scheps might be the youngest board-certified pediatric dentist in Lakeland, but that hasn’t stopped him from innovating new ways to approach the discipline. After years as a general dentist, he decided to specialize in pediatric dentistry to provide the highest level of care possible to children, especially those with special needs.

Philosophy:

“Treat everyone like you would want to be treated and strive each day to be better than you were the day before.

Impact of the Pandemic:

“So much of what we do is based around a warm, friendly environment, facial expression and human touch. It’s hard to convey warmth through hairnets, glasses and face shields, two masks and a gown. The ‘fun scale’ of our practice has also taken a nosedive, since kids can’t play in the video game room, read books or congregate in the movie room, which they were once accustomed to doing. Despite all that, kids are some of the most resilient humans on earth, and it amazes me every day how well they adapt.”

Something People Don’t Know:

Dr. Scheps has an extensive fancy sock collection to cover most occasions and has played hockey in seven countries.