The Alaska Update, January 2004

By the Alaska Dental Society, Inc.

The Alaska Update has been accepted into full membership of the American Association of Dental Editors.  

Give Credit Where It's Due

Last month we brought to your attention an Alaska Dental Society member's efforts to acknowledge and thank teachers and administrators at Dimond High. This month, we want to share with you the comments of an English professor at UAA.

The professor's letter began, "I imagine that most of the unsolicited letters which reach your desk are complaints of one sort or another from unsatisfied patients..." No, but in my 13 years of working for dentists, I've gotten my fair share of letters that ended up in Peer Review files or simply expressed anger and disappointment in the treatment received in a dentist's office.

 "Happily," this Ph. D. continued, 'this will not be such a letter."

The professor went on to express his appreciation for the "superb quality" of work and the "genuine concern for the comfort and welfare of (the) patients" of Dr. Joe Harmon of Girdwood. "Assisted by an incomparable staff of highly efficient, delightful young technicians (Candace and T.)" the writer went on to say that Dr. Harmon and his staff "represent all that is excellent in their profession."

We share the professor's belief that "dedicated people should be noticed (and given credit) whenever possible."

Thank you Dr. Harmon for demonstrating as this patient put it, "all that is best in dental medicine."

Published in in the Alaska Update, January 2004

Dr. Joe Harmon:

Girdwood's dentist with an 'awesome view'

By Loverne Bercee

Sitting in the dentist's chair is not always something people look forward to. However, upon visiting Dr. Joe Harmon's Girdwood Dental Center, you feel at ease with your attention immediately focused on the awesome view of Mt. Alyeska. Patients arrive from near and far. The day of this interview, a lady in the waiting room had driven 106 miles, another patient came all the way from Scotland, and a man arrived from Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts for implant reconstruction. Dr. Joe (as he likes to be called) has pioneered and advanced the field of dental implantology.

"Dr. Joe strives for the highest quality in all of his life experiences," said longtime patient and friend Jacky Graham. "His interest in home, family, his garden, philosophy, and an, and all-around high standards carries over into his concern to provide patients the best treatment available. This results not only in enhancing the patients' appearance, but their general wellbeing as well."

His concern and interest in children is a special quality, 10 year old patient Alex Graham said, "I feel good when I go to see Dr. Joe, because if I'm scared, he always says funny things to calm people down. Also. at the end of the visit he gives kids prizes."

Dr. Harmon was born in Juneau, Alaska, a third generation, lifelong Alaskan. In Juneau, he became a ski instructor and racer, and President of the Juneau Ski Club, which first brought him to Girdwood in 1960 to represent Juneau in Alaska's championship ski races. "This was a very special event in that Mt. Alyeska had just installed the first chairlift - many of us skiers had never seen a chairlift before." Dr. Joe remembers, "so I brought in John Jay, (the ski photographer before Warren Miller), to take pictures of the event and area." In 1967, Harmon graduated first in his class at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He spent two years in Vietnam in the Dental Corps, receiving special honors in dental work for GIs. His desire to start a dental practice in his home state brought him back to Alaska, and in 1969, he began his career in Anchorage. Harmon bought his beautiful lot on Arlberg Avenue in Girdwood in 1970, choosing this location because Alyeska Resort stored their snow cats and mountain equipment across the way on Aspen Drive, so he felt sure the roads would always be plowed. (He also got one of the best views in the valley "thrown in" with the $5,000 lot.) He built the first phase of his house in 1972, expanding its size over the years into an architectural work of art, a special place to display his museum quality art collection, ranging from Alaskan to Eastern works of art. As an adventurous traveler, Harmon has explored many exotic places throughout the world, most recently in Thailand, Bhutan and Vietnam. He has made a life study of similarities of religions and philosophies. "There would be less strife in the world if the many religions could find a common ground and connection," he said. "Also, in my opinion, it is in our service to others that we become free."

Among the interesting stories of Harmon's many life activities was when he brought the first pair of llamas to Alaska in 1972. Mother llama became "Yama llama", while the father was "Dalai Llama". Naturally, the first Alaskan baby llama was named "Iliamna". He used the llama manure to fertilize his garden and the following year grew a kohlrabi so big it won the blue ribbon prize at the Alaska State Fair. Over the years, Harmon served the Girdwood community on the Board of Supervisors. For 15 years he was active in ski racing and a Mighty Mite coach. He is a philanthropist and supporter of various organizations relating to health and spirituality. Harmon has a "hunter-gatherer" background from his father's side and art appreciation from his mother, who, now 92 years old, is an artist and music teacher.

Dr. Joe is married to Lydia, a Swiss physical and massage therapist, who offers weekly exercise classes at the Girdwood Health Center. Son Jason Harmon is a naturopath in Anchorage and daughter, Tina, who speaks Swiss fluently, is studying wellness therapy.

"It is a privilege to have a staff of highly qualified health-oriented technicians available for the people including Mary Kelley, who has a tremendous background and 30 years experience in dentistry," said Dr. Joe. "At this time of my life I want to concentrate dentistry practice in Girdwood."

For years. Dr. Harmon maintained a clinic in Girdwood while also practicing for 20 years in Anchorage. He now practices exclusively in Girdwood with expanded days and hours for his clinic.

Reprinted courtesy of  Turnagain Times, Vol.6 #7, September 4, 2003