Colleagues, students, classmates and friends joined a virtual night of remembrance, Thursday, October 1, 2020, in honor of Dr. Michael Meador, educator and leader in the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. More than 60 members of the dental school community signed on over 90 minutes to reminicse about the 1977 graduate of the dental school and native of Hinton, WV.

Participants, including Dr. Meador's wife, children and siblings, were treated to a message from the beloved dentist. While courageously facing an unexpected diagnosis, he asked that his wife share a message with his colleagues, students and former students. Among his requests was that they "always do your best, trust your gut, smile and laugh and love fully".

Dr. Meador - Colleague, Provider, Friend, Mentor

 

Dr. Meador entered private practice in 1978 and treated patients in Fairmont for 30 years. In August 2007 the avid fisherman joined his alma mater as a clinical assistant professor before becoming an associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry. Since 2015, Dr. Meador served as associate dean of clinical education and patient care. He passed away June 24, 2020.

Many chose to share written and recorded memories and favorite stories about Dr. Meador.
Some of those messages are included in a six-minute video tribute to Dr. Meador partially narrated by alum Dr. Kerri Thomas Simpson. 

Dr. Bill McCormick - Provider and Colleague

I met Dr. Meador in 1973 when I was a third-year student and he was just beginning his dental education at WVU School of Dentistry. He was assigned to me to do his initial dental exam and prophy and as a contact person if he had questions. After his exam he asked me how his teeth looked. I told him not bad, but some areas needed restored. He then asked if I could do the work and was assigned to me as a patient. I did several gold inlays/onlays for him. After 40 years of private practice, I sold my business and began working part-time here at WVU as an assistant clinical professor. Dr. Meador enjoyed showing off the gold work I had done for him to students, always remarking, "This is how dentistry was done when we were in school!" He always had my back, and I enjoyed reconnecting and working with him. He is certainly missed but will never be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to Rose and his entire family.

Dr. Lauren Yura Godwin - Former Student and Colleague

To be honest, I don't even know where to start and nothing that I will write will be good enough or demonstrate how much Dr. Meador meant to me as a friend, colleague, and mentor. He was the first person I talked to when I expressed interest in coming back to the school and was a huge reason why I wanted to come back to the school to teach; I wanted to be like him. He was always the first person I came to at work if a positive thing happened or if I needed advice in a dilemma. He always went out of his way to make students feel like colleagues and not subordinates. He treated patients, students, and staff like friends; you always knew if you were in a tough situation, you could go to him and he would help you in any way you could. He has shaped and influenced hundreds of dentists, and they are not only better practitioners because of him, but they are better people. My heart is still hurting. Coming to work is not the same without seeing him sipping coffee in Julie's office; but I know he still with us in spirit. I am thankful for getting to know him for the time we had and thankful his legacy will continue on for years to come.

Tim Povenski - HSC Colleague and Friend

I will always remember the time that Dr. Meador took with each person day in and day out to make sure everyone was having a good day and was doing well. This sounds simple, but it is a big task every day. He never missed a day. For me, every time I interacted with him at HSC, no matter what project we were coming together on, no matter how busy we both were, he always wanted to know the last time I had been fishing myself or the last time I had taken my boys fishing. For those brief moments, before business started, it was an escape from work. I will forever miss hearing his salt-water fishing updates from Florida. I will also miss those brief moments where we escaped work together.

Judy Grubb - Colleague and Friend

Geez, where do I even start? Dr. Meador, you were such an awesome dentist to work for. You were a good old country boy that appreciated the simple things in life! We always knew where you stood with you. You always made us all feel appreciated in the Faculty Practice. My favorite memory will always be "The Meador Look". I seemed to get this on more than one occasion when I made a sarcastic comment. You seemed to appreciate my sarcastic sense of humor, and I can still see the look you gave me to this day.

Karen Coombs - Colleague and Friend

What I remember most, and will always remember about Dr. Meador, was his quiet laugh and his smile. It was a smile that always put me at ease, and also, made me wonder, what joke did he tell that I just missed? His thoughts were usually focused on making his dental school the best it could be for the sake of the students. He wanted the best possible outcome for every student. Dr. Meador, you will be missed.

Tim Morgan - Friend and Patient

Although we are both from Hinton, I didn't meet Michael until my freshman year at WVU when I roomed with his youngest brother, Jim. Michael immediately treated me like family. I spent a lot of time, along with Jim, at family gatherings in Morgantown and Fairmont. I fondly remember the bus trip to NYC for the NIT in 1981. Michael also treated me at his practice in Fairmont during my college years. After I returned from the Navy and was working in Fairmont, I began again seeing Michael as my dentist. It was always funny to hear him tell the receptionist to add an extra half hour to my appointment time because he knew we were just going to talk and catch up about Hinton, the times we spent together, and the Mountaineers. He had an infectious laugh and a kind heart. I was always proud to call him a friend.

Sunshine Wiles-Gidley - Colleague and Friend

The first time I met Dr. Meador was during my job interview with the School of Dentistry. I don’t recall everyone at the table that day. And, although Dr. Meador didn’t say much, I always remembered him specifically. Sometimes you know someone will impact your life before you know how they will impact your life. Months after I was hired, I put it together that I’d met Justin Meador, Dr. Meador’s son, before I ever met Dr. Meador. Both demonstrated they can and will come to the rescue if needed. In Justin’s case, it was at Mario’s Fishbowl. In Dr. Meador’s case, it was the in the clinic, an office, a conference room or a classroom. I will remember Dr. Meador as being reliable to the point of exhaustion, honest to a fault, frank but fair and genuinely caring. I’m lucky to have worked alongside him if only briefly.

Dr. Rainish Dhuka -Former student, Class of 2017

My heart just sank when I first heard the news of Dr. Meador’s sudden death. I didn't want to accept the fact that the person who held our finger from day one of our dental journey was no more with us. From pre-clinical courses to actual clinics, Dr. Meador was always there for us. He was someone we could count on when we needed help. Every time I walked past Dr. Meador, either in the clinic or a hallway, he would always take the time to ask me “How are you doing? Everything going ok?” This always put a smile on my face knowing that there is someone who truly cares about us. When I started my clinical journey at the beginning of third-year, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Meador for my very first filling. I remember being really nervous since it was my first time working on an actual patient. Before we got started, Dr. Meador pulled me aside and asked me, “Have you done this before?” I responded, “No, I have not, it's my first time.” Dr. Meador replied, “No, it isn't. You have been doing this for two years in the pre-clinic courses. It's no different. You got this.” Dr. Meador believed in us when we doubted ourselves, and he never missed an opportunity to motivate us. During the two years of clinical, I worked with Dr. Meador on numerous occasions. Every time he took time to provide positive feedback and tips to improve my skills even further as a clinician. During the spring semester of my senior year, I had a patient scheduled to do my final crown PA with Dr. Meador. Since it was the very last requirement that I had left before graduation, I was a bit nervous. Before the appointment, I ran into Dr. Meador and he asked me, “You ready for this afternoon? Let's do this and get it done.” I informed him that I was a little nervous and he responded, “It's just a tooth, what's there to be nervous about? You got this.” He always saw the best in us even when we didn't. From the first day to the last day of dental school, Dr. Meador truly cared about us all and wanted each and every one of us to be successful. The world lost a beautiful soul, but his legacy lives on in each and every one of his students.

Phil Sperry - Colleague and Friend

The thing I remember most about Dr. Meador is how he chose to interact with people. When I first started working at the School of Dentistry, I would find myself reaching out to him by phone or by email. But, he wouldn’t respond to my phone calls with a phone call. And, he certainly wouldn’t respond to any of my emails with an email. No, Dr. Meador responded by showing up at my desk with a cup of coffee, a squint and a smile, along with the question I left him on his voicemail. It was either handwritten on a piece of paper or he was simply holding the printout of the email I sent him. He’d never start out with answering the question either. He always started out with a little small talk, and then he would slowly lead into the question at hand. At first, I just figured that he had an inherent reluctance to embrace social technology (and maybe he did), but as I got to know him better I realized that he just really enjoyed developing personal connections. If he was going to work with you, he was going to get to know you. I always admired that about him, and I truly miss having those mini conversations throughout the week.

Ceda Reed - Colleague and Friend

One of the many things I recall about Dr. Meador is the smile on his face and twinkle in his eyes when speaking about Rose, his sons and grandchildren.

Dr. David Puderbaugh - Colleague and Friend

I remember him as a very focused student, very patient oriented and always prepared for the next scheduled procedure.  He maintained this as a faculty member but continued to put students foremost in his daily clinic supervision.  He was a good friend, genuine, never boasting, kind to all and well-liked by all at school.   He always loved to josh me about his hunting and fishing skills and we often swapped stories about who was most successful. The school and I will miss him for a very long time.