2015 Outstanding Alumnus Award Winner
Mark Tucker, DDS, a native of Shelbyville and Clinton, Tennessee, knew at an early age the profession he wanted to pursue. He and his family visited his uncle, Alg Ramsey, DDS ʼ58, when he was a dental student at UTHSC COD.
“He had his skull box at home for study. He showed it to me, and I was enthralled,” Tucker said. He decided at that moment that he wanted to be a dentist.
In pursuit of his dream, Tucker received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1963. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, he attended UTHSC COD and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery in December 1966. Tucker went on to complete his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston and the Houston Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center. He also fulfilled a maxillofacial surgery fellowship in North Wales, U.K.
Tucker began his practice as a general dentist at the Hampton VA Medical Center in Virginia in 1968. He was named chief of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Section at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Florida in June 1972, and he remained in the post until December 2009.
For more than 20 years, Tucker served as a consultant for six private and three federal hospitals throughout Florida. He was a member of the charter faculty of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, and he has served for many years as Hillsborough County Associate Medical Examiner for forensic odontology. He the Hillsborough County Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Group, has made more than 240 scientific presentations, written or contributed to more than 30 scientific journal articles, and participated in clinical research.
Tucker’s proudest professional achievement is serving as past president of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He also held leadership positions in the Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Hillsborough County Dental Research Clinic. Tucker holds fellowships in the American College of Dentistry and in the International College of Dentists, and he is a diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology.
Distinguishing himself throughout his career, Tucker served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of VA Physicians and Dentists for seven years. He was a hearing witness on behalf of the VA dentists and physicians in the U.S. Congress on several occasions. While being tasked with such a responsibility seems daunting to some, Tucker has a secret formula for his preparations. “When writing an opinion paper or writing to members of Congress, I often have the music from Victory at Sea, written by Richard Rodgers and arranged by Robert Russell Bennett, playing in the background,” Tucker said.
Since his retirement from James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Tucker has served as the oral and maxillofacial surgeon at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
Tucker has a quote that provides inspiration for how he lives his life and how he has distinguished himself a truly outstanding alumnus of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.
“Take on every opportunity which life presents, in order to reach your highest potential.”
View Past Dentistry Award Winners
