By JOHN McCABE

MARTINS FERRY — Each morning, Dr. Paige Durkin joins Dr. John Kramer and the staff at Drs. Kramer and Associates for a team huddle to discuss the day’s schedule and plans. Then she begins the task of setting out to give the Ohio Valley a bright smile, one mouth at a time.

Her day can consist of fillings and teeth extractions to root canals. And at the end of each shift, she adds her notes and finalizes any lab work.

Through it all, Durkin is, literally, all smiles.

“A motto that I live by is ‘A little bit of kindness goes a long way.’ There are a lot of things in life that we cannot control, however, one thing that we can control is the way we react to different situations and how we treat people,” she said.

Not bad advice from someone whose fingers are literally inches from being bitten dozens of times each day.

Durkin is a Wheeling native. Her parents, Pat and Beth Durkin, both are retired school teachers in Ohio County, and her sister is a pediatric physician assistant. She credits her family and many teachers and coaches in Ohio County Schools for helping her achieve her dreams.

“My parents … are my biggest supporters and I have seen what they do for the community. They inspire me every day to do my best, and truly I could not do it without their support. My sister … also provided endless support during my studies and encouraged me to give back to the area that gave me so much,” she said.

“In addition, I was inspired and looked up to dentists in the Ohio Valley such as Dr. John Kramer, Dr. Trey Wilcox, Dr. Craig Wilcox, Dr. Daniel Joseph, and Dr. Mike Medovic. During my dental school orientation assembly, there were only three WVU School of Dentistry Alumni present. Those three were my family dentist, Dr. Craig Wilcox; my orthodontist, Dr. Daniel Joseph; and my mentor, Dr. Mike Medovic. This act alone speaks volumes of their support and mentorship for me.”

She got to know Dr. Kramer after babysitting for his son while in high school. “Kristina, Dr. John’s wife, would always pick my brain about the next steps in my career. They offered for me to shadow at the office, and work on my breaks from school. Fast forward a couple of years and degrees later, I am so grateful that Dr. John offered a position for me to come back. It is very unique to work with such an experienced, kind and talented dentist who cares deeply for the community.”

As a young professional, Durkin loves the vibe in the region.

“The Ohio Valley is making an energetic effort to provide weekend events. There is live music just about every weekend at Oglebay and Wheeling Park, we are so lucky to have such an amazing resort just minutes away. I also love all the new restaurants, one of my favorites is the Belmont Brewerks, conveniently located right by our office!” she said.

One of her most formative experiences came as a student at WVU, when she traveled to Panama with the WVU Medical and Dental Brigades. What she learned there has helped shape her career.

“These patients did not have routine dental care, and many needed emergency care. On this trip, I saw firsthand how much of an impact dental care can make on a patient, and the immediate relief it can provide,” she said. “To this day, whenever I have a patient that comes in with severe pain but leaves smiling, it reminds me of why I chose this career.

Her advice to future generations: “Keep an open mind, try to learn as much as possible, and be open to any feedback. In the end, it will make for a more confident and skilled employee.”