Alumnus Profile: Never Forgetting His Roots
Ray Scott, D.D.S., Class of 1983
By Salwa Choucair
The son of a pharmacist, Ray Scott, D.D.S., Class of 1983, knew he wanted to become a dentist at a young age, but his dream almost didn’t come true.
An unexpected telephone call from the registrar’s office at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio gave him the opportunity he needed to fulfill his dream.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the chance that San Antonio gave me,” said Dr. Scott, who had been placed on the School of Dentistry’s waiting list twice before receiving the fateful call asking him to register for classes. “I see it (giving back) almost as an obligation because San Antonio gave me my start in dentistry.
“Giving back gives me the chance to make a difference for someone, somewhere—maybe for that student who is just like me who needs a chance. We all have an obligation when we graduate from our programs to give back and lend a hand to those who may need it.”
Currently Dr. Scott serves as president of Carus Dental, a group practice in Central Texas, Austin and Houston with 25 locations, 58 dentists and 250 employees. Carus has cultivated a culture of paying it forward by establishing scholarships at all three dental schools in Texas; partnering with the American Dental Partners Foundation; and providing dentists in the group with opportunities to give back both monetarily and by volunteering their time and expertise both locally and globally. For example, Carus supports the Body of Christ ministries in Belton.
With more than 30 years of experience in his chosen field, Dr. Scott encourages alumni to give back to their alma mater as well as their communities.
“I believe it starts with never forgetting your roots,” he said. “Dentistry is a great profession, and we graduated from a great school. It’s not about how much you give but that you give. You need to make it a habit early on because if you give a little money over a long period of time, it becomes a lot of money.
“I would like us to further develop our network of alumni. We have two things that bind us, our profession and our school, and I think that our school is one of the top dental schools not only in the country but in the world. It deserves to be supported for the future of our profession.”
