How can we stay positive and resilient, even when the odds are stacked against us?

In this episode, we share an update on Dr. Jack's current health battle as he recovers from a serious incident.

We look back at the many obstacles Jack has overcome, both personally and professionally, over the course of his life. We dive into his time in California, where he learned about mindfulness and meditation as the personal dentist of Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, an Indian guru and yogi. We also learn about his role as a resident dentist at the Southbury Training School in Connecticut, where he learned the importance of treating disabled patients with dignity and respect. We hear from another one of Jack's friends and colleagues, Dr. Steven Perlman.

During this time, Jack suffered back-to-back personal losses that would change the course of his life.

Episode notes:

Swami Satchidananda: https://swamisatchidananda.org/

Seal Team ONE: https://www.navysealmuseum.org/naval-special-warfare/men-green-faces

Rosemary Kennedy: https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/the-kennedy-family/rosemary-kennedy

Southbury Training School: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southbury_Training_School

Dr. Steven Perlman: https://www.jointherevolution.org/50-game-changers/dr-steven-perlman

What is a changemaker?

This episode highlights the beginning of Jack's career as a changemaker. We dive into his leadership as a student activist in the 1970s. He and his best friend, Dr. Jon Nash, dragged the NYU dental school kicking and screaming into the culture wars. Along the way, they helped found the American Student Dental Association and the anti-war protest group Health Professions for Peace. Their work helped to reshape the dental profession and give dental students more input into their dental education.

Episode notes:

American Student Dental Association: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Student_Dental_Association

https://www.asdanet.org/

Hard Hat Riot: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hard-hat-riot-1970-pitted-construction-workers-against-anti-war-protestors-180974831/

Kent State Shootings: https://www.library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/mission-betrayed-richard-nixon-and-scranton-commission-inquiry

Chicago Seven: https://www.britannica.com/event/Chicago-Seven-law-case

How did Jack from Queens become Dr. Jack Dillenberg, public health leader, educator, and mentor? This is his origin story.

Jack Dillenberg was born on Thanksgiving Day, 1945, in Harlem, New York. This episode covers his early life, from his birth to graduating from Tulane University in 1967. Learn more about Jack's family dynamic, his spiritual and educational training, and other events and influences that shaped his life.