Three Virginia Commonwealth University students - Mary Catherine McGinn, Kris Keeton and Mike Kowalczyk - sat down with the School of Dentistry's new dean, Dr. David Sarrett, for a no-holds-barred interview. The questions ranged from the Final Four game to playing guitar to life as the dean, and the answers revealed a side of Sarrett that many students haven't yet seen.        

Mike: If you could trade places with anyone for a week, who would you pick?

Dean Sarrett: I can't pick out a name per se, but it would probably be a professional golfer. Not necessarily anybody famous. I'd just like to see what that life's all about. Especially if I could hit the ball the same way that they hit it during that week!

Mary Catherine: Are you a golfer?

Dean Sarrett: I try to be. The thing I enjoy about golf is the physical science of it - there are mechanical factors there. That's probably why I play by myself so much because I like to analyze it, and I drive everybody else nuts. I have one of those little video cameras, so I'll set it up and record my swing and then watch it frame-by-frame. It's pretty pathologic.

Mike: Are you going to make it to the School of Dentistry Alumni/Student Golf Invitational this year?

Dean Sarrett: Oh yeah, I always play. It's usually Dr. John Doswell (D.D.S.'79/D) and me and a couple of other players. (Pointing to a picture of Dr. Doswell, Dean Sarrett and President Rao with the trophy) That was last year, but we didn't win it. We were showing off the trophy before the tournament started. We've never won, but I guess it would look a little phoney if the dean won the trophy.

Kris: We learned that you were a pole vaulter. How'd you get into that?

Dean Sarrett: My brother actually pole vaulted, and I started trying it in the backyard. My mother saved all these clippings (showing the students his scrapbook), and for my 30th birthday, she put them all together. That's me in high school (pointing to a photo). 

Kris: How high was your jump?

Dean Sarrett: In high school I jumped 15' 3." And that year I got invited to go to a national high school competition out in California. We had to pay our own way, but I didn't have the money. So a reporter put something in the paper, and one of the local milk companies said they'd pay for my travel. Look at that (points to clipping) - It was only $284 to go to California and back.

Kris: You probably couldn't go Greyhound for that now. (Noticing the bass guitar) Are you the only musically inclined one in the family?

Dean Sarrett: If there is any musical talent, it's certainly not from me. My wife actually did band in high school and a little bit in college. I keep trying to get my wife to come and play in our group. Our kids don't seem to have that interest.

Mary Catherine: So what are the details on this group that you're in? Who's in it, and where do you play?

Dean Sarrett: The only place we've played so far is right here in the Dean's Office. Before the holidays, we had a faculty meeting, and I said, "OK folks, and I know there are a few people that play instruments. Just show up, bring what you've got and some music, and let's see." There was a core group that formed - Kim Isringhausen (B.S.'95/D; M.P.H.'04/M) plays the flute, Dr. Debra Haselton (D.D.S.'94/D) plays piano and Dr. Octave and George Sharits both play guitar. Michelle McDaniel, a dental assistant from faculty practice, joined the group as a singer. I'm learning how to play bass, and we still need a drummer.

Kris: Are you booking any gigs yet?

Dean Sarrett: We're still waiting for Larrick Live!

Kris: Well now we know that we can get you for our next lunch and learn. We'd like to book some in-house talent. Is there a band name yet?

Dean Sarrett: Maybe we need to debut and then take some suggestions.

Kris: Well we've been coming up with dental-related sports team names, so we'd be happy to offer you some advice.

Dean Sarrett: I thought we could be something like the Oral Evaders

Kris: Maybe Fluoride Fury.

Mike: Now that you're gaining fame for your band, if Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role?

Dean Sarrett: One I wouldn't pick right now would be Charlie Sheen. That wouldn't be advisable.

Kris: Apparently he's winning.

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