Orthodontist followed family tradition in his career choice
Friday, February 29, 2008
By BRENDA G. ANDERSON Correspondent

http://www.al.com/press-register/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1204280111205250.xml&coll=3

It's no surprise that Steadman McMurphy followed in the family tradition when he chose his career.

His father, John McMurphy, is an endodontist on Airport Boulevard. His grandfather, Marian "Beanie" McMurphy Sr., was a general dentist who practiced approximately 35 years in Mobile.

M.B. McMurphy Jr., an uncle, is a pediatric orthodontist and his cousin Bancroft McMurphy is an orthodontist. That's not all -- his uncle Henry McMurphy is a retired periodontist.

"I didn't make this decision until halfway through college. I used to hang out in my dad's office when I was growing up. Usually, it was when he had kid duty' on the weekends and was called into the office. At that time, I wasn't too interested in dentistry," he said, reflecting on his childhood.

McMurphy was more interested in outdoor activities such as running with his dad, deer and turkey hunting and playing sports.

"When I was 6 or 7, my dad and I began running together. I enjoyed running but also liked doing this with my father," he said. Running transitioned into high school football at UMS-Wright where he attended from kindergarten until graduation in 1997.

Still not interested in dentistry as a career, McMurphy chose business management as his major when he enrolled at Birmingham-Southern College.

"I went back and forth on a major and finally decided that business management could be used in anything. It's an all-purpose major and besides, it was interesting," McMurphy said.

A deciding factor made McMurphy set his goals in a different direction. "I accompanied my father on a mission trip to Tanzania. For two and a half weeks, we extracted teeth on people who couldn't afford to pay for dental care. We took our own supplies and instruments. It was a real eye opener for me; everyone should go on a trip like this," he said.

"I had been taking science courses because I was leaning toward either medicine or dentistry after undergraduate school. Going on that trip with my dad tilted the scales," he said.

For the next four years, McMurphy attended the University of Alabama dental school in Birmingham, graduating in 2005.

"In my junior year, I decided to pursue orthodontistics. I enjoy working with a family -- the children and the parents. Giving someone a smile to be proud of is a good feeling," he said.

His education wasn't over yet. After UAB, he attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for two years, specializing in orthodontia.

"It was a fantastic program. There was a department in the hospital which dealt with cleft pallets. They did tremendous work with these children. There were some incredible classes at that school," he said.

It was also an education for this Southern boy who got exposed to his northern neighbors. "I'm still in contact with some of the faculty and friends. The people and the food were great, but I was ready to come home after two years," he said.

McMurphy came home in June 2007 and began planning for his new solo practice at 30941 Mill Lane off Alabama 181 in Daphne. A huge sign, McMurphy Orthodontics, directs patients to his office.

Home   •   About Dr. McMurphy   •   Braces 101   •   Forms   •   Policies   •   Finance   •   Contact Us