Dentistry has been a lifelong interest for Dr. Austin.  He says, “I was fascinated with dentistry the very first time I went to a dentist and when I was finishing college it was the profession I most wanted to pursue.”  Dr. Austin left his home in Santa Paula, California to attend Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.  While there, he married his wife Nancy and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.  They moved to Iowa City to attend the University of Iowa - School of Dentistry.  Dr. Austin achieved high honors in dental school and was inducted into the National Dental Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, for outstanding academic and clinical achievement.  He completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and also obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Austin looks forward to coming to work every day because he feels the profession of oral surgery “is a wonderful combination of science and art.  I love how dentistry and my specialty in particular combine facial form and function with the beauty of a smile.”  Dr. Austin has had the opportunity to serve on medical/dental missions to Honduras and Mexico. 

According to Dr. Austin, much of his success can be attributed to his “wonderful, supportive wife” Nancy.  They have been married since 1980 and have four children.  He enjoys fishing, gardening, baseball, serving his church and spending time with his family.   As for his black belt in Taekwondo?  He says “I obtained that to protect myself from my three sons who also enjoy the martial arts.”