FLEMING ISLAND – Dr. Andrew Brown still remembers most of his patients when he opened his orthodontics practice 38 years ago on Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park.

Now he’s providing dental care to their grandchildren.

A fixture of the Clay County community, Brown important care to thousands of patients has been more than a profession. It’s been a calling.

“When I started, Kingsley was a two-lane road,” Brown said. “I’m working on third generation families now. It gives you a little perspective along the way. It’s hard to believe.”

The Florida Dental Association recognized Brown’s commitment to his patients – and trying to provide access to dental care to underprovided residents – by selecting him as its next president.

Brown will serve as chair of the FDA Board of Trustees and chair of the FDA’s Governmental Action Committee. He will also lead regular meetings with FDA’s executive director and staff and will work in concert with them to further the goals and interests of organized dentistry.

An active and longtime member of the association, Brown is also the statewide co-chair with the Florida Mission of Mercy. In addition, he is a delegate to the American Dental Association and past chair of the ADA’s Council on Dental Practice.

“I’m very honored,” he said from his Fleming Island office. “It’s something I’ve always tried to partake in, dealing with the actual practice of dentistry.

“More importantly, one of the big things I’ve been trying to do this year is dealing with access care issues. This is the culmination of a lot of years of bringing things from the edges and bringing it all to fruition right now. They can’t afford it. They can’t get it. They don’t have insurance.”

Dr. Brown is a Clay County Dental Society past president, ran the Peer Review Program in the Northeast District Dental Association for 27 years and is a clinical faculty member at the University of Florida College of Dentistry Orthodontic Department. He also is the Florida Association of Orthodontists’ governmental affairs liaison.

“Dr. Brown is an experienced and engaged member of the dental community who brings strong leadership to the Florida Dental Association,” said FDA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Drew Eason. “We are pleased to welcome him in this new role and look forward to a productive year.”

Brown said he’s working to breakdown all the barriers that keep needy patients from getting the care they desperately need. He’s been with the Agency for Health Care Administration for the past five years while it tries to navigate through the maze of bureaucracy.

“I’ve been going through the Medicare issues we’ve had to deal with,” Brown said. “Everything from administrative issues to offices that just don’t want to do the work. It is a burden.”

Brown practices orthodontics offices located in Orange Park and Fleming Island.