MEET DR. ERIC MCRORY—THE PREMIER DENTIST IN BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON
Being a dentist in Bellingham allows me to help our local people every single day doing something I really enjoy. My career brings me a great blend of social interaction and technical craftsmanship. Together, this gives me the ability to change people’s lives in a positive way.
While I love both the social and technical aspect of my dentistry profession, the most rewarding part is renewing hope. Many people think their teeth can’t be saved or repaired to give them a gorgeous smile. When my team and I can save a patient’s teeth, restore their smile, and perhaps even help to bring back their self-esteem, it’s really a great feeling. Knowing that by simply changing a smile, we can change a person’s life in such a positive way makes all of us at Northside Dental Care happy!
Do you have questions we can help with? Click to Schedule Your Online Dental appointment with Bellingham Dentist, Dr. Eric McRory.
Outside the Office
I was born in Bellingham, Washington in 1969. From childhood to age 12, I grew up on Lummi Island, a small community in the San Juan Islands. My high school years were spent in Bellingham. After eight years in college and dental school, I moved back to Bellingham where I have lived ever since.
My wife, Erin Simpson, and I have been married since 2002. We have two wonderful dogs—Joey and Sacha. Joey is a Shih-Tzu and Sacha is a standard poodle. They are very spoiled and like to spend time with Erin and me playing in the outdoors, mainly trying to catch that elusive squirrel.
I’m passionate about my work. When I’m away from work I’m passionate about exploring and adventure. Almost all of my personal activities involve a certain degree of risk: hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering, backcountry skiing and snowmobiling, salmon fishing and scuba diving, and outdoor photography. Recently, I’ve become interested in exploring the backcountry on my dirtbike, as well. The thrill of these activities keeps me excited about my life as a whole. I guess you could say if it’s not dangerous I’m probably not interested. Except when it comes to dental treatment; I prefer safety when treating patients.
I also take personal pride in woodworking projects and enjoy building model boats. These activities give me balance along with my outdoor adventures. I love the attention to detail that goes into model building and woodworking, which is probably why I love my work so much; the two are very similar.
In the Community
Community service has always been important to me. I give my parents credit for being great role models. As a young kid, I helped while they were involved in the community in which we lived. They remain actively involved in the Bellingham community to this day. When I moved back to Bellingham after finishing dental training, I joined the Bellingham Sunrise Rotary Club. I’ve been a member since 1997 and became president in 2010. This fun-loving club has done many local community service projects, as well as international service projects for organizations like SOS Children’s Village, Pure Water for the World, The Pickford Cinema, and Meals on Wheels. I’m proud to be an active member of the Rotary Club; it’s been a great way to give back to a community that’s been so supportive of my business.
I’m also an active dental volunteer at Bellingham’s public health clinic, Unity Care NW, formerly the Interfaith Dental Center. Unity Care is a dental clinic in downtown Bellingham serving low-income individuals to ensure they receive the basic dental services they need and deserve.
Schooling and Continuing Dental Education
I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Whitman College in 1991. My Doctorate of Dental Surgery is from the University of Washington School of Dentistry. I graduated from dental school in 1995 and began my dental practice in August that same year as an associate with my father, who practiced dentistry for nearly forty years, retiring in 2000.
My continuing education has been mostly through dental study clubs—small groups of doctors who meet on a monthly basis to hone skills, share information, and learn about new technologies emerging regularly in our field. In 2007, I completed an 18-month post-graduate program through the Foundation for Advanced Continuing Education (FACE) in San Francisco, CA. This program teaches advanced skills in dental occlusion and complex dental reconstruction.
Professional Affiliations
- American Dental Association
- Washington State Dental Association
- Mt. Baker District Dental Society
- American Academy of Restorative Dentistry
- International Academy of Gnathology
- Bellingham Sunrise Rotary Club
- Academy of Operative Dentistry
- Academy of General Dentistry
- Visiting Faculty at Spear Education, dental learning center in Scottsdale, AZ