Lesley Binkley, DDS, a University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry graduate and longtime faculty member, embodies a life of service, laughter, and generosity that extends far beyond the dental chair.
Dr. Binkley has practiced periodontics in Memphis for the last 45 years, but his roots in Tennessee run even more deeply than that. He was born in Maryville and raised in Cheatham County, where his father was the county sheriff. He often compares his hometown to Mayberry and his experiences growing up to the idyllic life of Opie. He spent much of his childhood working on the family farm, but an accident that sent him to the dentist redirected his path from the fields to dentistry.
“The dentist in my hometown had a lot to do with it,” he said. “I liked him when he treated me, and the dentist’s office was cool, air-conditioned, and better than bailing hay.”
Before delving into the world of dentistry, Dr. Binkley graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a degree in food technology. He even played a role in history by running the first batch of Gatorade while working for Stokely-Van Camp in Newport, Tennessee. After graduating, he married his college sweetheart, Nancy Boggan, and the couple has celebrated 53 years of marriage.
Dr. Binkley’s journey into periodontics began during his time at the College of Dentistry, where he worked on a research project with professors Jim Ross, DDS, and Jim Kimmelman, DDS. This experience fueled his passion for periodontics, leading him to The Ohio State University for further training in the specialty, along with a master’s degree in nutrition.
When he returned to Memphis, he joined the College of Dentistry faculty, initially teaching full-time. After opening a private practice, he stayed on the faculty part-time, driven by his love for both periodontics and teaching.
Read more at our UTHSC News site.