Drs. David and Melissa Roden are both graduates of the School of Dentistry at UAB.

David graduated in 2002, and then completed a six-year oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at UAB, during which he also completed his medical degree. The couple met while Melissa was completing research as part of her DMD/PhD program requirements. Melissa works at Rohling Dental in Trussville, and David is the owner of Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery in Birmingham. Melissa’s office is preparing to reopen soon, and David’s office reopened May 1, after eight weeks of being open only for emergency patient care. During that time, they were quarantined at their home in Mountain Brook with their two children, Garrett (8) and Anne Lowrey (5).

During the quarantine, the family would eat breakfast together, then begin homeschooling. Afternoons included lots of bike rides and walks, getting creative together in the kitchen, dinners on their back porch, family games, and movies or television to round out the evening (along with a grown-up beverage or two for the adults). Personal Netflix favorites have been Ozark and Tiger King.

Melissa and David’s motto while stuck at home was to “tag team, divide, and conquer.” The beautiful Birmingham weather has been helpful for keeping the family outside and active. Garrett and Anne Lowrey continue to enjoy painting rocks, and hide them along local walking trails for others to find. It’s been a small but special way to spread some hope and joy during these uncertain times.

Although it hasn’t always been easy, the quarantine helped Melissa and David realize just how busy they were before. It’s been nice to slow down and spend more time together. Now that things are starting to return to normal, they are looking forward to seeing more patients and traveling as a family again.

Story by Elizabeth Carlson