A Voice in the Arena: Stay Weird, Orthodontists by Dr. Chad Foster

A Voice in the Arena: Stay Weird, Orthodontists

by Chad Foster, DDS, MS, editorial director


The most recognizable landmark in Phoenix, Arizona is Camelback Mountain. Hiking the beautiful mountain that lies adjacent to popular Old Town Scottsdale and in the heart of Arizona’s prettiest neighborhoods is considered a must-do for tourists that come to the Valley of the Sun.

While there are many luxury homes that decorate the foothills of Camelback, there is only one castle that sits just a bit higher on that mountain: Copenhaver Castle. A legit medieval replica that boasts exterior walls built from the mountain itself, round towers, arched windows, a huge drawbridge, a moat and, of course, archer slits. The castle is one of the strangest and most well-known homes in Arizona.
Stay Weird Orthodontists
Dr. Mort Copenhaver, who practiced dentistry in Phoenix, built the castle over a 12-year period starting in 1967. The plaque on the entrance to the nearly vertical five-acre property reads “Alveolar Ridge.” As unique as the exterior is, that character continues throughout the interior. There are eight levels, 20 rooms, 10 balconies, a variety of secret passageways, a dungeon, a 17-foot waterfall that cascades above a fireplace, and a custom jacuzzi in the middle of the great room that can accommodate 20 people.

Copenhaver’s eccentric personality and lavish parties are well known amongst longtime Phoenix natives. I won’t peddle the secondhand rumors, but if the stories are even half true, the lifestyle within the castle was far stranger than the castle itself. Unfortunately, Copenhaver was forced to sell the home in 1987 due to bankruptcy.


Our own mountains, our own castles
One of my absolute favorite things about getting together with other orthodontists at meetings is getting to know the unique personalities of my colleagues and the creative lives they lead. Orthodontists are often extremely driven achievers who have endured great resistance in many forms to climb their own professional mountain. Most often operating as sole practitioners, we are also, in essence, kings and queens of our own castles. That drive and independent spirit can tend to manifest in other forms throughout our lives in good, bad and especially unique ways. I think those factors, combined with top 1% median incomes, enable orthodontists to naturally lead self-expressive, bold and unique life stories.

Are you waiting for a better opportunity in your next life to finally embrace your own weirdness? You are already in that life. Are you hoping that one day you will have enough “f-you money” to permit you to use your voice to say what you mean and mean what you say? Regardless of career stage, you already have it.

Personally, I have no desire for my own story to involve escapades in a 5,000-gallon castle hot tub, but if that’s you, go for it. Mine is more drawn to travel adventures with my wife, Natalie, and our three wild toddlers. What I absolutely do wish for all orthodontists, however, is that we take this gift of life and use it to live singular, expressive and fulfilled lives in whatever way resonates, especially when that means going against the grain. Go against the grain where you are called to. We are blessed far beyond most with that opportunity. When we can live those lives while at the same time improving the lives of those around us (and also hopefully avoiding bankruptcy), that is when we really are the kings and queens of our own castles.

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