Dr. Martin Gillis, a practitioner in Nova Scotia, was worried about the intrusion of commercial values in dentistry. Rather than complain, he sought advanced training in medical education, focusing on methods for revealing the practical influences of the school and practice environments on value formation. Today he teaches part-time and serves as an oral health liaison for diabetes with the International Diabetes Federation, in addition to his practice. He shares his thoughts about the issues facing the profession being similar to those in play more than 100 years ago and how our character is shaped by the way we choose to respond to economic pressures.