Dr. Gradwell began his career in periodontal practice in 1988, working as a restorative dentist during his residency program. He has maintained his professional relationship with Dr. I. Jay Freedman and Associates for 22 years, transitioning from a restorative dentist to the office's periodontal and implant surgeon. In Dr. Freedman's office, state-of-the-art esthetic dentistry is provided in conjunction with dental implant, crown and bridge, esthetic veneers and the treatment of periodontal disease. In 1990, Dr. Gradwell opened his private practice in Allentown.
Dr. Gradwell has been active on staff at Lehigh Valley hospital since 1991. He has served as Vice Chairman of the department of dentistry and Clinical Chief of Periodontics. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Lehigh County Senior Center. As an Eagle Scout, Dr. Gradwell is committed to community service. He also serves on the Occupational Advisory Council for the Lehigh Career and Technical Institute.
Along with his many accomplishments, Dr. Gradwell has lectured nationally on the periodontal treatment of Arestin. From 2003 to 2005 Dr. Gradwell lectured for OraPharma, Johnson & Johnson on the use of local delivery antibiotics called Arestin. He provided detailed information on Arestin to dentists in the Midwest, as well as local educational programs.
Teaching is a fundamental love of Dr. Gradwell's. He is on staff at the Lehigh Valley Hospital where he volunteers one day a month working with the dental residents in the dental clinic. He also is a part of the teaching team for the dental residents, which involves lecturing several times a year.
When Dr. Gradwell is not in the office, he enjoys spending time with his three children, Ashley, Sean, and Lauren. He actively pursues his spirituality for balance in his life. His church family is First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. He was a 4thgrade Sunday School teacher for 15 years. He is a contributor to the local 4H programs with a personal interest in sheep farming. He recently completed the renovation and restoration of a 10 acre farming property in Fogelsville, PA. He is committed to learning and implementing organic gardening on his farm.
The story starts in 1947, when my dad returned home from WWII after serving 5 years in the US Army. He had served as the dental surgeon in a 5th Army field hospital, finding himself in the thick of action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
Originally slated to be transferred to the Pacific for the invasion of the Japanese mainland, the war ended in late summer 1945 with the US Army using the A-Bomb. My dads unit was redeployed to Greece to aid in the effort to bring stability to Europe as the cold war started to take shape.
A native born Philadelphian, my dad Hy Freedman, decided after his return to move out to the country. In those days the country was Roslyn. He picked 1260 Easton Road because the original civic plans called for a major train station to be where the Rite Aid is today. He opened a private practice in this county town and settled into a simple life for several years. Meanwhile, in Brighten Beach, NY (Cooney Island) where Hys parents (my grandparents) lived my Grandmother while at her doctors, was taken by an attractive brunette. When asked if she was single, Ruth Solomoff said yes, and my Grandmother said you have to meet my son the doctor. Their first date (chaperoned!) was in March, engaged in May, married in June and I came along the following April (10 months for those of you counting)
I attended Roslyn Elementary School and graduated from Abington High School. I always wanted to be some sort of doctor. My academic studies were always in science and I loved working with my hands. Until age 17, I figured a surgeon then it occurred to me that I wouldnt be able to emotionally handle the passing of apatient, so I gathered my thoughts. What could I do that was medical, used my hand skills and didnt involve death.. Answer was a Dentist.
While my dad knew that I was going to be a dentist, he died suddenly in the middle of my first year of dental school (Temple). My friends and family called me to keep me on track. I know my dad would have wanted me to keep focused on school. I successfully completed dental school and decided I needed more experience. I found work in several places over the next 2 years including Lehigh County Prison where I meet a tall, beautiful redhead who turned out to be my future wife (not an inmate, she ran work release!)
I gutted my dads old office and reopened it in spring 1980 with one treatment room. In 1983 I added a second treatment room. In 1985 a 3rd treatment roomand finally in 1990 I gutted the entire building to its present configuration.
In the summer of 1988, a new dental school graduate, looking for part time work while he completed school to specialize in Periodontal Implants, walked into my office. I was busy, my second son was just born and my mom said he seemed like a nice young man. We talked awhile and I find him to be pleasant, but when he told me he had attended the same high school as my wife, it was a done deal. Dr. Gradwell and I have been working together since 1988 and specifically with advanced periodontal care and Implant s since 1990.