Lighthouse Family Dentistry

Commander E. Taylor Meiser, Jr. Dental Corps, United States Navy Edward Taylor Meiser, JR was born in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated with honors from Annapolis High School with the career goal of becoming a dentist. He enrolled in the pre-dental program at the University of Maryland at College Park and was accepted to the University of Maryland Dental School after only three years of undergraduate college. Upon his acceptance to dental school, he was selected for the Navy Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, and was commissioned as an Ensign and simultaneously began his Navy and dental career. Excelling in academics and clinical practice, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and delivered the Commencement Address at graduation as President of the Student Dental Association. Lieutenant Meiser left the podium that day ringing a ship’s bell. He then went to San Diego for one year General Practice Residency at Balboa Naval Hospital. He volunteered for independent isolated duty at Diego Garcia, Indian Ocean and practiced general dentistry amongst the coconut trees and the blue lagoon. He also was a commodore of the Diego Garcia Sailing Club. Seeking yet more adventure Lieutenant Commander Meiser requested Antarctica duty with Operation Deep Freeze and maintained dental health for personnel of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, New Zealand Air Force, Army, and Navy and civilian members of the National Science Foundation. He also performed emergency dental procedures on a Russian scientist and a Husky sled dog. He did two separate seagoing assignments aboard the Coast Guard icebreakers, Glacier and Polar Seas. While aboard the USCGC Glacier he became a Golden Shellback, crossing the equator at the International Date Line. He deployed to all the outlying U.S. Antarctica bases, including several trips to the South Pole. After three trips to the Antarctica, Lieutenant Commander Meiser was selected for a Prosthodontic residency (specialty training in crowns, bridges and dentures) at the National Naval Dental Center, in Bethesda, Maryland. After training, he was assigned to Naval Dental Center, San Diego as a staff Prosthodontist and mentored in the Advanced Clinical Dentistry Program and was the departmental Division Officer. He was then assigned as Prosthodontist and assistant dental Officer aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) home ported in Alameda California. He was deployed twice to the Indian Ocean and while aboard organized and led the Carl Vinson Sailing Squadron as its' Commodore. He was promoted to Commander and detached from the ship for duty at the Washington Navy Yard as Head of the Prosthetics Department. Commander Meiser’s next duty was with the Fleet Marine Force as the Prosthodontist for the 21st Dental Company, 1st FSSG, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Besides taking care of the Marines, CDR Meiser assisted the Marine Mammal Research facility in fabricating custom mouthpieces for dolphins being trained for special operations. CDR Meiser was then assigned to the Naval Dental Center, Norfolk, Virginia where he served as staff Prosthodontist at the Main Clinic and was later transferred to the DamNeck Branch Dental Clinic where he was the Branch Prosthodontist. Trying to return home to Annapolis, CDR Meiser was assigned duty at the Washington Navy Yard as the General Dentist and Prosthodontist. Commander/Dr. Meiser then retired to private practice. CDR Meiser and his wife, Miriam (Christian, of New York City) have four wonderful children, Christian, Noelle, Daniel and Paul. The family resides in Annapolis, Maryland.