John-Bursett-Desk

Big data is all the rage in the tech industry these days, but John Bursett has been uncovering meaningful insights from data since long before it was big.

Bursett is the senior vice president of underwriting for Delta Dental of Washington, a Seattle native who joined the company 50 years ago as its first statistician. Back in 1964 — the same year “Meet the Beatles” was released, he notes — he developed a sustainable underwriting equation that gave the company the ability to provide widespread, affordable dental care for people in Washington state.

The equation he created formed the basis for modern computer programs that calculate the cost of dental benefits today. Long before the widespread availability of computers, his equation was able to dissect population statistics including age, income, education, family size and dental procedure costs.

John Bursett at Seattle's Safeco Field.
John Bursett throwing out the first pitch at Seattle’s Safeco Field.

“To put this in perspective, in 1964, most people didn’t have dental benefits and only saw the dentist when there was a problem, so things like cavities, root canals and dentures were considered completely normal,” he explains. “By figuring out a way to make dental benefits affordable and appealing to employers, we made visiting the dentist more accessible.”

Meet our new Geek of the Week, and continue reading for his answers to our questionnaire.

What do you do, and why do you do it? I am a math geek through and through. I have dedicated myself to the evolution of the data sets and formulas at Delta Dental of Washington for 50 years because it’s an outlet for my love for numbers and I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that my work helps to enable the company fund its mission through the Washington Dental Service Foundation. My job really is a passion project for me and I still wake up excited to make tweaks to the formulas, get my hands on the newest data sets and strive to be a part of the next great statistical revolution.

What’s the single most important thing people should know about your field? It’s a lot of fun! The field of dental benefits may not seem very exciting or sexy, but there’s a lot more going on here than you might think. Oral health impacts overall health in so many ways, like diabetes. By making dental benefits more affordable, people have better access to dental care, improving overall health.

Where do you find your inspiration? Most people don’t know that Delta Dental of Washington is a not-for-profit organization. I’m inspired by our mission to revolutionize the industry and improve oral and overall health in our state. It’s driven the company from day one. I come to work and I feel like I’m contributing. One year we gave $12 million back to our community – it’s amazing to know my work played a large role in that.

What’s the one piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why? I couldn’t live without my computer. I think back to 1964 and there’s no way we could handle the amount of business our small department does now without computer programs.

What’s your workspace like, and why does it work for you? I’m a minimalist. I don’t like a lot of clutter. I do, however, have a lot of pictures and posters of Ken Griffey, Jr. He’s my hero.

Your best tip or trick for managing everyday work and life. (Help us out, we need it.) To find a good work-life balance, it’s important to keep everything in perspective. Find a job you love because you’ll spend 1/3 of your life doing it, but don’t let it stress you out. It’s not worth it. Be sure to focus on the other 2/3 of your life. Take time for yourself and fill it with whatever makes you happy.

Mac, Windows or Linux? Windows

Kirk, Picard, or Janeway? Picard. Kirk was a bit over-dramatic for me.

Transporter, Time Machine or Cloak of Invisibility? Transporter. I would love to travel to other worlds and meet other intelligent beings.

If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I would … At this point in life, I have no interest in starting a new business venture. However, I’m passionate about world hunger, water preservation, and sustainable energy. If someone gave me $1 million to launch a startup, I’d have a contest and give the money to an entrepreneur who could figure out a way to solve any of those issues.

I once waited in line for … When the Rolling Stones came to Seattle in 1972, people camped out for days hoping to buy tickets. I almost did myself, but then my next door neighbor gave me 2 tickets! Can you believe that? Other than the Stones, I’ll wait in line to see new foreign or independent films.

Your role models: Ken Griffey, Jr. is my role model. When I was younger, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. He’s one of the greats and is a genuinely good person. I look up to him.

Greatest Game in History Baseball! Two years ago, I went to a Mariners game with our sales team and our seats were right behind home plate. They were playing the Rays and Felix Hernandez pitched a perfect game! It was incredible. I’ll never forget it.

Best Gadget Ever: Gosh, that’s a tough one. I really appreciate our computer programs today. They automatically calculate complex equations I used to do by hand.

First Computer: I can’t remember what model exactly… it was an IBM, though.

Current Phone: iPhone 5S

Favorite App: I’m a statistician and love baseball. My favorite app is TOK Baseball — it helps me keep track of live games, stats, and batting averages when I can’t watch the games.

Favorite Cause: I’m very passionate about feeding the hungry and supporting United Way of King County. Along with Delta Dental of Washington, I actively participate in fundraising and spreading awareness for United Way programs, which helps children and families get back on their feet.

Most important technology of 2014: I think 3D printing is incredible and I get excited when I hear about all of the ways doctors will be able to use this technology in the future to save lives. Dentists have even used 3D printers to create crowns and implants for their patients. It’s truly mind-blowing.

Most important technology of 2016: We don’t know yet…and that’s what makes it exciting! Technology is moving so fast, who knows where we’re be in just a few short years.

Final words of advice for your fellow geeks: If you’re a math geek, please know that there are so many career opportunities beyond teaching and accounting. Being a statistician in underwriting, I get to play with numbers all day long. Another great option for math geeks is operations research. These guys know their numbers. You can work in game theory, financial forecasting, logistics and supply chain management or a number of engineering jobs. If you like computers, consider cryptography — that field sounds fascinating. They study hidden information and use mathematical applications to protect user data.

SiteDeltaDentalWA.com

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