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The Week That Was Blog: March 6-10

By Paul Roberts

March 10, 2023

Fresh From DC As I mentioned last week, several MDA members journeyed to Washington, D.C. for the ADA Lobby Day. Activities included insightful presentations from Beltway insiders and ADA staff plus an opportunity to visit with elected officials on national issues of note to dentistry. I don’t have any firsthand reports, yet, but I do have some photos to share. Thanks to all those from Missouri who dedicated the time and effort to advocate for the profession.
Keep the Wheels Turning Most of this week was spent on the road. On Tuesday I drove some EFDA supplies to the McCoy Samples Mattingly Dental Clinic office in Chillicothe for a Restorative II class they are hosting today. It was nice to meet their whole staff team and participate in some small way with the greater EFDA education program. Expanded Function Dental Assistants training is a major MDA member benefit and one of the best ways to develop and retain good staff in our practice. I hear about it everywhere I go. And it just keeps growing. Hail to a better workforce! Triple Time at UMKC SOD MDIS guru, Jerri Wildhaber, and I spent two days at UMKC SOD for some well-attended and energetic events. First up was MDA’s Food for Thought Program where we served up free Jimmy John lunch and featured our speaker, Dr. Nicholas Shuier. Dr. Schuier is a 2012 Creighton grad who has spent the last 7 years at Affordable Dentures and Implants in Kearney, MO. He shared about his dental journey and lessons learned while the students peppered him with questions. Wednesday evening Jerri and I tagged along for the Greater Kansas City Dental Society’s annual Progressing into the Future event where they take a bus load of 16 dental students to three area practices where they get good food, hear from a sponsor and most importantly get to see different practice settings and interact with the dentist about their practice philosophy and nuances. It’s so practical and casual and interesting. For instance, did you know an SUV once crashed through the front window of Dr. Sheila Jungmeyer’s office or that the Dental Arts office is the official dentist of the Missouri Maverick hockey team? I really enjoy a chance to visit more in depth with students away from campus and I could tell they enjoyed the insider access. Thanks to the dentists who hosted a stop, Dr. Ashley Deacy, Dr. Katie Oatman (GKCDS President), and Dr. Jungmeyer and Dr. Merle Nunemaker. Thank you to the team that supported the students on the bus, Dr. Wendy Weimer (GKCDS Trustee and beloved instructor ), Dr. Garret Cochran (ND Rep on the MDA Board) and Sam Silvey (event mastermind and ED for GKCDS). And of course to the sponsors who give time and money to make it possible, Ms. Jeri Wildhaber from MDIS, Mr. Taylor Richardson from Engage Advisors and Mr. Taylor Worthington from PNC Bank.
On Thursday, we joined Blake and Bob from Med Pro for their lunch and learn on malpractice insurance and risk management. Again there was plenty of engagement as students considered a future practicing in an increasingly  litigious society. Foundation Matters This morning was the spring meeting for the MDA Foundation Board which welcomed three new board members who jumped right in the fray as decisions were made for the dental student scholarship program. As always, there was spirited discussion as the board tried to identify the winners from among all applicants. I have just notified the winners via text and their response is jubilant! I will feature their names and faces next week in this space. The Week Ahead Vicki Wilbers, MDA ED and Jeri from MDIS are in Cancun for the annual Travel and Learn trip so perhaps I will secure some envious photo of time at the beach or poolside. It’s also spring break for the legislators. Meanwhile we will crank through the work here to serve you, our members. Quote of the Week “Beware the Ides of March” – Soothsayer to Julius Caesar (Is soothsayer still a position these days?)