Page 4 - GP FALL 2009

From The President

by Janice K. Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD the NYSAGD Board of Trustees at the Fellows/Masters
reception and the President’s dinner dance. They all invit-
A GD membership reminds me of a ed and encouraged me to become a member of the Board
and start a Mastertrack Program. Over the ensuing
recent MasterCard commercial:
years, I have learned a great deal from them on both pro-
fessional and personal basis. Through my board involve-
NYSAGD continuing education courses: ment, I have had the opportunity to interact with many of
$50 - $950. the top speakers, an opportunity I would otherwise not
AGD dues: $447 (and even less for have had. If you are interested in these kinds of opportu-
students, residents and recent graduates). nities, I encourage you to become involved in the AGD.
Value of AGD membership: PRICELESS. As a shopper and a member of the Group Benefits
Council, I have to mention the savings and the benefits
When I first joined the AGD during my residency, my that the membership can provide. As I previously men-
main reasons were to receive credit for the GPR toward tioned, members get a 10% discount with Dentist’s
fellowship and for the discount on malpractice insurance. Advantage malpractice insurance by just being an AGD
I’m a savvy shopper, so I was very interested in pursuing member. The discount further increases as one becomes
mastership from early on in order to receive 20% off my a Fellow or Master in the Academy.
insurance premium. But what I’ve received as a result of The Chase Visa card is another valuable benefit. One
my AGD membership has been PRICELESS. can earn points with everyday purchases, including office
In my first years of membership, I only attended a purchases, which can be used for a variety of rewards. For
handful of AGD courses, but then I met a Fellow, Dr. Alan example, I’ve used points for three flights to Europe. Not
Kestner, who introduced me to the PEAK (mastertrack) bad for a small annual fee and purchases you’re already
program in Pennsylvania. (Back then, NYS did not have making. These are just a couple of the benefits available.
its own Mastertrack Program, but we do now!) From the The full listing can be found on the AGD website.
moment I walked in, I was warmly welcomed and soon Speaking of the website, AGD is proud to announce
realized what great people AGD members are! The cama- some new practice management tools for its members.
raderie, the education both during the courses and after, KnowYourTeeth.com is a website targeted to patients
and the lifelong friendships that I have formed with that which provides dental health information. SmileSavers
group are PRICELESS. is a free program (that works with your existing practice
When I earned my mastership at the 2001 AGD management software) that can email and text message
National Meeting, I was introduced to many members of
continued on page 26
From The President-Elect

By Ira Levine DDS, FAGD I was fortunate enough to attend an AGD stated meet-
ing and sit next to Phillip Epstein, who was the President
y name is Ira Levine and I am of the NYSAGD at that time. I don’t know what Phil saw
the President-Elect of the in me but he asked me to attend a Board meeting. I truly
MNYSAGD. Now that I am just must thank him. I had never thought of being involved
under a year away from being the in organized dentistry, other than maintaining member-
President, I find myself asking, “How ship, but when Phil put that thought into my head, it was
the heck did I get here?!!” It seems like like being defibrillated: We have a pulse, stop CPR, and
it was just yesterday I was asked to come continue rescue breathing. My wife may not thank him
to a Board meeting. Maybe I should fill as much as I do but as long as he is willing to bestow her
you in on some of the highlights. Don’t worry. I won’t bore with drinks at our parties, she is willing to overlook that
you with all the details. Just understand that there is a fact.
lot more to this story than what is being written. That was almost 7 years ago and I don’t often require
I had been working in an office (not my own) for any further rescue breathing. I have gained tremen-
almost 10 years. I was naive and believed the promises dously by my participation in organized dentistry. I have
and excuses that were made to me. I had been doing the learned business principles, public relations, marketing,
minimum CE requirement for membership maintenance leadership skills, time management, organizational
in the AGD and I had lost much of my enthusiasm for the skills, and gained the respect of my peers. Well, maybe
profession. For the most part, I saw the same people day the respect part is pushing it a bit, but my enthusiasm for
after day after day with little change and little challenge. the profession has expanded beyond what I ever imag-
Finally, I decided that I needed to do something about my ined possible. I take as many CE courses as I can (time
situation. I was going to start a new office. I needed to permitting) and I never fail to meet as many of our col-
make things happen instead of letting them happen to leagues as I can. The AGD has afforded me the opportu-
me. I needed to increase my exposure to new ideas and nity to meet and befriend some of the greatest people and
new people. most knowledgeable dentists I have ever known. I talk to
www.nysagd.org | Fall 2009 | GP 4 continued on page 26