Page 3 - GP Spring 2019

From the Editor
GP SPRING 2019 tive told me that I have to be a dentist in
order to place that order. I looked down at
Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD
my name tag which was color-coded blue
Editor
as a dentist, looked at him, looked back at
The Journal of the In this age of political my tag and then said to him, “My tag does
say dentist.” He apologized and took my
correctness, it amaz-
New York State Academy es me that it hasn’t order. My mother was at the booth with
of General Dentistry penetrated the dental me and we entered their drawing that the
representative encouraged us to do. I’m
industry, namely den-
New York State Academy of General Dentistry tal suppliers. When convinced that the drawing was rigged
19-02 Whitestone Expressway, Suite 204 I graduated dental since we both ended up winning. (I won a
Whitestone, NY 11357 school back in 1990, handpiece and she won a purple lab coat.)
Telephone: 718-747-3353 approximately ten
Fax: 718-747-3355 percent of the grad- Another time, I was asked by the repre-
To Contact the NYSAGD, visit our website uates were women. sentative of one dental lab which lab my
at www.nysagd.org Today, that number is around fifty percent. husband uses. I was annoyed by his ques-
Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD Yet, there’s an aura of chauvinism that is tion and my response was, “Not yours.”
Editor present at dental meetings. Another time when I was ordering burs, I
Joseph DiDonato, III, DDS, MBA, FAGD was told in a condescending manner that I
know my bur numbers really well. When
Associate Editor For the men out there reading this, you I said that I should know them since I use
Paula Bostick probably don’t understand what your fe- them every day, the representative apolo-
Executive Director male colleagues have to endure on a dai- gized and told me that he thought I was
ly basis. For the women out there reading
2018 Executive Council this, I’m sure you’ll relate. I want to tell an assistant. Again, maybe the representa-
you about some of my experiences, some tives should be looking a little closer at the
President – Karthilde Appolon, DDS recent and some from over the years. I color-coded name tags.
250 West 57th St., Suite 805, New York, NY 10107 don’t want to seem angry about this; I’m I used to be a dental consultant for a ma-
President-Elect – Berry Stahl, DDS just frustrated by these occurrences. jor dental insurer and had to call dentists
4422 Third Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457 I spent a couple of hours on the exhibit if we were denying their appeals. I al-
Vice-President – Teresa Skalyo, DDS, FAGD floor at the most recent Greater New York ways introduced myself as Dr. Pliszczak
404 W. William Street, Suite 1, Geneva, NY 14456 Dental Meeting. Due to my limited time, I at the beginning of the call. Many times
Treasurer – Joseph Di Donato, DDS, MBA, FAGD only visited ten booths where I needed to I would be asked when the dentist will be
608 South Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620 make purchases. Out of these ten booths, I on the phone or would be told that I know
Secretary – Shahram Shekib, DDS, FAGD received sexist comments at two of them; my dental terminology really well. My
2178 63rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11204 twenty percent of them. One comment male counterparts never received those
kinds of comments and couldn’t relate to
Editor – Janice Pliszczak, DDS, MS, MBA, MAGD was from a man and the other was from a my frustration when I received those re-
4827 Broad Road, Syracuse, NY 13215 woman. At one booth, I was asked who I marks. When I really got annoyed with
was placing the order for. Does my tag not
National Trustee – Abe Dyzenhaus, DDS, FAGD say, “Dentist”? At the other booth, I was those comments, my response would be
84-09 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 asked what the doctor’s name was. Does that they actually allow women to attend
Regional Director – Ira Levine, DDS, FAGD my tag not say, “Dentist”? dental school and some of those women
111 North Central Park Avenue, Suite 280, even graduate. Personally, I would think
Hartsdale, NY 10538 In this age of social media, I posted my that these dentists would be nicer to the
Immediate Past President – Brian Ciporin, DDS negative experiences on Facebook that consultants if they wanted their appeal ap-
68-39 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385 afternoon (but did not name the offend- proved, but that’s just me.
ing companies). The responses I received
were similar to the Me Too Movement. I I even get to have a little fun with these
was amazed at how many of my female attitudes in my office. If I happen to greet
colleagues, and some very prominent fe- a salesperson who shows up uninvited and
GP – Journal of the New York State Academy of male colleagues, have endured similar they ask to meet him (the dentist), I polite-
General Dentistry is published twice a year by situations. I even heard from one of my ly tell them he is not available and will not
the New York State Academy of General Dentistry. high school friends, who is a female drum- be available…ever. And if I happen to an-
The issues are mailed out in March and September swer the telephone and the caller is asking
to all the members of the New York State Academy mer, and faces the same problems in her to speak to him, I tell them the same thing.
of General Dentistry and are available on-line male-dominated field.
at www.nysagd.org. All correspondence should
be addressed to the Editor at 19-02 Whitestone I attend the ADA meeting almost every All of us should keep these examples in
Expressway, Suite 204, Whitestone, NY 11357. year and spend a good deal of my time on mind as we go through our day in the den-
The views, opinions and recommendations tal field and in the outside world. Accep-
expressed in this publication are those of the the exhibit floor. Here are some of my most tance and respect are welcomed by every-
respective authors and are not necessarily notable experiences from over the years.
endorsed by the Academy of General One time I was trying to order local anes- one.
Dentistry. Placement of an adver- tisement in thesia from a supplier and the representa-
GP – Journal of the New York State Academy
of General Dentistry does not indicate an
endorsement of its products or services by the
Academy of General Dentistry.
www.nysagd.org l Winter 2019 l GP 3