Page 5 - GP Spring 2019

From the Regional Director

Ira Levine, DDS, MAGD office and networking with like-minded individuals. It is the con-
stant refreshing of your perspective. It is the excitement of learn-
Four-Letter Words ing something new and seeing your professional growth, possibly
I know what you are thinking. Let’s keep even personal growth. It is the reward of being able to provide
this professional. There are good and bad exceptional care to your patients and have them recognize what
four-letter words. Do you “Love” Den- you have been able to do for them. There is one thing I don’t
tistry? Maybe you consider it “Work” and understand. Why do we see so few of you come out to NYSAGD
you “Hate” it? Or maybe you look at it as courses? Are you too “Busy” to get out of the office, or maybe you
“Play” and you “Live” for those times when are so “Slow” that you are having a hard time making ends meet?
you can make a life-changing difference for Trick question. In both cases you need to get out and gain perspec-
a patient? Do you “Pray” for those days that tive. Personally, I think that “Busy” is a good word, but some of
go as smooth as glazed porcelain and staff makes your life easy or you may think that it has negative connotations.
you “Plan” to succeed? Perhaps you “Fear” those procedures that
you know too little about? Or you “Dare” to push the limits of Many of the people that I have met through this organization have
your knowledge and seek out courses that expand your horizons? positively influenced my life just by me knowing them. I have
Do you “Lock” yourself away in a “Silo” and stagnate? Do you been lucky enough to know the many of the ADA and AGD upper
“Need” to be part of something bigger? leadership. I am particularly pleased that Dr. Jeffrey Cole (Past
AGD President) was sworn in as the ADA President, NYSAGD
These are all tough questions and there are no black and white friend Dr. Chad Gehani was elected as President Elect, and Dr.
answers. The AGD may not be able to fulfill all your needs and Ted Sherwin (Past AGD trustee) was elected ADA Treasurer. I
desires, but it can help you come to terms with each of these items. am also quite happy to see AGD elections with very strong can-
If you don’t love dentistry, you are probably not reading this be- didates. Drs. Bruce Cassis and Beth Clemente were both elected.
cause you aren’t a member. Most likely you wouldn’t care about The AGD is in good hands. We have an amazing Executive Com-
the future of the profession or have knowledge of potential regula- mittee and Board. I look forward to a special year.
tory changes that can affect how you practice. You wouldn’t know
that the AGD is your greatest friend when it comes to protection of The NYSAGD needs you and we thank you for your membership.
your interests as a general dentist. We would love to see you more. Come to our courses. Come
to our social events. Come to our board meetings. You will be
I always thought that those that were more knowledgeable were warmly welcomed.
happier in their choice of career. I was wrong; it is the pursuit of
that knowledge that makes the difference. It is getting out of the Love, Play, Live, Plan, Dare.
From the National Trustee

Abe Dyzenhaus, DDS, FAGD
Membership is the core, the lifeline, of any association. Over the
During the first weekend of November the years, all associations see the number of members fluctuate. Un-
Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) held its fortunately, at the AGD we may be at a low point, but as in the
annual governance meeting, in Chicago. The past, membership numbers should rebound. I urge you to recruit
House of Delegates (HOD) meets annually to your fellow dentists to join our Academy.
review the business of the AGD, including re-
ports of all councils and committees as well as After the conclusion of the HOD the new board met. The new pres-
board reports. In addition, the House debates ident is Dr. Neil Gajjar from Canada and the new President-elect
motions submitted by the Board, constituents, is Dr. Connie White from Missouri. The first AGD Board meeting
and members. under a new president is usually a short meeting, lasting approx-
imately four hours. At this meeting, the president lays out his vi-
This year there were two contested elections; Dr. Bruce Cassis of sion, as he did at the House a few hours earlier, and the Board re-
West Virginia is the new Vice President and Dr. Beth Clemente viewed appointments made by the new president. At this meeting
of New Jersey is the new Treasurer. Bruce is a full-time practic- we had two guests, Dr. Jeff Cole, the ADA president and a former
ing dentist and has been practicing over thirty years. He has been president of the AGD, and Dr. Chad Gehani, the new ADA Presi-
involved in the AGD in many capacities. We worked together on dent-elect, an endodontist who used to practice around the corner
the PACE Council which Bruce then chaired, and then he went on from my office in Brooklyn.
to chair the Communications and Membership Councils. Beth is This summer the AGD will be holding its scientific session from-
the chair of the dental department in a New Jersey hospital. Her July 18 to July 20 at the Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Un-
departmental budget is greater than that of the AGD. Beth served casville, CT. You can register now by going to the website www.
as the trustee from New Jersey for six years. agd2019.org
Some of the topics discussed by the House included election guide- This year is my last year serving as your trustee. This is my sixth
lines, the 2019-2021 strategic plan, funding of student programs in year and I look forward to a productive last year on the AGD Board.
constituents with dental schools, revamping the reference commit-
tee setup at the HOD, electronic communications and of course, As always I wish you a great 2019, personally and professionally.
the budget. The budget was an austerity budget due to projections If you’d like to contact me, please don’t hesitate, abedyzenhaus@
that show membership declining. gmail.com. www.nysagd.org l Winter 2019 l GP 5