Page 5 - GP Fall Final 2017

From the Regional Director

Ira Levine, DDS, MAGD and what she learned from it. The strength and bravery in going
through that experience and then to write an article about it is
This has been a very interesting year, even remarkable. This past January, I came face-to-face with my own
though as I write this article, it is less than mortality and I have to say that Dr. Rhee was right on target. There
half over. There are always good things and were significantly bad parts but I am better now and I learned a
bad things in life, hopefully in balance. How great deal from it. Some lessons will be applied to my personal
do we determine that which is good from life and some to my professional life. I learned that I need to start
that which is bad? I think it is all a matter of taking more time for myself and take better care of myself. I have
perspective. There is a quote that we should never been this sick before and this experience helped me better
all take note by a New York based author, empathize with my patients.
Joshua Prager:
I am not one of those people who look at things and ask, “What
“We have to rise above bad fortune. We have to be in the good and if?” However, what if I had died? How would I be remembered?
enjoy the good, study and work and adventure and friendship and What would my obituary say? Good son, good brother, good
community and love.” husband, good father, good friend, good dentist. I would hope that
all those things are true. What have I done for my profession -
It is the work, the friendships, the families, and the community that the profession that has given me a livelihood, that has given me a
give our lives meaning. It is also the challenges that we face that purpose, that has made me a better person?
make us stronger and make life more interesting.
I have to say that I have never sought out recognition. I volunteered
In the Spring 2017 issue of the NYSAGD Journal, there was an my time and service to the AGD and I did these things because
article by Dr. Seung-Hee Rhee on her experiences with cancer continued on page 22
From the National Trustee

Abe Dyzenhaus, DDS, FAGD These individuals are sent for leadership and assessment training
by the national AGD with a company that specializes in this type
As leaders of the NYSAGD, we take our po- of training. Then these AGD members go to constituents through-
sitions very seriously. Besides all the meetings out the US and Canada to assess and train the local leaders.
that we attend, we also take leadership seminars
to learn and improve our leadership abilities. The most recent STAR visit took place in late May. The NYSAGD
Some of these seminars are given by the AGD executive committee attended the meeting. Two STAR facilitators
and others we take on our own. We are always and two AGD staff members came to NY. It was an open discus-
trying to improve our abilities and improve our sion, no holds barred.
organization.
Prior to the STAR visit, we at the NYSAGD, completed a lengthy
Recently the NYSAGD had a STAR visit from the AGD. STAR survey answering questions about the NYSAGD’s strengths and
stands for Strategic and Tactical Assessment and Response. Since weaknesses. It is interesting when outsiders come into your house-
becoming active in the AGD and the NYSAGD, this is the third they see things from a different perspective, which is exactly what
STAR visit I have attended. The idea is to have trained individuals happened during our STAR visit.
come to NY to discuss how to improve NYSAGD’s deficiencies
and help with items that the NYSAGD are doing well but can still continued on page 20
be improved upon.
From the Executive Director

Paula Bostick, Executive Director ourselves to providing our members multiple venues to stay con-
nected with us on social media.
Social Media and the NYSAGD
As you know, we’ve had our website (www.nysagd.org) and Face-
The New York State AGD has launched a new book page (NYSAGD or New York State Academy of General
social media initiative to help keep us con- Dentistry) for many years. But now, we also have accounts on In-
nected with our members (and non-members)! stagram and LinkedIn. In addition, our website has our Facebook
We saw the changes in how companies and page feed in real-time right on the front page. So now, our view-
organizations are communicating with their ers can connect from the website to our Facebook page and see
customers and the public at large. These days, first-hand the activities of the NYSAGD. Furthermore, when you
almost everyone participates on the social receive our emails, links to our social media sites are conveniently
media - whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, located at the bottom of the page.
Twitter, or LinkedIn. So we have dedicated continued on page 20

www.nysagd.org l Fall 2017 l GP 5