{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts • Foundation & Outreach Director When One Size Doesn’t Fit All H
ave you ever been somewhere new and done something out of your norm that was conducted by a larger organization? Think
of a vacation excursion like snorkeling. You feel both excited and apprehensive about the challenge ahead. You have some unspo- ken expectations (I want to see an octopus!) and you have some unspoken fears (what if I drown?). As you gather dockside, your default personality determines your nervous observations. You may be double checking the weather report. You may be examining the seaworthiness of the boat. You may be casing the crowd to determine who you can trust and who to avoid. Heck, you may just be asking when they serve the booze!
Then there’s always that awkward moment when the company passes out the gear. The company has a mission to deliver world-class experiences. They service all types of people in all types of conditions, but they also must be fiscally wise with a limited supply of items. It’s usually standard-issue stuff and it can be difficult to find the right fit. This is when everyone becomes self-conscious as they struggle to feel at ease. It harkens back to Goldilocks thinking “this mask is too tight … this one is too loose”. Unfortunately one size doesn’t fit all. And there’s always someone (usually me) who needs a few extra minutes and professional help to get geared up.
Through it all the company staff patiently assists customers, assures them of a good outing and tries to enrich the experience with music and food and other amenities. Eventually you leave the dock for the open water and you realize you’re all in the same boat, on the same adventure under the same circumstances. Often this recognition leads to some new friendships as people share what they know from similar experiences. Before you know it, your motley crew has re- surfaced from the depths and re-boarded the boat for the return trip. Talk now is focused
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on the incredible sights, the lessons learned as people adjusted to the new environment, and the expectation of the next journey. While not everyone had the same level of satisfaction, they all returned safe. Once back at the dock, there’s no longer angst about the many unique variables of the excursion, just pride in your accomplishment.
be fiscally smart, resourceful and responsive. We are passing out gear and realizing not one size fits all. Information on loans, regula- tions, supplies, etc. changes every day. Your MDA leadership and staff are working all the well-established connections with the ADA, legislators, DHSS, Missouri Dental Board, suppliers, insurance companies and more to
Now you may think I’m all wet, but I see several insights about membership in this illustration that can help us gain perspective during this unique season of life and den- tistry, post pandemic. There is naturally great apprehension about the future. You are em- barking on a journey out of the norm. Your individual personality type will fuel how you think about it. Perhaps you relish the change. Perhaps you want rigid guidelines to follow. Perhaps you will watch others as you find your way. On top of your personality, other factors like practice size, practice location and practice model will impact your decision matrix. Some of you are at the doorstep of a long-awaited retirement. Others are new grads thinking “Are you kidding me? This is how my dental career starts?”
You, the gathered tourists, are quite diverse, but you all want assistance to ensure the best experience possible. In steps the MDA, the large company focused on the mission to help all members succeed while trying to
provide you with the best guidance possible. Can you imagine the profession’s response without these advantages developed over time? Membership always has value, but I think in times like these it resonates the loudest.
We’ve left the dock together, in the same boat, under the same circumstances. It will require you to adjust to less-than-perfect conditions. You’ll be wise to make new friends and learn together. Not everyone will have the best experience down in the depths, but eventually we all will surface, get back in the boat together, share our lessons, smile about overcoming the difficulties and preserving the profession you love. One size doesn’t fit all, but all sizes fit in the MDA. Membership matters. f
Contact Paul at paul@modentalmail. org. Read his blog, The Week That Was, new on Fridays at modental. org/blog.
