{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts • Foundation & Outreach Director


A Revolution That Led to A Revolution


M


y deadline was looming for this article. What do I write about this time? In my delu- sion, I imagined hundreds


of dentists eagerly anticipating manna from heaven as I sublimely opined about the ways of the world. Yeah, fat chance. So then I said to myself, “let’s check what I did for this issue a year ago.” Hmm, it appears I mused over the question, “does communication exist anymore”, and I sought input from you as I harkened toward the need for new tools in the MDA chest.


Well looky looky. It’s a year later now. An- other revolution around the sun, and here I am ready to crow about new tools and a new kind of revolution. Dentists of Missouri allow me to introduce to you MoDental On Demand, the key that unlocks our digital revolution. But first a little context.


We’ve all been there. You might know you need to change in some way. There are signs everywhere—the scale, your wardrobe, your patient schedule. Familiar habits are hard to break—hence the word, rut. New dimensions are hard to see if you don’t ever move. Fresh air can’t flow if you don’t open some doors. Often, we need new faces to help us move towards our goals. Perhaps it’s a trainer or a fashion consultant or a practice management guru. Somehow they shake you up; they move you.


The MDA needed some new faces to help us move toward our communication goals. Turns out shortly after this Focus issue last year we engaged with a few new partners. One, a local communications firm, helped us survey members and identify pain points. They suggested some tweaks to frame and track our value message to younger dentists.


22 focus | JUL/AUG 2022 | ISSUE 4


We began to see some results and con- nections regarding membership renewal, Connect4Success attendance and MOMOM engagement. A surge moved through us as we saw the benefit of fresh eyes directing us through a wildly diverse media landscape.


Almost serendipitously, at the same time, we were selected by the ADA to pilot a new program focused on digital communication. Email and magazines have their place (some would say closer and closer to the tar pits) but the new emerging members all grew up with phones next to their binkies. Today it’s all about brief video, texting, Snapchat and other social platforms. More than once from a member, I have suffered the nonchalant response of “I don’t check my email” after I inquire about my expansive missive I sent that so eloquently outlined numerous points. Today we scan QR codes the way we used to pass out business cards.


So we embarked on a journey to a new land under the expert tutelage of a Canadian company that excels in this rare mix of video production and association engagement. They have helped us develop MoDental On Demand. It’s a place to mingle and connect and learn. It’s a place that will grow and evolve with the profession. It’s a place to call home. Only recently soft-launched on June 1, we are still finding our way, but it will allow a real-time opportunity to easily consume the latest on legislative or regulatory issues or get the buzz on upcoming events or see what your colleagues are up to in member feature sections; our ideas are endless, and we want to hear yours. It’s like MDA YouTube in essence—only better—without the interrupt- ing ads and sometimes disturbing sugges- tions to watch next, amid other annoyances.


The Solutions Center is a cousin to MoDental On Demand. We like to think of it as the second pillar of this new digital platform, al- lowing all-in-one access to partners desiring to support Missouri dentists with solutions you need to thrive in practice. Think of it as a yearlong exhibit hall open 24/7 when you’re ready to visit and learn. Company profiles include videos, photos, articles and more resources to help you vet the products and services you are looking for. This exciting platform is being populated with businesses supporting you in practice.


Dentistry has long been a collaborative profession with so many auxiliary touch points like insurance, practice management, equipment improvements, clinical develop- ment, legal and accounting needs, supplies and more. This community feel can be found at Connect4Success or MOMOM. And now it can be found through the Solutions Center.


What a difference a year makes. Change is arduous and unsettling at times. You don’t lose 20 pounds overnight, and you don’t fix your scheduling issues in a week, but when you do see progress, you step a little lighter and smile a little brighter. Before long you have a new normal.


My invitation—nay, challenge—to you is to be part of the digital revolution. Learn how to engage with it. Suggest ideas for improve- ment. Support our Solution Center partners. Together we will grow, and the next genera- tion will take the wheel and make their state- ment. I only wish they were reading this. I guess it’s time to post this in video form.


Contact Paul at paul@modentalmail. org. Read his blog (modental.org/ blog) for a weekly MDA snapshot.


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