{ association insights } by Tom Stone, DDS • MDA President


The Next Generation W


hat a fantastic summer it is shaping up to be. Early June brought the fun of Connect4Success at


Margaritaville Lake Resort. Great speakers, vendors and fellowship with colleagues. I’m excited this new venue will become a favorite of the MDA membership. If you were unable to attend, hopefully you can join us next year, June 22-24. Save the date!


That same weekend, I was able to travel to Kansas City to watch the white coat ceremo- ny for UMKC School of Dentistry (I’ll attend ATSU mid-July). Having never been, it was an awesome experience.


It was a joy to see the enthusiasm of young professionals getting to start their careers in the clinic, celebrated by the presentation of a white coat. There were also family members, friends, spouses, special guests, teachers, clinic instructors and significant others there to enjoy the moment with these young pro- fessionals—the pinnacle in their academic careers thus far.


They had a collective, class-written code of ethics which was unique and special. It was read out loud by the class before they were presented and then they signed it. It included all the classical parts, but also much more. It was thoughtful about others and the patients they would be treating. And isn’t that why we are all in this profession—the great profes- sion of dentistry? We want to succeed in our profession and it all comes down to how we care for our patients and others in our community. It is a common tie between our generation and young professional genera- tions to follow. I’m excited to think about the technology and patient care advances they will practice with we don’t currently use. I’m hopeful they will be able to handle the numbers of patients that come to them for treatment.


8 focus | JUL/AUG 2022 | ISSUE 4


So, what can we do for the next generation to help them succeed with their goals? Show them on a personal level how the MDA works for them. We are a community of mentors with solutions for them.


LEGISLATIVE


We must show them how valuable and important our collective and continued pres- ence at the Capitol is. We had several legisla- tive victories this year including increased Medicaid fees and Assignment of Benefits. That success now has been built upon years of advocacy work that we need future practi- tioners to be part of.


WORKFORCE


Create and build a workforce for the future. We no longer can sit back and say “no”; we need to consider any and all ideas on the table to manage and take care of the patients we’ve been called to treat. This includes maintaining and expanding hygiene educa- tion programs, but also EFDA and dental assisting programs. It means recruiting for these programs and recruiting future dentists for our three programs in the state. Let’s find the bottlenecks and open them up!


MENTORSHIP


Every meeting we have, whether state or local, is an opportunity to help, serve or show


a new member who we are. Reach out to our new members and build relationships by inviting them to lunch or a meeting, or asking them to cover your patients when you are out of town.


LISTENING


Listening is really a part of the mentoring process but it needs to be highlighted. We need to really listen to this new generation of dentists and to get to the bottom of what they think and feel—not be constructing our answers as they are talking, but asking questions to make sure they are heard. What are their struggles, concerns and problems? How will they balance family, finance and practice? How can we help?


All of these ways can show the support that we truly have for the new generation of den- tists on their way to a town near you. If you have never been to a White Coat Ceremony, I would encourage you to go. Take part in the joy, sense of accomplishment, pride, service to others and the calling to a great profes- sion.


Contact Dr. Stone at tom@ tstonedds.com.


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