FOCUS | ISSUE 6 | 2010

raised to a “C”. When he told me he couldn’t believe my response, as I said “You have to be kidding, I’m not taking another test, I’m glad a got a D.”

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS IN DENTAL SCHOOL? Always the clinic.

WHAT ARE YOUR WORDS OF WISDOM FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY BE CONSIDERING ENROLLING IN DENTAL SCHOOL? Dentistry is the greatest profession. Make sure that you get involved and keep it that way.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A DENTIST? The people, watching them beam when we are able to make a difference in their smile.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY LEAST ABOUT BEING A DENTIST? Insurance companies coming between me and my patients.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE ANYONE HAS EVER GIVEN YOU ABOUT YOUR CAREER? Always have fun at work.

HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR STAFF MOTIVATED AND ENERGIZED? That’s easy. I do whatever they want.

IF I ASKED YOUR PATIENTS WHY THEY KEEP COMING BACK TO YOUR PRACTICE, WHAT WOULD THEY TELL ME? They would say that it is because of my staff, but I really know different!

IF YOU DECIDED TO ABANDON DENTISTRY TOMORROW TO PURSUE YOUR ‘ULTIMATE DREAM’ WHAT WOULD THAT BE? My ultimate dream is to never leave dentistry.

About Your Presidency & Leadership 

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE STATE OF OUR ASSOCIATION AND THE PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY? The Profession of Dentistry today has serious challenges. These include government intrusion, third party intrusion and workforce issues to address access to care. The profession, however, is strong and positioned well to meet these challenges.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS DENTISTRY’S GREATEST STRENGTH TODAY? Our greatest strength is our numbers. While medicine struggles to have a strong voice due to its low member numbers, we continue to enjoy a very good market share.

GREATEST WEAKNESS? Our weakness stems from organized dentistry in general losing sight of its “relevance” to the members. Although Missouri continues to have a higher than average market share of members, we cannot lose sight of our goals and objectives.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS DENTISTRY’S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TODAY? Our opportunity is to address access to care by ourselves, with our solution, continuing to have the dentist as the leader of the dental team.

GREATEST THREAT? Likewise, our greatest threat is letting someone else “solve” the access problem, and in the process lose our position as the leader.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT MEMBERS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR VISION FOR YOUR TERM OF SERVICE AS PRESIDENT? Our Association has been blessed with leaders who have the best interests of dentistry at heart. I hope to be able to continue the efforts of my predecessors. I will focus first on completing our strategic plan and positioning the Association to make decisions and action plans based on reaching our goals.

HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME ACTIVE IN ORGANIZED DENTISTRY? Dr. Paul Mace gave me a call one day and invited me to accompany him to a district meeting. I immediately became engrossed in organized dentistry, and I have never looked back.

THE MDA ALWAYS IS STRIVING TO GET MORE YOUNG DENTISTS INVOLVED IN ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP. WHAT ADVICE OR COMMENTS DO YOU HAVE TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO ARE BEGINNING THEIR PRACTICES AND FAMILIES, WHO DON’T FEEL THEY HAVE THE TIME TO BECOME INVOLVED OR MAYBE DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED? As you might expect, I think the solution lies in getting the new dentists to come to our events. That involves one-on-one, just like my first experience. I believe that once a new dentist comes to a few events, and sees the camaraderie and professional pride among our members, that they as well will be hooked on organized dentistry.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL FELLOW MEMBERS WHO DESIRE TO ATTAIN AN ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP ROLE TO DO TO PREPARE? Come and observe a meeting. The best would be the House of Delegates because all members can attend all sessions and all members are invited to speak and give their opinions at the reference committee hearings.

Dr. Zust encourages your questions and comments on any Association-related matters. Contact him at president@modental.org or 636-928-1100.

OFFICERS ELECTED, NEW BOARD MEMBERS BEGIN

Part of the 2010 House of Delegates activi- ties is the election of Association officers for the coming year by the 51 delegates representing MDA’s eight components.

PRESIDENT: Dr. Mark Zust is a general dentist with a practice located in St. Pe- ters. He is a 1974 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry.

PRESIDENT-ELECT: Dr. Elwood Rice is a general dentist with a practice located in Mexico. He is a 1982 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry.

TREASURER/SECRETARY: Dr. JC Standlee is a general dentist with a practice in Jefferson City. He is a 1987 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry, and completed a GPR from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1988.

SPEAKER: Dr. Joe Sokolowski is a general dentist with a practice in Florissant. He is a 1982 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry.

In addition to the elected officers, four new members joined the MDA Board of Trustees.

CENTRAL TRUSTEE: Dr. Robert Coyle is a pediatric dentist with a practice in Columbia. He is a 1995 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry, and completed an AEGD from Lancaster (PA) Cleft Palate Clinic in 1996, a fellowship in pediatric dentistry from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 1997, and a residency in pediatric dentistry from the University of Kentucky in 1999.

GREATER SPRINGFIELD TRUSTEE: Dr. Jody Vance is a periodontist with a practice in Springfield. He is a 1991 graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Cen- ter College of Dentistry where in 1994 he received a Certificate of Specializa- tion in Periodontics.

SOUTHEAST TRUSTEE: Dr. Patrick Ruopp is a general dentist with a practice in Cape Girardeau. He is a 1976 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry.

NEW DENTIST COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE: Dr. Sarah Mahaffey is a general dentist with a practice in Springfield. She is a 2005 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry.

You can always find board meeting min- utes at www.modental.org/board.

39