As a Forensic Odontologist on the federal region VII DMORT (disaster mortuary operational response team), you have been deployed to New York after 9/11, to the American Airlines crash in Kirksville in 2003, to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, to Hurricane Ike in 2008, and to the tornado in Joplin in 2011. Which of these was the most difficult assignment, in terms of the conditions and your role? They all have had their difficulties, but 9/11 would be the one. To see your country after it has been attacked, was very unnerving. I can’t describe how I felt when we flew over what was left of the twin towers just before we landed. Very few people on the plane and very quiet. I worked the night shift. And to see the city and the area around ground zero at night during that was surreal. I will never forget it.

You will be installed as the President of the American Society of Forensic Odontol- ogy at its annual meeting next February. Tell us, related to that leadership position, what’s new in the world of dental forensics, and along with that, how does this group communicate/collaborate with a group like the ADA (if they do). Forensic Odontolo- gy has been through many small changes over the years as we learn from what has been done and the research we continue to do. We now are digital in most of what we do, which is a big change from prior to 2005. As a rule, forensic odontology is not recognized by the ADA as a specialty. We are associated with the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. This is a better association for our group and what we do. We have not only the American Society of Forensic Odontology (ASFO. org), but the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO.org). The ASFO is open to anyone with an interest in forensic odontology, not just dentists. The ABFO is comprised of individuals who are nationally and internationally recognized experts. The ABFO is accredited by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) as a forensic specialty offering board certification to qualified dentists. Both groups have members from around the world.

SLegislative Excellence Award REPRESENTATIVES ERIC BURLISON

ENATOR WILL KRAUS and

Senator Will Kraus (District 8) and Representative Eric Burlison (R-136) were honored with the 2016 MDA Legislative Excellence Awards. The MDA appreciates the work of both of these members of the General As- sembly in service to the dental profession.

While Senator Kraus always has been a friend to the dental profession, specifically he was acknowledged for his work in the 2016 session related to dental Medicaid. Senator Kraus spoke to an MDA member in Poplar Bluff in 2015 about the difficulties MO Health- Net provider dentists experience and why so many are hesitant to enroll. Stemming from that conversation, Sen. Kraus sponsored Senate Bill 870 which allowed for MO HealthNet provider dentists to deduct income earned from Medicaid on their taxes and place it in a retirement account.

Representative Eric Burlison has been instrumental for the dental profession in the legislative arena nearly his entire career in the Missouri House of Representa- tives. He is Chair of the Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing, which receives the majority of the MDA’s legislative priorities.

Agency Celebrates 25 Years

Part of the celebration at the 2016 MDA House of Delegates focused on Missouri Dental Insurance Services, the wholly owned insurance subsidiary of MDA, which was recognized for its 25th Anniver- sary. The agency was created by dentists, for dentists at the 1991 House of Delegates. Since then, MDIS has provided more than $2.7 million to strengthen and benefit MDA. Additionally, MDIS has provided more than $77,000 in support to the MDA Foun- dation, $7,500 to the Missouri Dental Well Being Foundation and almost $111,000 combined to MDA component societies—all told, almost $3 million! Below, in honor of this occasion, we share 25 reasons members love MDIS!

25 REASONS MEMBERS LOVE MDIS

1. They “get” dentists and understand the profession and my needs.

2. They are friendly when I call.

3. They generate non-dues revenue (just over $2.7 million), which helps to keep my dues down.

4. They support component societies and MDA Foundation and Dental Well Being Foundation (giving almost $200,000).

5. Their sponsorship supports just about every MDA event I attend.

6. They are helpful during a crisis (such as Joplin).

7. They love dental students … think Food for Thought burritos and pizza and Board Exam lunches.

8. They give away great swag (like this awesome cup on your table).

9. They extend their products to my family and team (and their families, too).

10. I feel like a priority when I have a question or a claim.

11. They make insurance easy or, at least, less stressful.

12. I fix gaps in teeth, they fix gaps in my coverage.

13. They provide great articles in the Focus.

14. They sponsor the MDA eNews which keeps me informed and alerted.

15. They helped pay off our MDA mortgage.

16. They have years of (combined) experience … 73 and counting.

17. They know what all the acronyms mean … ACA, HSA, HRA, ERISA, MEP (and why I should care, even when I don’t want to).

18. They turn my “uh ohs” into “whew!”

19. They make me feel like a friend when I see them at dental meetings across the state.

20. With their help, I might just be able to retire someday.

21. As a new grad, they gave me discounts on malpractice coverage.

22. They support new dentist events, like Connect4Success.

23. They just made a great new website with tons of info at MDIS4DDS.com.

24. They were created by dentists, for dentists and that’s still who they serve.

25. They provide honest answers, practical solutions and personal service.

38 focus | NOV/DEC 2016 | ISSUE 6