the needs of both our existing and potential new members by providing services that are relevant to contemporary dental practice.


What do you feel is dentistry’s greatest opportunity and threat today? Opportunity: Incorporating the ever-evolving spectrum of high-tech diagnos- tic and clinical equipment into a practice to improve both clinical and office efficiency. Threat: First, third party payors—either government or private—that monopolize markets, and second, entities outside of the dental profession that desire to force their philosophy upon the profession.


What is something you want members to know about your vision for your term of service as President? That I want to hear from them and encourage them to contact me. I also want to see an MDA that serves the membership well and has a positive effect upon all of our practices.


What do you believe are the best opportuni- ties for positive growth and change within the MDA in the next year? First, provide services and benefits to our members that are second-to-none in both content and value, both professionally and financially; second, put maximum effort into marketing the MDA’s “new” Connect4Success all-dentist conference with a New Dentist track, which premieres June 15-16 at Lake of the Ozarks.


How did you first become active in or invited to organized dentistry? What’s the reason you have stayed involved? I became an MDA member without anyone inviting me in 1980, within weeks after graduating dental school, and have been a dues paying member ever since. I feel it is every dentist’s responsibility to support their professional organization to the fullest extent they are able to at every point in their career. With starting a practice and having young chil- dren, for many years I remained only a dues- paying member—one of the silent majority. My only participation was attending the Mid- Continent Dental Convention in St. Louis each year for CE. When my children got into


tell me? Because I am greeted and treated by people who care for and are interested in me, as an individual, not as just another case.


If you decided to abandon dentistry tomorrow to pursue a different ‘dream’ what would that be? At this point, it would be living the life of a retiree.


FROM LEFT: Daughter Jennifer, daughter-in-law Laura, son Vincent, Patti, Dr. Rapini.


high school, I started attending district meet- ings, and the rest is history. Each year since 1999, I have held some leadership position within our organization, beginning in 1999 as a district secretary in the St. Louis Central District, to serving this year as the President of our Association. I have remained involved at the local level, and became involved at the state and national level, because I feel I can articulate the concerns of our dues paying members at every level of membership. I have had the exact same issues to face each and every day I have gone to the office.


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? Every mem- ber should find the level of involvement they feel most comfortable with. We are always looking to develop new leaders; however, if that’s not your thing, that’s OK. Stay tuned to what’s going on in your profession by check- ing out the MDA and your component web pages; read their publications; volunteer for the annual MOMOM. Attend a local meeting once—you should find a group of your peers of all ages who will warmly welcome you and make you feel at home.


What keeps you motivated as you juggle your practice, these leadership and volun- teer roles and just life in general? Knowing that I am still contributing to the profes- sion and being a positive influence on those around me, family and friends.


If I asked your patients why they keep com- ing back to your practice, what would they


ISSUE 6 | NOV/DEC 2017 | focus 11


What is something readers would be surprised to learn about you? At one time I was planning on being a music major in college; I have also been a


member of the United Auto Workers Union.


If you have favorites in these categories, will you share what they are?


 Food: Lasagna with a lot of cheese, meat and sauce; chicken pot pie; down-home cooking Southern-style; blueberry or blackberry pie.


 Restaurant(s): Antonino’s and Cunetto’s on The Hill; 61 Roadhouse in Webster; Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant on Telegraph Rd; and the now-closed and much-lamented ‘Harry’s Diner’ in Port Washington, Wis.


 Song: “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” by David Allen Coe.


 Movie(s): Monty Python and the Holy Grail; The Searchers; Clint Eastwood’s ‘Dollars Trilogy’; Sons of the Desert; A Night at the Opera; Ben Hur (1926 silent film); and the short Brideless Groom.


 Book(s): Mainly historical.  Sports Teams: Cardinals and Royals.  Hobby/past-time: Fishing when I get the time, BBQing and attending major and minor league baseball as well as college football games with my son.


 Travel destination: Oklahoma City to visit my daughter; otherwise, Washing- ton, D. C.; Honolulu; Port Washington, Wis. to salmon fish; and, the Smokies or any rural retreat far removed from the city. f


CONTACT DR. RAPINI at president@modental.org or 314-517-0135.


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