MDA Board Nominates Officers A
t its August meeting, the MDA Board voted to submit the following officers to the MDA House of Delegates: Dr.
Jon Copeland, President-Elect; Dr. Mack Tay- lor, Treasurer; and, Dr. Amanda Fitzpatrick, Speaker. Learn more about each below. At the MDA House in November, Dr. Jeremy Bowen, Independence, will be installed as the MDA’s 154th president. Find complete House information at
modental.org/house.
DR. JON COPELAND, PRESIDENT ELECT
Dr. Copeland resides in Wildwood, Mo., and has owned a private practice there since 2013, Town Center Dental. Recently his wife, Dr. Stephanie Copeland, also a dentist, joined him in practice to form Copeland Dental Group. He is a 2009 graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry, and in 2010 com- pleted a GPR at University of Nebraska. Dr. Copeland has been an active MDA mem- ber for 13 years. His volunteer positions in organized dentistry include Greater St. Louis and MDA New Dentist Committee member, MDA New Dentist Chair and MDA Treasurer. Among various accolades, most recently he has been honored as UMKC School of Dentistry Young Alumnus of the Year (2019); ADA 10 Under 10 (Inaugural Class in 2018) and MDA Outstanding New Dental Leader (2018). He is a current Expanded Function Dental Assistant Trainer and is on staff at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis. In addition to MDA membership, he is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry, American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, for which he has been Missouri Section Chair. He also is a Spear Study Club Leader. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Copeland is a member of the West St. Louis County Rotary Club. Jon and Stephanie have three children, Evie (11), Addie (9) and Owen (7). His hobbies and interests include fly fishing and traveling with his family to the National Parks.
12 focus | SEP/OCT 2022 | ISSUE 5
Why do you want to be the MDA President? I have been active in the MDA since return- ing to St. Louis following residency starting with the New Dentist Committee (NDC). As a young dentist, I felt it was important to start a more collaborative atmosphere for new dentists trying to get their feet under them in dentistry, which led to the formation of Connect4Success meeting. As chair of the NDC and Education Committee, I worked to ramp up C4S and after Winter Session discontinued, I believed it created an oppor- tunity for all Missouri dentists and their staff to enjoy what we have as young dentists at C4S. As Treasurer, I have seen how the MDA moved through COVID—the biggest crisis we have faced since the changes made in dentistry during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. I am very proud of how Dr. Berry, Vicki and the rest of the leadership team handled those trying times. Being part of all those meetings gave me the insight needed to move us for- ward into the future. I believe being active at different levels of MDA leadership for the last 11 years has given me the skills the presidency requires, and I want to put them to the test.
What do you believe are some of the most critical issues facing dentistry today? I think there are so many critical issues it sometimes feels almost impossible to manage. To me, it’s important to realize the practice models are changing and staff are changing. When I hire a new team member, I try to be as aware as possible of their needs. Right now, I have many working moms on my team. I have adapted my practice model so they can make their kids' sporting events, recitals and parent teacher conferences. Some businesses have the flexibility of remote work or rearranged schedules. Dentistry does not lend itself to that, so we must adapt for our teams to prevent burnout.
Legislative advocacy affects many aspects of the dental profession. How would you like to improve MDA advocacy efforts? We are coming off one of the most successful legisla- tive sessions in recent history. Much credit is due to Dr. Ron Wilkerson, LRC chair, as well as our lobbying team at the Capitol. I look
forward to seeing how those items change the practice of dentistry in Missouri for the better. I think we still have a fight ahead of us with several ongoing issues related to com- panies that operate as insurance companies being regulated like insurance companies. I think it is still important for MDA members to show our presence at the Capitol and let the legislature now what obstacles we face in providing care for Missouri residents.
What do you feel is most important for the Association to be doing to communicate the value of membership and what do you personally plan to do to try to address this as president? I believe, as is difficult for most large organizations, we have failed to change with the times. I do believe we try as an or- ganization to adapt, but our current structure makes adaptation difficult. I believe we need to be more open to diversity not only in race, gender, sexual orientation and other more obvious differences, but also in practice types. We need to accept that some dentists want to work for a DSO, some want to work in public health, some are happy as an associ- ate, some want to work part time only. The days of every dentist aspiring to be a practice owner are over. The Association needs to have value and resources for each of these practitioners they cannot find elsewhere. As president, I plan to focus on inclusion of female dentists at all levels as our organiza- tion as equals. More than half of graduating dentists are now women. I know what you are thinking—you’re a guy, you have no idea. You are right, but I am also the husband of a female dentist, and I have seen firsthand the discrimination that exists at all levels of or- ganized dentistry, even honorary fellowships. We are not as inclusive as we think we are, and it’s time we face this head on.
What do you feel are some of the MDA and ADA “best kept secrets” in terms of benefits and services—things you have appreciated that maybe you wish more members knew about or utilized? I am partial to C4S. I feel like it has grown into an excellent confer- ence for our state and a great way to connect with colleagues from around the state, as
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