{ outreach in action } by Paul Roberts • Foundation & Outreach Director


make a very good dentist. You’re welcome, world. But there is one aspect of the job I would enjoy: designing a practice.


How Do You Design? W


ith poor science grades, a fear of hurting people and horrible hand coordination, I would not


Having visited many members at their workplaces, I love the range of possibili- ties I see. You have humble, cozy settings in a home. You have space-age, high-tech new builds with all the latest gadgets. You have refined, quiet spaces in large medical buildings. You have theme-oriented, stand- alone buildings. There’s old and new. There’s general and specialist. There’s the bustle of public health. There’s the familiarity of a small town location. There are quirky built- in labs. There are spa rooms and safe rooms. There’s childcare and laundry. The iterations are endless. You can be whatever you want to be, and you may not even need the seemingly innocuous aquarium anymore, lol.


But underneath your unique identity as a provider, there’s some common, time-tested elements of design and function you must accommodate. These are like the bones under the skin. You must have power, water and light. You are held to certain codes and safety measures. You need to be aware of privacy, workflow, security and more. And don’t forget maintenance requirements. It’s a lot to consider on top of the aesthetic you are trying to communicate. Plus, tastes and trends (and paint colors) change frequently! How does one ever get it right?


Well, you are not alone. Your MDA faces the same design challenges. No, I don’t mean in the physical space. In fact, our 20+ year old headquarters is paid off and holding up well. And, we have just converted the lower-level space into an 8-operatory centralized Train- ing Center for all manner of EFDA and other clinical courses. Things are good and grow- ing under our roof. You can be proud of that!


22 focus | WINTER 2023 | ISSUE 4


The challenge comes from designing the conceptual model of the MDA. On the one hand, you can say we have a strong founda- tion after nearly 160 years of meeting mem- ber needs. On the other hand, the landscape is changing so rapidly, how do we adapt to keep up? Technology is mind boggling. Generational needs are different. Practice modalities are more diverse than ever before. Is there a way to be something valuable to everyone?


While perfection would be nice, we need to all be more flexible and realistic in our response. Designing for change is not for the weak hearted. Dr. Ray Cohlmia, Executive Director of the ADA, constantly refers to the “transformational change” occurring at the ADA. It’s both exhilarating and a little scary. Talk of a new membership model in 2025 is afoot. Resources are being redeployed. A massive new member management system is rolling out next summer. A new model called Strategic Forecasting is allowing for more grassroots ownership and voices in future priorities. This is not your “old school” ADA, so try and keep up.


Change always trickles down, so naturally your MDA leadership has been exploring new designs as well.


Several Board committees have identified priority focus areas that need a new look if


we are to remain nimble and relative. Of course, we need to retain those time-tested fundamentals of good governance, quality programming, bulldog advocacy and mean- ingful connections. The heart behind any transformational change is to expand op- portunities for engagement while removing stumbling blocks. We have already slowly made headway in several areas like digital communications. Keep your eyes open for more news in 2024. Your voice is essential to the process.


Will we ever get it perfectly right? I can con- fidently say no. Not because there’s incom- petence or apathy. But because one size does not fit all. Nor do dentists want to conform to one identity only. However, we are making membership better, easier and more valuable on many fronts. There’s plenty of common ground to rally around. But you have to have ownership in that process. The sidelines have disappeared. Come help us design and build the MDA you want to see.


Knowing dentists and their bent toward perfection, and given the opportunity and funding, I think anyone with a practice older than five years would jump at a chance to re- imagine their space. It keeps you current. It allows you to be you. It enhances the patient experience. And there’s a sense of accom- plishment and pride. The same holds true for the MDA. As we find opportunity and fund- ing, we want to stay current. We want every member to feel seen and valued for who they are. We want to enhance the member engagement experience. And I know we will all feel pride in that accomplishment.


Cheers for 2024 and the changes to come to both you and the MDA.


Contact Paul at paul@modentalmail. org. Subscribe to the MDA blog, “The Week That Was” to get his insider reporting on MDA activities and programs at modental.org/blog.


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