{ association insights } by Rob Tait, DDS • President
Emerging From the Freeze H
opefully everyone survived that last blast of winter! For me, it only seemed to reinforce 2021 still was going to be a bumpy
ride. Actually, my first indication of this was shortly after the New Year began when I lost a loved one—as I know others have, also—to this dreaded pandemic. On January 2, my 32-year-old niece, who was six months pregnant, succumbed to COVID after being on a ventilator for a week. By the grace of God “Baby Ross” was delivered and is doing well. So perhaps there is light at the end of this tunnel. Certainly his birth and the signs of spring remind us life can emerge from the literal and figurative frozenness of winter we’ve all been through.
By now many members and their teams have had at least one or both vaccinations. Other than a few mild side effects and sore arms, we seem to be moving toward a somewhat nor- mal life. Roger Maris (MLB star) will not be the only one with an asterisk after his name.
It’s crazy to think that as I write this we are at the year anniversary of the shutdown. Could there ever have been a longer year? Dr. Mike Berry and I have definitely navigated unchartered waters in our history as “Virtual Presidents.” The MDA staff has worked their tails off keeping our Association upright and moving forward. Missouri Dental Insurance Services also has done an exceptional job stabilizing MDA’s finances as a non-dues rev- enue source. The leadership at all three levels of our tripartite system cannot be thanked enough for the flood of information guiding our members through this minefield. Even non-members have expressed their thanks for the communication to navigate the CDC and state rules to keep their practices afloat.
The Missouri Dental Board should be com- mended for its leniency of our licensing re- newal this past year. During its January meet- ing the Dental Board discussed a proposal
10 focus | MAR/APR 2021 | ISSUE 2
for a required infection control program for Missouri dental assistants. The MDA is opposed to this program because we believe the existing statutes, education require- ments and programs in place are appropriate to provide training in safety procedures for dental licensees.
At our Board of Trustees meeting, also in January, the dental school deans expressed their support for current vaccine legislation which includes proper training; no mandate that dentists must provide vaccines (allowed in an emergency declaration, like COVID-19); and only related to oral cavity (such as HPV).
Something that has happened since our Trustees meeting is the official announce- ment of the retirement of Dr. John Dane as state dental director and the naming of Dr. Guy Deyton as the new director as of March 1. I can’t say enough about both of these individuals, having known and worked with them through the years at the Greater Kansas City component level as well as within the
MDA. John worked tirelessly for the pro- fession and public in the past year of the pandemic, and I know Guy will provide great leadership and energy to the role as well. Thank you and best wishes Dr. Dane and congratulations and welcome Dr. Deyton! You can read more about him on page 13.
I am glad to see many spring component CE and business meetings will be in-person, in a safe and practical manner unless unfore- seen circumstances present themselves. I’m also looking forward to this summer when the MDA will have its C4S—Connect for Success—meeting in-person, June 18-19 at Camden on the Lake, Lake of the Ozarks. We’ve had good registration numbers since opening online and I hope it continues. Like me, I am sure many of you are ready to re- ally reconnect with one another beyond the computer screen.
Looking ahead past the spring and summer months, other events will be held in-person this fall. The ADA meeting—which has been “re-imagined” to become “SmileCon” will be at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas October 10-13, with the ADA House of Delegates October 13-15. You don’t want to miss that party! Also, the MDA House of Delegates will be this November (all resolutions and actions for the past three years are posted at modental.org/ housestatus). We anticipate fall component meetings also will resume their in-person attendance, including the Greater St. Louis Mid-Continent Dental Congress, which will be October 28-29 at its new venue, St. Louis Union Station.
Thank you all for your patience with us, and God willing we hope to see you soon at one or more of these events. f
