The Week That Was: September 21-25

Prize Patrol Strikes Again for MDA Dentist of the Year

This is becoming the best part of the job. On Tuesday we pointed our Prize Patrol wheels toward Lee’s Summit and surprised Dr. John Dane with the news that he is our 2020 MDA Dentist of the Year. It was delightful to commandeer his home and then take him out for a good lunch. Watch the shenanigans here. It was also really cool how his wife, Rhesa, planned for son, Sean, to be present and to dial in two out-of-town daughters via Zoom so the whole family could share in Dad’s honor. We laughed and joked and discovered that Dr. Dane’s best role is as Papa to his grandkids. Vicki may beg to differ, because she knows first hand how valuable it is to have such a cooperative state dental director during a pandemic. You may never know just how much he gets done for the profession in that position. It’s a very fitting honor for this very humble man. Thank you, Rhesa, for your assistance. It was a home run. Next week will be our final surprise attack, so stay tuned.

MDA Helps ASDA UMKC Kick Off Fever Week

September is usually a big month to connect with dental students. Limited travel is cramping our style. However, we were able to help the ASDA chapter at UMKC kick off their Fever Week by providing a speaker and prizes. Dr. Katie Oatman, another Lee’s Summit member, generously gave of her time to tell the students what’s it like after graduating, and more specifically, what it’s like buying a practice during a pandemic. She did a great job and fielded good questions. The ASDA reps were pleased and said it was the highest turnout yet of any Zoom events.

Foundation Actions

This morning the MDA Foundation Board met and addressed a number of issues including re-electing the officer slate of Dr. Danielle Riordan, Chair; Dr. Robert Renger, Vice Chair; and, Dr. Darren Mahaffey, Treasurer. Perhaps the most important business was deliberating over grant applicants. Quietly there are some amazing local nonprofits that conduct excellent and needed oral health outreach efforts around the state. Your dues donations help the Foundation show appreciation and support for many of these groups. I wish we could give more and draw more attention to them as well. Let’s celebrate these efforts and grant awardees:

• Bollinger Count Health Department: $500 for fluoride varnish and education program
• Butler County Health Department: $1,000 for school outreach program
• Dental Lifeline Network: $2,000 toward supporting their program to help the elderly and medically fragile
• Good Samaritan Care Clinic: $1,750 for supplies and support of their free clinic in Mountain View
• Heartland Outreach Providers: $1,000 for supplies in their HOPE Dental Outreach to kids program
• KC Care Clinic: $1,750 for supplies in their mobile pediatric unit
• MOAPD: $1,500 for materials and promotion of Points of Light program
• Oral Health Coalition of Southeast Missouri: $500 for school varnish, screening and education efforts

The Week Ahead

Gas up the party barge, because we have another surprise effort on deck plus a boatload of Zooms, including one just for you—MDA Virtual—that offers value and CE credits on Thursday, October 1 at 6 pm. Sign up here for MDIS Multiple Employer Aggregation Program (MEAP): What’s In It For You and Your Employees. We plan these opportunities to address needs we hear about and to stay connected with members during COVID. Also next week, we’re on the road to the far corners of the state to attend component meetings. Vicki and Dr. Rob Tait, MDA President Elect, will be in St. Joe for the NWDS meeting. Dr. Mike Berry, MDA President, will join me in Hannibal for the NEDS meeting. Dr. Berry is eating up the pavement as today he’s supporting the SEDS at their meeting in Cape Girardeau.

Quote of the Week

Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.