May 2008 Newsletter

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STAFF NIGHT — A Deserving Tribute

As we gather this month to honor our respective staffs for their contribution to our success, we should reflect on how each separate staff person is so vital to the practice as a whole. Any practitioner who forgets the vital function of a staff person is clearly reminded of it when he/she calls in sick and we are left to perform his/her functions on top of our treatment duties.
In an age where loyalty to an employer in the marketplace is becoming nonexistent, many of us are blessed with employees who will go to the end of the earth for us because they believe in us and we have made them feel a vital part of our business. For these staff members who show unyielding loyalty to us during inevitable hard times, this night of tribute is deserving. As our practices are extensions of ourselves, so too are our staffs extensions of our families. There is no doubt that they see sides of us only our immediate family members know about.
We hope that you make every effort to honor your staffs by attending this special event.

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President's Message - Dr. James Courey

Its been said that the older you get, the more quickly time seems to pass. Recently, I traveled to Germany for a CE course; I have not been there in 20 years. When I graduated dental school, my brother and I backpacked throughout Europe for 3 weeks before starting my professional career in the Navy as an active duty dentist. During this recent visit, I reacquainted myself with a place they called “Checkpoint Charlie.” It was an old army border crossing station that once separated East and West Berlin. It has since been dismantled and the original hut was moved to a museum, however, a replica stands in its place. As I watched the people marveling at this place, I took notice of some teenagers and thought to myself, they were not even alive when the wall was taken down in 1989. It affirmed that although I do not feel so old, I am older than I’d like to be reminded.
Regrettably, the same is true of this year. It feels as if this year was a tape on fast forward and we are at the end, where my Presidency is coming to a close. I am so proud of this wonderful year; it was filled with knowledgeable speakers at the general meetings and all day courses. Mostly, I am proud and impressed with the team members who worked so hard, namely, your program chairman, Constantine Simos, your mentor chairman Ethan Glickman, and education chairman, Mark Schambra. Our society has had a productive year—maintaining our budget, yet still offering our members excellent CE at a minimal cost. I am also proud and honored to have participated in the organizational part of the board by helping set up sub-committees to investigate and report issues; All the while, keeping members abreast of the latest developments at NJDA and in Trenton. This outstanding newsletter produced by Bob Silverstein and its contents brought to you by numerous committee members who volunteer their time for the benefit of MCDS is incredible. I also want to recognize Mark Vitale, your president-elect. He is a dedicated and valuable member of MCDS and has assisted me many times this year. He will be an excellent President and I hope you will continue to provide the same enthusiasm for the society that I witnessed this year.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to all the members of MCDS for their support and encouragement during the challenging transitional period of my professional career. It is easy to see great distances when you stand on the shoulders of giants like our prior leaders of this wonderful organization who made the job of President seem effortless. Although, I will no longer be your President, I will always be your friend. It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve you.
Warmly, Jim

4/8/2008
Attendance: Ashmen, Brunsden, Courey, Kahn, Nandra, Savage, Schambra, Silverstein, Simos, Villa, Vitale, Weiner, Ziemba, Marlene Glickman.
Acceptance of Minutes-vote unanimous.
President’s Report-James Courey
Under the President’s Report, Dr. Ziemba reported on the summer beachparty that we are planning. Drs. Brunsden and Villa were kind enough to host the event at their house in South Mantoloking. All MCDS members are welcome (they can bring guests for $35 each). A registration form is available in this newsletter and on our web site under the “Of Current Interest” link.
Treasurer’s Report-Robert Ashmen
See full report on page 3.
Editor’s Report-Bob Silverstein, Constantine Simos
Just so the Board is aware, I purchased 58 cent stamps in anticipation of the size of the April Newsletter. After I put the April issue together, and saw that the newsletter would not need that much postage, I purchased 41 cent stamps. I anticipate using the 58 cent stamps next month.
Program Chairperson-Constantine Simos
Dr. Cranham’s presentation was well received with 101 dentists and 20 staff registered for the course. Dr. Flynn will present an update on odontogenic infections and antimicrobial therapy in April. This will be the Sy Symanski memorial lecture. Staff Night will occur on May 20th, please see the registration form for information.
Give Kids a Smile/Children’s Dental Health Month-Cavan Brunsden
Eric Elmore was the on site manager and coordinated media coverage. There was newspaper, TV and radio coverage of the event. Cavan is meeting with Eric next week to initiate plans for next year. Next years push is going to be for more private practice participation. This year there was a great amount of private practice participation, with these practices following up on the kids that were treated under this program.
NJDA Council Reports:
Dental Benefits-Mark Vitale
See full report on page 4.
Governmental Affairs-Mitch Weiner
The next meeting is on 4/23. I’ll have a report at the next Board Meeting.
Membership-Tara Savage
The MCDS study club continues to meet every 6 to 8 weeks. The next meeting will be held on May 15, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the Clarion Hotel in Edison. Dr. David Stein will be giving a presentation titled “Implant Therapy in the Dental Office.” Members will receive 2 CE credits for attending.
New Dentists-Arpan Nandra
On March 19th members of the New Dentist Committee went to NJDS to speak about their practices and how they transitioned from dental school to where they are now. The members of the New Dentist Committee are young dentists that have gone into private practice themselves either through a buy-in or start from scratch.
The New Dentist Committee is sponsoring a lecture and cocktail hour after during the annual session.
Currently members of the NDC are calling new members to personally invite them to the lecture/cocktail in Atlantic City.
Invitations are also being sent out.
I have taken on the responsibility of having each dental society in NJ represented on the New Dentists committee.
The annual ADA New Dentist Committee meeting is usually held in different cities throughout the US. We do not have a member going due to funding issues. Nancy will be bringing this up at the next NJDA board meeting. A member could still go but would have to fund the trip themselves.
Committee Reports:
Corporate Sponsorship-Dave Stein
Dr. Simos reported for Dr. Stein that we have about 6 vendors for the next meeting. Dr. Kahn asked that we patronize American Express at the meeting. They have an excellent rewards program that more than makes up for the annual fee (which works out to be free for the first year based upon rewards given out).
Mentor-Ethan Glickman
Our bi-annual OSHA program that satisfies the OSHA standard on Occupational Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens, which is required annually for dentists and staff, will be given on June 19, 2008. Each office person will receive certification that they have been properly instructed for this OSHA regulation on Infection Control. Two CEU credits will be awarded to the staff members attending this 2-hour seminar. This seminar is available to our members for $20/pp as a member benefit of MCDS. A big “Thank You” to Dr. Joe Fertig for arranging all our room accommodations for the MCDS-OSHA programs at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick.
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene Study Club met on February 13, 2008. Sponsored by Middlesex County Dental Society, MCDS hygienists met at the Clarion Hotel, Rte 27 South, Edison NJ. Dr. Arnold Rosenheck presented a seminar,” Oral Manifestations of Diseases of Local and Systemic Etiology,” at the meeting. Two CEU credits were awarded for the meeting.
The next meeting of The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene Study Club will be on April 9, 2008. Dr. Lucian Kahan will present a seminar, “Getting Excited about Dental Implants: An Overview” at this meeting. Two CEU credits will be awarded for this meeting. This CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as a Dentist-member benefit of MCDS.
Please contact Marlene Glickman, our Exec.Sect’y for MCDS, at # 732-238-1255 for additional information and registration in advance for either program.
Oral Cancer Screening-Arpan Nandra
We are in the process of forming a committee. Members of the MCDS study club have expressed interest in being involved. Once the committee is set we can then decide on activities that we would like to participate in.
Dental Shadowing-Paresh Patel
Marlene Glickman reported that 17 people have completed the program and a large number are still enrolled.
Old Business
Dr. Glickman asked about the status of compiling email addresses and fax numbers for our members. Dr. Vitale suggested that Dr. Galkin present this as part of his CE package.
Dr. Vitale reported that we cannot meet for our Board meeting in the NJDA building in May. Dr. Silverstein offered his office for the November 2008 meeting, since we can’t meet at the NJDA building then either. Dr. Glickman suggested the Clarion as an alternate, as they would not charge for the room, just $25 per person for meals. Marlene will find out by tomorrow if we can meeting in the Library at the NJDA building. If not, Dr. Glickman will pursue the Clarion. If we are not meeting at the NJDA building, Marlene will call the caterer to make sure they do not deliver a meal to the building.
Dr. Kahn asked if we could ask all of the Board members to confirm their attendance at the Board meeting. Marlene reported that she has asked for this in the past and there were enough people that did not respond that she stopped doing this. The Board asked that everyone who has a council/committee position, or represents us at NJDA and needs to report to the Board on their activities, take responsibility for getting your reports to the Board (at least posted on the Google group) and let someone know if you cannot attend a Board meeting.
Dr. Vitale confirmed that the Tuesday night meetings are 2 CE credits (not 1).
New Business
Dr. Kahn made a motion that we fund the cost of 1 ticket to the dinner dance (cannot be transferred) for each elected MCDS leadership position along with the immediate past president. A condition of this is that they attend the House meeting the next morning. The meeting is a distance away (in Atlantic City), and since we want out leadership to be there to represent us, we feel that this is appropriate. Seconded by Dr. Weiner. Motion passed.
Dr. Kahn made a motion that Dr. Villa ask the NJDA BOT to fund the chairperson of the NJDA New Dentist Committee to represent NJDA at the annual ADA New Dentist meeting. Seconded by Dr. Vitale. Motion passed.
Dr. Weiner suggested that we honor Dr. Fahsbender at one of our upcoming general meetings, for his years of service as our representative on the Peer Review Committee (he resigned this position to serve as the state chairperson of the Peer Review Committee). We will set this up for September.
Dr. Weiner brought up the subject of asking some members who have been active in coming to meetings/courses in recent years to join the Executive Board. The members Dr. Weiner suggested will be approached at the next General Meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Bob Silverstein for
Maya Prabhu,
Secretary