May 2009 Newsletter

Back to the table of contents

Back to the Home Page

-4/14/2009-

Attendance: Ashmen, Bernstein, Brunsden, Desai, Galkin, Goldstein, Kahn, Krantz, Nandra, Prabhu, Rizzi, Rosenheck, Savage, Schambra, Silverstein, Simos, Stein, Villa, Vitale, Vora, Weiner
Acceptance of Minutes-vote unanimous.
President’s Report-Mark Vitale
Kim McMahon from the Dental Assistant’s Program at NJDS has been invited to attend one of our general meetings to promote dentist participation in the program.
On June 16 The Boy Scouts of America will honor Dr. Arnold Rosenheck with the Distinguished Health Care Service Award. Congratulations Arnie.
The May BOT meeting will be held at the Pines Manor and not NJDA Headquarters.
Thank you to Scott Galkin and the CE Committee for putting together a great program for next year.
Tonight we welcome Andrea West, Director of Development of NJDS. Andrea’s presentation concerns the Special Care Treatment Center at the dental school.
Finally, thank you to the members of the MCDS BOT for allowing to serve as President this year. It has been enjoyable and educational, and a pleasure to work with such talented and energetic individuals. I would especially like to thank Maya Prahbu for the fantastic job she did with this year’s program, and Marlene Glickman for her dedication and assistance.
Treasurer’s Report-Robert Ashmen
See full report on page 3.
Educational Coordinator/Corporate Sponsorship- David Stein
The plans are set for Staff Night. Benco has been kind enough to donate $2500 and $500 in gifts cards (for prizes) for staff night. Benco’s support is greatly appreciated by the board.
ADA Delegate’s Report-Daniel Krantz/Richard Kahn
At the ADA meeting in October 2008, there was a motion regarding dentists as first responders in disaster situations. This issue will be revisited in Hawaii in 2009.
NJDA Trustee’s Report-Nancy Villa
The board meeting was hosted by the Special Olympics facility in Lawrenceville as a “thank you” for all the support that our members have contributed over the years.
The dues waiver policy was amended to include a component representative in the decision making process.
Next year the annual session will be renamed the “Garden State Dental Show and Expo.” Several changes are being made to in order to boost the number of dentists on the exhibit floor. The Council has voted to eliminate the non-member pre-registration charge, allowing them access to the convention floor only. This decision was based on a lot of research and discussion with trade companies and exhibitors, and after much debate, the board agreed that this was a win/win solution.
To date, sponsorship for the annual session is better than ever since the Partners Program has started. This allows sponsors additional multi-event exposure throughout the year at a higher price. Changes have been made to keep attendees on the floor with the addition of a cash and carry lunch café and a cyber pavilion sponsored by CGI Communications and Officite. There will be 3 “breakfast and learn” sessions on Thurs, June 4th from 7-8 am given by Care Credit, Bank of America Practice Solutions and Meadowbrook Insurance. Each group will accommodate up to 15 attendees on a first come, first serve basis in the Rain Forest Dining Room.
The Ski trip was a success and next year’s dates are March 12-14, 2010.
NJDA will sponsor the NJ Cancer Coalition’s cancer walk at Nomahegan Park in Cranford with a $1,000 contribution and our name will be printed on the T shirts.
The Capsule has been renamed the “NJDA ADVOCATE” and it will have a new look starting in July.
The new NJDA promotional video is now accessible on our website. It was created with recruitment and retention in mind and can be emailed to prospective members.
Our website now has Country Wide Practice Brokerage Firm as a banner sponsor at $1,100 for the year. In addition, Prudential Financial will sponsor our BOT meeting at $500 for the day.
The ADA asked NJDA to support federal legislation known as the Dental Emergency First Responder Act. This act would provide additional federal funding for dental schools who train dentists to be first responders in a crisis. Dental offices would be set up as decentralized treatment and drug dispensing centers. We voted to not support the bill in its current form which would require all dentists to participate. Currently, nothing prohibits individual dentists who wish to participate as first responders from doing so, as long as they have the proper training and equipment.
The ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs is encouraging individual states to educate physicians on the need for dental evaluation and treatment prior to treatment with bisphosphonate therapy. We have recommended that the State Board of Dentistry meet with the Medical Society to resolve this issue.
Art Meisel is creating a draft of an Informed Consent for General Dentistry which will be available on our website as a member benefit.
NJDA will have a “north” and a “south” seminar dealing with amalgam separators sometime prior to Oct 1, 2009.
Dr Lisa Ann Infante passed away 1/5/09 at age 49 yrs. She practiced in Dunellen for 9 years and was married to Dr Medi Saber.
NJDPAC Report-Mark Vitale
Several members of NJDPAC will participate in the ADA Washington Leadership Conference, May 11 through May 13.
The meeting will consists of issue briefings, education and political training, a variety of lectures given by members of congress and other political speakers, and Hill appointments with legislators.
NJDA Council Reports:
Dental Benefits-Mark Vitale
A reminder that the Council on Dental Benefits will hold a course at the NJDA Annual Meeting in Atlantic City on Wednesday June 3. The course will focus on claims processing, trouble shooting and getting paid.
Jeff Chustckie will assume my position as MCDS representative to the Council effective this June, as I have been asked to assume the role of Council Chair.
Governmental and Public Affairs-Mitch Weiner
Mr. Jim Schulz reported that NJDA is closely watching the State Budget debate. Thus far, there has been little direct impact on dentistry, but, in this climate, we always need to be weary of last minute additions of taxes such as the Cosmetic Medical Procedures Gross Receipts Tax. The Association has also been asked to assist the cleft palate coalition reinstate funds that the governor removed from the budget. He reported he is also watching a line-item for the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped.
The NJDA has been asked by the ADA if it would sign-on in support of federal
legislation, H.R. 903, which is known as the Dental Emergency Responder Act. The bill would formally incorporate dentistry into the national first responders’ network. By formally recognizing dentistry into the national first responders infrastructure, dental schools who train dentists for emergency response purposes, will be able to qualify for federal funds. At present, 42 states and a number of specialty organizations have endorsed the legislation. The bill is a result of a House of Delegates Resolution calling for dentists to be recognized in the national first responders’ network.
Dr. Bryon Roshong, Chair of the Council on Governmental & Public Affairs, had explained that while the legislation seems innocuous enough, it is laden with potential problems for the profession. First, dentists will require additional training for emergency situations and without proper training could result in increased malpractice exposure. Also, the concept of using dental facilities as decentralized treatment and drug dispensing centers, effectively acting as decentralized hospitals, can be costly and require additional equipment costs.
At this time the Council feels there should be greater flexibility in the legislation and not inadvertently place a burden on all dentists for those few who may want to be first responders. Moreover, nothing presently prohibits individual dentists, with the proper training and expertise, from becoming first responders. Mr. Schulz has raised these concerns to the ADA who commented that they had not heard those arguments before. It was the consensus of the Board to bring this issue up at the Washington Leadership Conference as well as to the ADA prior to the Washington, D.C. meeting. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously ADOPTED by the Board (Vote #5 BT-09-03-11) to consider the recommendation of the Council on Governmental & Public Affairs that we do not support H.R. 903 in its current form.
Also, Mr. Schulz reported that he is working on the a number of legislative matters including the CE credit legislation for serving the underserved, community water fluoridation, the mid-level provider issues and expanded scope for hygienists as well as the lead crown and amalgam bills
Membership-Tara Savage
The next membership council meeting is scheduled for April 16, 2009.
The next MCDS study club meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2009 at 6:30pm at the Crowne Plaza in Edison. The format of the meeting will be a multidisciplinary treatment planning seminar moderated by Dr. Ira Rosen. 2 CE credits will be awarded. The study club is a member benefit available to all MCDS members. Please contact Marlene Glickman, our Executive Secretary, at 732-238-1255 for additional information and registration in advance.
Peer Review-Sandy Goldstein
There were no new cases assigned or mediated in March.
Committee Reports:
Mentor-Co-Chairmen: Dr Amit Vora, Dr. Nima Mir Madjlessi & Dr. 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 11, 2009. Each 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 & staff for $20/pp as a member benefit of MCDS.
The next mentor program will be presented on April 30, 2009. Kim Iannotte from the Aftco Company will present on “Analyzing Practice Numbers, Adding an Associate, Practice Mergers & Practice Transition Options.”
A very big “Thank You” to Dr. Joe Fertig, Director of Dental Services - St. Peter’s Medical Center, for arranging all our room accommodations for the MCDS-OSHA-Mentor programs at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick.
Please see the inserts in this newsletter for additional information and registration for the OSHA & Mentor programs.
Dental Hygiene Study Club-Alyssa Bernstein
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene [CNJDH] Study Club will meet on Wednesday May 6, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza, Rte 27 South, Edison NJ, and is sponsored by MCDS. The speaker is Dr. Maya Prabhu, she is speaking on Endodontics from the Hygienists Perspective. Two CEU credits will be awarded to the Hygienists that attend this meeting. The next CNJDH meeting will be in the fall when the series resumes for 2009-2010. Two CEU credits will be awarded for each seminar. The schedule and registration form will be in the next newsletter.
This CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as a Dentist-member benefit of MCDS.
Please contact Marlene Glickman, our Executive Secretary, at 732-238-1255 for additional information and registration in advance for the programs. Thank you.
Oral Cancer Screening-Arpan Nandra
Everything is confirmed for April 23rd Oral Cancer Screening at RWJ Medical Center, the dental clinic. It will take place between 1:30-4:30 pm
Delta Dental will be doing advertising for us and we are now among the other 4-5 counties conducting this screening. The Middlesex Dept. of Health is currently advertising for us locally.
We will be needing volunteers, if anyone is interested in participating or knows anyone that would be interested please contact me at 732-494-2282.
Old Business
Dr. Galkin announced the CE program for 2009-2010:
Tuesday Night General Meetings
• September 15, 2009 - Dr. Bruce Small - Restorative Disappointments
• October 19, 2009 - Dr. John Svirsky - Oral Pathology
• November 17, 2009 - Jeff Weiss - Dental Technology
• January 19, 2010 - NJDA Officer’s Night
• February 16, 2010 - Dr. Robert Howarth - Sports Dentistry
• March 16, 2010 - Char Sweeney - Practice Management
• April 20, 2010 - Dr. Purnima Hernandez - Pediatric Special Needs
• May 18, 2010 - Staff Night
Full Day Lectures
• October 20, 2009 - Dr, John Svirsky - Oral Pathology
• March 17, 2010 - Char Sweeney - Practice Management
• April 16, 2010 (Friday) - Dr. Dennis Tarnow - Esthetics & Implant Dentistry
New Business
The Board adopted the following resolutions: The MCDS Board of Trustees resolves that The New Jersey Dental Association should refrain from endorsing, sponsoring or co-sponsoring any Continuing Education Program or Course that uses verbiage in the title and/or marketing materials that expressly states or implies that there would be a financial benefit to the dentist.
Respectfully Submitted,
Constantine Simos, Secretary

Back to the table of contents

Back to the Home Page

Back to the table of contents

Back to the Home Page

MCDS Newsletter Online
If you would like to receive the newsletter electronically in lieu of receiving a printed copy, please visit our web site. Click on the “Member” link, then the “Of Current Interest” Link. By registering, you will be able to view the newsletter about a week before it would get to you in the mail, and this will also be saving us money.

In Memoriam
Lisa Ann Infanti
A graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, her practice, Tri-County Dental Care, was located in Dunellen, where she practiced for approximately 9 years. Dr. Infanti was a member of the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association and the Middlesex County Dental Society. Surviving are her loving husband, Dr. Mehdi Saber; her beloved twin daughters, Sara Elizabeth and Anna Katherine, and her devoted brother, Angelo. Donations in her memory may be made to the Center for Hope Hospice.

In Memoriam
Charles A. Lynn
Dr. Charles A. Lynn, of Milltown, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Care One, East Brunswick. He was 91 years old. After an oral surgery residency in Jersey City, Dr. Lynn opened an office on George Street in New Brunswick and married Gloria Weyman in 1953. In addition to private practice, Dr. Lynn served as a school dentist and on the Milltown Board of Health as president. He and his wife Gloria raised three children, Barbara Ann, Charles Jr., and John William. Dr. Lynn retired in 1992. He was a life member of the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association and the Middlesex County Dental Association. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul’s Church, 62 S. Main St., Milltown, NJ 08850.

MCDS Reception at the NJDA Annual Convention

MCDS will hold a reception at the NJDA Annual Meeting in Atlantic City on Wednesday June 3, 2009 from 5:30-7:30pm. All members are invited. See the Annual Meeting registration booklet for details.
Join the officers of MCDS at the NJDA annual meeting on Thursday June 4 for the presidents reception and dinner dance as we honor our very own Danny Krantz as he completes his year as NJDA president.
Please register for the dinner via the NJDA Annual Meeting Brochure or NJDA Website, and then call Mark Vitale or Cavan Brunsden if you would like to sit at tables with MCDS members.