Lisa Philp is the President of Transitions Group North America, a full service coaching company for dentistry. She graduated from East Tennessee State University as a Registered Dental Hygienist in 1987. Her career began with clinical hygiene in United States and Canada to the creation of a periodontal disease management program in which she coached thousands of dental professionals. She is currently a leader, author, and coach and highly sought after North American speaker.
Every patient centered dental practice has key business metrics that must be measured and tracked to assure growth, year over year, for a prosperous dental journey. Each metric has key performance indicators, which can be compared to profession benchmarks, to provide guidance with systems and solutions that are customized to any unique practice setting. Take the time to know where you stand. Celebrate what is working, see what is not working and needs change and become clear and concise on how to accurately predict the future. Learning outcomes:
• What are the “must know” key elements as leader/owner?
• Critical metrics of dental business
• Practice Benchmarks for reference
• Proven growth systems to enhance metrics

Happy spring! With spring Equinox just over, warmer weather is nearly here. Please make a note of the following important change for the 2015-2016 year. On account of Rosh Hashanah, the first general meeting of MCDS will be held on Tuesday, September 29th instead of the usual third Tuesday of the month.
The March general meeting of our dental society was another powerful display of benefits that organized dentistry provides our members. St. Patrick’s Day was not a deterrent for a packed audience of more than 100 dentists and dental residents who listened to some very vital information presented by council members of Board of Trustees. Dr Antoinette Tauk gave a report from the Council on Dental Benefits and talked about the new agreement between two of the major insurance companies, Aetna and Guardian. Their agreement about sharing provider networks will reduce reimbursements from these providers on many services provided by dentists in our state. Dr. Joan Monaco, the new Director of Member Benefits at NJDA attended the business meeting to introduce herself to our members. Maureen Barlow, from NJDA talked about the revamped and upcoming Garden state Dental Conference and Expo meeting in May. The Sy Symanski award was presented by Dr. Daniel Krantz to Dr Gary Heir who spoke on the topic of ‘Biomechanics and imaging of the TMJ’.
The month of April will see Ms. Lisa Philp, RDH present to member dentists at the general meeting followed by a full day course on April 22nd. The full day course is open to dentists and staff alike. She will be presenting on tools for dental team. I look forward to seeing many of you at this event. A few members’ appreciation events will be held over the course of this year. Please look out for future emails.
Over the last few months, I have met a few members who are attending our general meetings more regularly now more than ever and have expressed their motivation to continue to do so. Members of our Board of Trustees continue to work hard to improve the workings of our society.
If you have any concerns or ideas for the dental society, please reach out to me to discuss your thoughts and opinions. If you are interested in helping or getting involved with the working of the board or would just like to come and observe, please call me as well. I hope to see soon!

Attendance: Drs. Nainesh Desai, Robert Ashmen, Alyssa Bernstein, Deborah Brown, Sandy Goldstein, Richard Kahn, Daniel Krantz, Devang Modi, Maya Prabhu, Genevieve Fernandes, Mark Schambra, Bob Silverstein, Ira Rosen, Sunny Satwah, Ethan Glickman, Nima Mir-Madjlessi, Samin Nawaz, Mohammad Erakat, Antoinette Tauk, Mitch Weiner, and Ms. Marlene Glickman
Acceptance of 2/10/15 Minutes- vote unanimous.
President’s Report-Nainesh Desai
The Sy Symanski award will be presented to Dr. Gary Heir. Maureen Barlow, Director of Programs and Development at NJDA will be attending our general meeting and will speak for a few minutes about the upcoming Garden State Dental Conference and Expo. As discussed at the Leadership meeting of NJDA, I shared February newsletter of MCDS with the leadership from other components. At the general meeting, membership will vote to approve the new slate of officers for 2015-16. Board members formally welcomed Dr. Samin Nawaz, an Endodontist, who attended our board meeting for the first time.
Treasurer’s Report-Amit Vora
See detailed report on page 3.
Secretary’s Report- Genevieve Fernandes
The list of Delegates and Alternate Delegates was presented to the Board and approved. They are as follows: Delegates: Alyssa Bernstein, Cavan Brunsden, Nainesh Desai, Peter DeSciscio, Genevieve Fernandes, Richard Kahn, Daniel Krantz, Devang Modi, Sanjeev Satwah, Dave M. Stein, Nancy Villa, Mark Vitale, Amit Vora, Mitchell Weiner. Alternate Delegates: Robert Ashmen, Deborah Brown, Scott Galkin, Sandy Goldstein, Maha Kaga, Joel Leizer, Nima MirMadjlessi, Ira Rosen, Arnold Rosenheck, Mark Schambra, Robert Silverstein, Constantine Simos, Antoinette Tauk, Araceli Ziemba
Education Coordinator’s Report-Sanjeev Satwah
On Tuesday, 3/17/15, Dr. Gary Heir will be presenting a lecture on “Biomechanics and Imaging of the TMJ: It’s Not Always the Disc!”
NJDA Trustee Report-Mitch Weiner
As far as the NJDA BOT meeting on the 18th, as per the request of our MCDS Board, the following MCDS proposal will be discussed as New Business by the NJDA Board of trustees: Every year, component Secretaries receive a large packet to complete from NJDA regarding Council/Delegate/Officer assignments for the following annual term. The packet requires tremendous amounts of redundant paperwork that has to be all hand transcribed and has never been modernized into a digital friendly and easy to complete format. It is a tremendous turn off to younger component officers who are rising the chairs and have to perform this duty in its present format as Secretary. MCDS is requesting a digital reworking of this task so as to make it more efficient and respectful of component Secretaries’ time as volunteers.
Executive Secretary Report-Marlene Glickman
As of today, there are 57 people signed up for the Philp course. I submitted all of the course information to the State Board to assure proper CE credit. Maureen Barlow is coming to our March General Meeting.
NJDA Council Reports :
Annual Session-Nainesh Desai
Preparations for Garden State Dental Conference and Expo are on in full swing. Exhibit floor has been completely sold out and currently there is a wait list for sponsors. More space has been created to add more table and booth options for exhibitors. Registration is open online and registrations for courses have been happening at a good pace. More than half of the room block has already been sold. With Horizon joining as an Endorsed Business Associate, there will be 5 different receptions on Friday. MCDS will be hosting a reception as well. Up to 175 participants can register for lunch and learn events on Friday. On site registration is necessary for these events and the venue will be open at 7 am on Friday. Plans are shaping up for a possible Q and A session with legislatures just like a town hall meeting. The next council meeting will be a phone conference on March 26th.
Dental Benefits-Devang Modi, Antoinette Tauk
The Council on Dental Benefits met on 2/11/2015. Dr. Arthur Bilenker, the Chairman, was not present so the meeting was moderated by Dr. Edward Tirpack (Vice- Chair, Tri-County). Dr. Joan Monaco introduced herself as the new NJDA Director of Dental Benefits replacing Mary Moskal and reviewed her experience and goals for the association and of the council. She has worked both as a consultant for insurance companies (e.g., Met Life) and for many years as a general dentist. She brings knowledge from both sides and her experience will be an asset to our association.
Horizon will be switching sealant coverage to once every 3 years instead of once in a lifetime with frequency tied to the payee. There is also a new code in CDT15 for sealant repair D1353.
VPay: some insurance companies are paying dentists through a credit card issue to them as opposed to issuing a check. This results in credit card fees being charged to the dentist. Dentists can opt out of this. Some dentists are still being paid through Vpay even after opting out. The ADA is aware of this issue and the NJDA will continue to follow up on this issue. You can call the ADA’s CDBP staff at 1-800-621-8099 for additional assistance or go to cms.gov.
Regarding the Medicare Opt in/Opt out, the deadline is 6/1. NJDA recommends members to hold off, if possible, for further clarification.
Aetna and Guardian have entered an agreement as of 2/1/2015 that they are sharing provider networks. Dentist in the Aetna Dental Access network will be in network for Guardian Dental PPO members. Therefore the claims for Guardian PPO members will be paid according to the Aetna fee schedule. This issue was discussed in more detail and will require further follow up.
The next meeting was scheduled for 5/13/2015.
Dr. Modi reminded us that as a member benefit, we can call Joan Monaco at NJDA with any insurance issues.
Dental Education-Robert Ashmen
This council is in the process of being dissolved.
Governmental Affairs-Mitch Weiner
There have been no new meetings for me since our last MCDS Executive Board meeting. The next Council on Governmental and Public affairs meeting will be this Wednesday March 11th. I will report on any governmental affairs updates from my 3/11 meeting at the Pines on the 17th.
Membership- Genevieve Fernandes, Nima Mir-Madjlessi
We are going to have a 10-15 year membership appreciation night on April 15, 2015. It will be held at AJA restaurant in New Brunswick, NJ. We have asked Marlene to design an invitation for all of the members. It will be from 7:00-9:00pm. It will be a Happy hour with drinks and appetizers. There might be more details to come. Our next membership council meeting will be on March 16, 2015.
Peer Review-Sandy Goldstein
There were no new cases assigned or mediated last month.
Committee Reports:
Corporate Sponsorship-Ira Rosen
We are pleased to have our four gold corporate sponsors coming to our March general membership meeting. Thanks to Biomet 3i, Benco Dental Supply Company, Dentsply Corporation – Tulsa and Caulk divisions and TD Bank for their support.This year, Benco Dental Supply Company will also be sponsoring our all-day practice management course on April 22nd with Lisa Philp, RDH from Transitions Dental North America. I am in discussions with Biomet 3i to sponsor our all-day course in April of 2016.
Mentor-Nima Mir-Madjlessi
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 30,2015 at JFK Hospital in Edison NJ.
Two CEU credits will be awarded to the Dentists & staff members attending these 2-hour seminars. These seminars are available as a member benefit of MCDS.
A very big “Thank You” to Dr. Devang Modi for arranging all our room accommodations for the MCDS-OSHA-Mentor programs at JFK Hospital in Edison, NJ. The next OSHA recertification course will be held on October 15, 2015 at St. Peters hospital.
Please see the registration form in this newsletter for additional information and registration for the Mentor program.
New Dentist Committee-Sanjeev Satwah
The New Dentist Committee will be meeting on 4/7/15. We are continuing to plan out the Residency Fair and Specialty Dinner at the annual session.
Hygiene Study Club- Alyssa Bernstein
The Central New Jersey Dental Hygiene [CNJDH] Study Club met on Wednesday March 4, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison. The speaker was Dr. Fatahza, lecturing on “How Substance Abuse Effects Your Dentition” Two CEU credits were awarded to the 23 hygienists that attend this meeting. The next CNJDH meeting will be on Wednesday May 6, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison. The speaker will be Dr. Cohen and the lecture is “How to Diagnose Dental Symptoms” Two CEU credits will be awarded for this seminar. This CNJDH study club is available to our hygienists as a Dentist-member benefit of MCDS. Please contact Marlene Glickman, our Executive Secretary for MCDS, at 732-764-MCDS (6237) for additional information and registration in advance for the program.
MCDS Study Club- Genevieve Fernandes, Nima Mir-Madjlessi
Mr. Mike Rizk from Lifestyle and Performance Catalyst will be presenting ‘Balancing the demands of Dentistry’ on Wednesday April 8th, 2015 from 6:30-9 PM at the NJDA headquarters, North Brunswick, NJ.
Learn how to reverse the effects of repetitive stresses encountered within any form of dental practice. Satisfy your body’s fundamental needs for healthy, balanced movement which unlocks your potential for optimal recovery from the work you do best. Two CE credits will be awarded to those attending this seminar. This tuition free course is available to our MCDS members as a member benefit.
New Business
Dr. Deborah Brown was unanimously approved as the co-editor of our MCDS Facebook page.
Dr. Satwah brought up the issue we had at the last General Meeting where our LCD projector was not working, and we had to borrow one from the Pines. They were gracious enough to provide the projector to us at no charge for that meeting. With our projector being 8-9 years old, Dr. Satwah requested permission from the Board to research and buy a new LCD projector up to a maximum of $2,000. The motion was made by Dr. Ashmen, and approved.
Dr. Modi announced that the General Meeting in September will be on the 5th Tuesday - September 29th, because the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays are Jewish holidays. Our October Board meeting (not the General Meeting) may be held in the auditorium in JFK Medical Center due to a conflict in scheduling with NJDA. We will know for sure as we get closer to that date.
Dr. Modi announced some of the speakers for next year’s general meetings. He also is working on potential full day course topics. He also reminded us that our contract with the Pines for the General Meetings guarantees a minimum of 70 people.
Good & Welfare
Dr. Modi recognized Dr. Tauk’s efforts as our Council on Dental Benefits representative.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Genevieve Fernandes,
Secretary

General Meeting Business

MCDS President Dr. Nainesh Desai and Dr. Daniel Krantz presented March Featured Speaker Dr. Gary Heir with the Sy Symanski Memorial Lecture award (the photo, unfortunately, was not saved on the camera). Dr. Theodore (Sy) Symanski was a member of MCDS for 75 continuous years, and died 3 months short of his 100th birthday. We give this award in his memory to an outstanding speaker during each of our calendar years in recognition of their contribution and commitment to dentistry.

The slate of officers for 2015-2016 was unanimously approved by a vote of the members present at the meeting. They are as follows:
President: Dr. Alyssa Bernstein, President Elect: Dr. Devang Modi, Vice President: Dr. Amit Vora, Secretary: Dr. Genevieve Fernandes, Treasurer: Dr. Sanjeev Satwah, Education Coordinator: Dr. Devang Modi

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