Category: Opinion & Editorial

June…1972 – Newport R.I. USN Station. It was finally time to put my dental education to work - unencumbered! But first things first, Buckeye fans. A fellow lieutenant who had just graduated from Michigan’s dental school was in the operatory next to me. He wasn’t an ogre and his alma mater didn’t have a “The” in front of its ... [continue reading]

ODA President Dr. Sharon Parsons delivers her president-elect's address to the ODA House of Delegates on Oct. 3. Dr. Sharon Parsons began her term as Ohio Dental Association president at the ODA House of Delegates in October. In this Q&A with "ODA Today," Parsons looks forward to her term. What are some of the issues you expect the Ohio ... [continue reading]

The eight-hour work day is ingrained in the American psyche. We get out of bed. Rush to the office by 8 in the morning. Squeeze in a quick bite of lunch in the middle. Stay until 5. Five days a week. Collapse for two days, then get back at it again. Every week. Over and over. Ugh! Everyone complains about it. Loudly! We have sayings that revolve ... [continue reading]

No, not a “compact disc, high capacity!” but an essentially missing link in the dental care system. CDHC stands for community dental health coordinator and these are people who work in various capacities in the dental care system, linking patients with care at the practice level and in the greater community. At the ADA’s recent ... [continue reading]

As my year as president of the Ohio Dental Association winds down, allow me to update you on the agenda that I set forth and the resolutions that came out of my president-elect's message at the House of Delegates meeting last September. Resolution 07-18 directed the Ohio Dental Political Action Committee (ODPAC) to assign a dentist to each of our ... [continue reading]

I attended my third White Coat Ceremony as a member of the faculty of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry this week. It was a moving experience, as it always is, watching the newest members of our profession begin their careers in dentistry. I’m sure the excitement is the same at every White Coat ceremony throughout the country. ... [continue reading]

Earlier this month I attended my third and last ODA Executive Committee retreat. As ODA secretary I will be coming off my two year term in September. Three years ago, I was excited to be included in this summer program. The retreat is planned by the president-elect with some type of a theme which reflects their focus in their president’s ... [continue reading]

As many of you know, I'm a Facebook (FB) junkie. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing and it usually depends upon the day. I think that FB can be a great sounding board. It can be very entertaining. It can be a great place to look for advice. In fact, you can get advice even when you don’t ask for it! FB has different groups you can ... [continue reading]

As I write this, we mark the 50th anniversary of the NASA Apollo landing on the moon. It is one of the singular accomplishments in our history. The thought of a person leaving Earth, journeying across the vast nothing of space, landing on another world, and returning safely home was the stuff of dreams. And these were the dreams that people have ... [continue reading]

I can still picture the very FIRST day I began my dental education. This September will be the “Class of ’72’s 51st “FIRST-DAY” anniversary. Dean Wilson was addressing our incoming freshman class at Ohio State’s College of Dentistry. As he uttered the first welcoming words, I can still recollect how comforting ... [continue reading]