Category: ODA Today

ODPAC, the Ohio Dental Political Action Committee, experienced another record-setting year in 2014, the fourth consecutive year it has set a new mark. Dr. Michael Schaeffer, ODPAC chairman, credited ODA membership for the successful results.  “ODA members understand that it is important to be involved in the political process,” he said. ... [continue reading]

The HealthPath Foundation of Ohio is a $26 million organization aimed at helping Ohioans achieve their fullest health potential regardless of status, wealth or circumstances. The Foundation is a supporting organization of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and has awarded more than $15 million in grants since 1999. It serves a 36 county service ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association has retained 95.54 percent of its 2013 membership, a slight decline from its 96.15 percent rate last year. Moreover, 18 of its 25 local component dental societies have retained 95 percent or more of their 2013 membership. Following is a list of those societies: Tuscarawas Dental Society (100 percent) Rehwinkel ... [continue reading]

As we reach the end of 2014 and look forward to 2015, it is a good time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are headed. Review of 2014 On Feb. 7, 2014, the ODA held its Give Kids a Smile kick-off event at the Leggett Community Center in Akron where 140 kindergartners and first-graders received screenings, application of fluoride ... [continue reading]

A strong grassroots political network is essential to any organization hoping to impact public policy decisions. The leadership of the Ohio Dental Association recognized this years ago and has placed political advocacy as one of its high priorities in order to protect the interests of dentists at the Statehouse and in the halls of Congress. The ... [continue reading]

A national PPO has stopped its efforts to institute a dentist star rating system. The PPO is withdrawing its current program to rate the cost effectiveness of dentists in its network of participating providers but may develop an alternative plan at some point in the future. The PPO’s actions appear to have affected many more dentists in ... [continue reading]

Research presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting on Nov. 17 has indicated that a lack of trust among community members, front line health care workers, and the medical system as a whole led to the widespread Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Timothy Roberton, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University, said, ... [continue reading]

Some life events are instantaneous while others are gradual, but most things that happen in our lives come with a warning. A couple of months ago I went to my 50th high school reunion. I had attended my 10th gathering and afterwards swore I’d never go to another. However, aging changes one’s perspective about certain situations. I ... [continue reading]

In a world where the number-one cable television show is a post-apocalyptic thriller about a virus that creates reanimated corpses, it was easy to get caught up in Ebola hysteria. Many of our number in the ODA are well-immersed in the culture of public health; certainly all of us are scientists to some extent. With that thinking, we all knew ... [continue reading]

The Ohio Dental Association is compiling a list of access to care programs across Ohio. “We know of many of the access to dental care programs and the impact they are having. But we learn of more programs every week, so the ODA decided to create a clearinghouse to ensure there is one source that can document all such programs,” said ... [continue reading]