Seattle King County Spring Quarterly 2022

MEMBERSHIP

Quarterly SPRING 2022

VOL 20 / ISSUE 4

President’s Message Election Results Feeding the Fire 1111 Har vard Avenue Seattle, WA 98122-4205 206.448.6620 www.skcds.org 2022 SKCDS SPRING QUARTERLY

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SPRING 2022 Volume 20, Issue 4

Seattle-King County Dental Society Spring Quarterly

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contributors: Ms. Angela Bond Dr. Christine Kirchner Dr. Randy Ogata Dr. Harlyn Susarla Dr. Christine Wu Dr. Al Munk

President’s Message...................................................................................5 From the Desk of Dr. Ogata ........................................................................6 Election Results..........................................................................................8 New Members.........................................................................................11 Life Members – 2022..............................................................................11 Minimizing Risk While Giving Back to Your Community............................. 14-15 Feeding the Fire.............................................................................................16 Member Feature: Dr. Christine Wu ................................................................18 How to Support Your Seattle-King County Dental Foundation......................... 19 Dr. Munk........................................................................................................22

Publisher: Bill Newcomer, Vancouver, WA OFFICERS Dr. Christine Kircher, President Dr. Harlyn Susarla, President-Elect Dr. Adam Kennedy, Past President Dr. Ryan Lemke, Secretary EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Dr. Stephen Pong Dr. Mamiko Kuriya Dr. Kate Christian Dr. LeRoy Horton Dr. Elena Andronova Dr. Christine Shigaki Dr. Christopher Shyue Dr. Randy Ogata, Executive Director Contact and Change of Address: To ensure continued receipt of issues, change of address must be reported to: SKCDS Central Office , 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-4205, as soon as possible Phone: 206.448.6620 | Fax: 206.443.9308.

Email: skcds@skcds.com | website: www.skcds.org The information in this publication is for the exclusive benefit of Seattle-King County Dental Society members. Neither the Society nor the publisher makes any express or implied warranties as to the information herein, including the contents of any advertising. Opinions in The Quarterly do not necessarily express the official policies of the Seattle-King County Dental Society, nor the opinions of the editor, unless so stated. Publication of advertising is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either advertisers or product.

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Cover Photo: Installing New Officers 2022 SKCDS SPRING QUARTERLY

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Seattle King County Dental Society Staff

Executive Director: Dr. Randy Ogata randy@skcds.com

Membership and Administrative Manager: Angela Bond angela@skcds.com

CONTACT US Seattle King County Dental Society Central Office 1111 Harvard Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 | Phone 206.448.6620 • Fax: 206.443.9308 | Email: skcds@skcds.com • Website: www.skcds.org

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The

President’s Message

New…and Just For You Spring is upon us! The days are getting longer, Seattle is teasing us with some warmth in the air, and the tulips and daffodils our region is famous for holding festivals around are blooming. The complete package is an invitation to take a deep breath (possibly to be enjoyed after some allergy medicine) and release some of the tensions that we all have built up. This is a season for growth and new beginnings, something we can also strive to mirror. When was the last time you tried something new, just for you? I am not talking about ‘you’ as a dentist doing molar endo or third molar extractions; I am talking about ‘you’ as a person.

There are often jokes and genuine resolve to start the year with these grand resolutions of eating better, exercising more, spending more quality time with those we love, exploring new places...and all of this is wonderful. All of this is admirable. But have you done something new, just for you, in the last year? Did you used to like to ride your bike, hike the Cascades, explore new culinary cuisine, travel? It goes without saying that the past two years have been difficult and the accessibility to some of these passions was non-existent. But this spring, I would like to challenge you to look at this as the time of re-growth and renewal. Try something new that is 100% for you.

Take your bike out on one of the many urban trails or along Lake Washington. Explore Rattlesnake Ridge, Mount Si, Poo Poo Point on one of these glowing weekday evenings when the days are longer, the weather is drier, and the trails are less crowded. You’re locals, you know where to find the epic beauty the PNW is known for. If you Dr. Christine Kirchner are unable to get to the Cascade Foothills, explore the Arboretum or the Mercer Slough, walk Green Lake or Alki Beach in the evening. Try out a small new restaurant in your area or pick up food from a local food truck and enjoy it somewhere other than at home. This is the time to pick an activity that you have been saying that you have wanted to do or have been looking forward to doing these past few years and actually do it! As an unknown, but clearly wise, person once stated: “A little step may be the beginning of a great journey.”

Personally, in writing this article and reflecting, I’ll admit that what I am most guilty of is looking at the big picture and getting overwhelmed by the large tasks at hand. I forget about all the little details that make up those big tasks and how much I’ll enjoy them on the way to the overarching goal. But the truth of the matter is that these small steps are often what can bring us the most joy and peace. The smiles, the in-your-belly, bordering on painful laughter, the simplest moments you stumble upon…they make all we do, personally and professionally, worth it. So get out there and enjoy doing something for you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Christine Kirchner Dr. Christine Kirchner

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Spring 2022 From the desk of Dr. Randy Ogata Executive Director

And Now For Something Completely Different “And Now For Something Completely Different…” harkens back to days of watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus and a very different brand of sketch comedy the kinds of which no one had never seen. Monty Python broke the established rules and changed the game by which comedy was played, paving the way for troops like Saturday Night Live and Second City to grow and thrive.

The practice of dentistry is evolving at breakneck speeds, yet membership service organizations (ie. ADA/ WSDA/SKCDS) that are dedicated to helping dentists succeed are trying to adapt old strategies to these new situations with abysmal results. While it is important to know and honor the past, we must also realize that just because something has been done a certain way for years, that does not mean it is still the right way for the future. Just look at the companies that failed to evolve and innovate under changing conditions: Kodak, Blockbuster, etc. They were convinced that the very products that ultimately wiped them out were simply a phase and dismissed them.

Recently, I visited the Oklahoma Dental Association’s (ODA) Annual meeting with Dr. Linda Edgar, our 11th District Trustee and candidate for President of the ADA. During my “spare time”, I sat with Dr. Raymond Cohlmia, Executive Director (ED) of the ADA and Ms. Lynn Means, ED of the ODA to discuss issues facing all of our associations. We’re all seeing the same problems in membership, workforce, legislative, volunteers, and student debt impacting the future of our profession.

Membership in all our organizations is falling as we evolve from a predominantly Caucasian, male, private practice model to dental schools where more than 50% of the classes are female, a diverse collection of ethnicities and cultures, and practice models that range from ownership to partnerships to associates to employees; in practice locations like DSOs, community health centers, large group practices, partnership, small group practices, and the classic private practices.

Dr. Cohlmia laid it on the line to ODA’s Board: at current loss of membership, we will be under 50% in five years – we are not being relevant to what dentists want or need.

Insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting a different result.” So what do we need to change to avoid the same fates as Kodak and Blockbuster? Rather than placing the responsibility of membership recruitment and retention upon the components and states; develop a shared responsibility where the ADA provides resources, tools and training for success and then works with the components and states to help implement these applications and approaches for all dentists. Inviting non-members to partake of the shared fruits of our labor, as trusted colleagues and inviting them to join because we are being relevant to what they want or need. Revamping the paradigm of volunteer leadership and how associations are run – the worst thing we can ever say is “because that is the way we have always done it.” An inflexible homage to our past is not how we will be relevant as we move forward.

Dr. Linda Edgar, if elected, would be the first ADA President from the SKCDS and Washington State, the third ADA President from our District, and the fifth ADA female President. Why is this important? The ADA must maneuver the Tripartite quickly and nimbly, not like a plodding obsolete battleship (see Dr. Cohlmia’s column in the latest WSDA News), and I believe Dr. Edgar is the right person, at the right time, to pair with Dr. Cohlmia’s vision of a new ADA that is responsive to the needs of all dentists. We need to change or risk irrelevancy to our profession – Linda is willing to take the risks needed to reach out to the groups we don’t serve and build those bridges and Raymond is willing to make the ADA a world class service organization that is a flag bearer for our profession. I invite all dentists to join me in lifting our profession, families, and communities as we climb this hill together to new heights. This would be… Something Completely Different.

It is my honor to serve the members of SKCDS and the profession of Dentistry,

Dr. Randy Ogata 6 l 2022 SKCDS SPRING QUARTERLY

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2022 SKCDS Election Results Congratulations to the victors of the Seattle-King County Dental Society’s most recent election! We appreciate all of our members who step into these leadership roles, as their dedication to organized dentistry is vital to our success.

Our new President is Dr. Christy Kirchner, who has been active in furthering the goals of the Society and Foundation for many years. Dr. Kirchner served for two years as President of the Seattle-King County Foundation (2014-2016) and she has been a delegate to the House of Delegates for many years. Dr. Kirchner serves as a member of the WSDA Executive Council, the state Workforce Task Force and DentPac. She is a Washington native and a graduate of the University of the Pacific Dental School, with a practice in West Seattle.

The new President-Elect is likely a familiar face to many of you: Dr. Harlyn Susarla, recent winner of the ADA 10 Under 10 Award! Dr. Susarla currently serves on the Nominations Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workgroup for the Washington State Dental Association, is a Delegate, and is a member of the Access to Care, Leadership Development, Membership, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Programming Committees of SKCDS. She is a past president of the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is a Washington State Representative for the Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Susarla practices in Seattle and is a staff member at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

We have three new members joining the Executive Council.

Fulfilling a one-year term, we have Dr. LeRoy Horton who has always worked towards helping others, in whatever form that could take. He is an accomplished Board Certified Oral Implantologist, an area of study he has also developed classes in to share his knowledge with others. While a graduate of the UW School of Dentistry in 2007, Dr. Horton has recently returned to school at Oregon Health and Science University and will complete his program in Periodontics in 2024!

Serving in the two three-year terms that were up for election are Drs. Mamiko Kuriya and Stephen Pong. Dr. Kuriya was originally born in Japan, but has lived in Seattle since 2004 and is a pediatric dentist who currently practices in Ballard. Recently, she has served as the President of the Washington State Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and has been a board member for the Foundation or Worldwide Health; an organization with which she travels on dental mission trips annually through Loma Linda University (her alma mater). Dr. Pong currently serves as a Delegate at the House of Delegates in the WSDA, is a member of the Leadership Development Committee, and recently became the chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of SKCDS. He does all of this in addition to working full time in his private practice in Federal Way, which he has proudly owned since 2009.

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PLEASE WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS January

Dr. Sundara Ramadurgam Dr. Shervin Hashemzadeh Dr. Kyle Cameron Dr. Sherry Wan Dr. Kanwarjot Bassi Dr. Breanna Laurente Dr. Kelly McMonagle Dr. Seyyed Mahmoudjafa Dr. Katherine Le Dr. Navdeep Dhaliwal Dr. Kang Hoon Ko Dr. Stevie Roberts

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Dr. Tori Matthys Dr. Shale Ninneman Dr. Elaha Bashizada Dr. Emily Alper Dr. Erin Yoshida Dr. Kaitlyn Tom

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Dr. James Son Dr. Fransiska Lee Dr. Mo Mahoutchi Dr. Wendy Sheine Dr. Lauren Todoki Dr. Sohaib Soliman Dr. Richard Doerhoff Dr. Kelly Le Dr. Ya-Wei Chen

Life Members – 2022

Recently, the ADA changed the definition of a Life Member to remove the age requirement of 65 years old, allowing members to be classified as Life Members if they have been a member of the Tripartite for 30 years continuously or for 40 years total. Because of this removal of the age requirement, we have a lot of new Life Members to acknowledge this year! Thank you for your years of service to the profession!

Dr. Anoosh Afifi Dr. Charles Anderegg, Jr. Dr. David Arndt Dr. Corey Arntz Dr. Charles Backman Dr. Kerry Bailey Dr. Patricia Benca Dr. Vivian Bennett Dr. M. Clark Blanchard Dr. Kirk Boettcher Dr. Kim Brain Dr. Thomas Bridgman Dr. Calen Broadbent Dr. Kenneth Burnett Dr. Bobby Butler Dr. Michael Campbell Dr. Eric Carlson Dr. Stephen Carstensen Dr. Theresa Cheng Dr. Paul Chilton Dr. Henry Chin

Dr. Peter Chiu Dr. Hashim Chothia Dr. Grant Chyz Dr. Bruce Clement Dr. Thomas Dodson Dr. Diane Doppel Dr. Stephen Dorsey Dr. Nadine Egger Dr. Randall Eggert Dr. Duane Eng Dr. Phil Etheredge Dr. Dennis Falcone Dr. Brian Filbert Dr. Gary Folkman Dr. Mark Freeman Dr. Linda Fukuda Dr. Gregory Ganzkow Dr. William Gilbert Dr. Ronald Groeschel Dr. Eric Hagman

Dr. Joseph Hanrahan Dr. Paul Hasegawa Dr. John Hoag Dr. Brad Hwang Dr. Michael Johnson Dr. Robert Johnson, Jr. Dr. Barry Kaimakis Dr. Robert Kane Dr. Kevin Kay Dr. Christine Kim Dr. Michael Koczarski Dr. Wuiteng Koh Dr. Gregory Kuo Dr. Kent Kusakabe Dr. Terry LaBell Dr. Susan Labounty Dr. Paul Lederman Dr. William Leicht Dr. Warren Libman Dr. John Liu

Dr. Randall Maebo Dr. Sabrina Mandich Dr. Chris Manley Dr. Felix Marcial Dr. Gary Marshall Dr. Thomas Marxen Dr. Donna Massoth Dr. Mark McDaniels Dr. Boyd Munson Dr. Jerome Murphy, Jr. Dr. Steven Nodtvedt Dr. Alan Nohr Dr. Robert Odegard Dr. Kimberly Okamura Dr. Stephen Ong Dr. Marvin Osterhout Dr. Cynthia Pauley Dr. B D. Peyton Dr. James Phillips Dr. Christopher Pickel

Dr. Frank Pietromonaco Dr. Matt Pilot Dr. Tom Quickstad Dr. Jana Raisler Noges Dr. Dale Reite Dr. Stuart Rich Dr. Guy Roberts Dr. Timothy Robison Dr. David Russell Dr. Emily Sabbagh Dr. Paul Sadleir Dr. Jessica Saepoff Dr. Mark Salema Dr. Aalam Samsavar Dr. Camille Sata Dr. Jeffrey Schur Dr. Robert Sekijima Dr. Barbara Sheller Dr. Patricia Shigihara Dr. Kim Smith Dr. Steven Stanley

Dr. Christopher Sugamura Dr. Kris Swanson Dr. James Swanson Dr. Kyle Tanaka Dr. Nancy Teel Dr. Craig Timberlake Dr. Marshall Titus Dr. Gina Trask Dr. Glen Trinka Dr. Kevin Underwood Dr. Camille VanDevanter Dr. Michael Velling Dr. David Weed Dr. Heather Woloshyn Dr. Teresa Yagi Dr. Deirdre Yen Dr. Glenn Yorita Dr. Carrie York Dr. Todd Yoshino Dr. Joseph Yousefian

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Minimizing Risk While Giving Back to Your Community Article Provided by TDIC As you embark on volunteer opportunities this spring, you are in good company. The month of April is designated by the United States as National Volunteer Month. The 2021 World Giving Index (WGI), the world’s largest survey of global charitable endeavors, highlights the ongoing spirit of volunteerism in this country. For the past 10 years, the U.S. has scored higher in volunteer and charity efforts than any other nation, with 58% of Americans reporting that they participate in volunteer activities and charitable donations.

Dentists are leaders in choosing to share their time and talents to serve their communities and others in need. It’s essential that dentists be able to volunteer with confidence by understanding how their professional liability policies keep them covered.

There can be several different scenarios in which you provide treatment at no charge — volunteering through a nonprofit organization or community health event, delivering emergency care unexpectedly or treating a friend or family member. A few insights may help you better identify and manage potential risks in each scenario.

Organized Events and Community Service Programs While your existing professional liability policies may already cover you, it’s prudent to contact your insurance carrier prior to volunteering services. The insurer may require additional information about the event, services offered and your clinical role as well as with whom the dentist will be working. The latter is to ensure that policyholders are not exposed to unnecessary risk, such as working with unlicensed dentists.

• Professional liability policyholders with The Dentists Insurance Company are covered at volunteer events within the state where they are licensed; no additional coverage is necessary.

• Dentists insured by other carriers should contact their carriers directly to confirm their current liability coverage details before volunteering.

• Dentists who do not have current professional liability insurance and who do not practice for a fee (like retired dentists) can apply for affordable annual coverage designed for volunteers from TDIC. This coverage is intended for licensed dentists who wish to volunteer services without remuneration other than actual expenses.

• If your volunteer services will be offered out of state or overseas, check with the charitable organization you are partnering with to determine if they offer liability coverage. If not, reach out to a TDIC representative to discuss available options.

Even though treatment at an event doesn’t establish a continuing doctor-patient relationship, the individuals you volunteer to treat deserve the same standard of care as your patients of record.

• Be sure to review each patient’s vitals and health history prior to treatment.

• Take time to discuss treatment outcomes, along with potential risks associated with receiving and not receiving treatment and any alternatives.

• Before initiating any care, make certain that the patient understands the parameters and extent of the treatment, particularly if further treatment is likely to be needed.

• Keep in mind continuity of care. In the event a patient needs further treatment, explain it in detail to the patient and document why, when and what follow-up treatment is needed.

TDIC’s Risk Management Advice Line frequently receives calls from insured dentists seeking guidance as to required coverage for organized events. For example, a dentist was invited to participate in a volunteer event hosted by a community church. The church required participating providers to have a specific amount of coverage per day. In this case, the caller was already insured by TDIC, and the Service Department helped him acquire a “special event” endorsement, which would satisfy the demands of the host location.

Don’t let confusion about liability coverage stand in the way of your volunteer efforts. Speak to a trusted insurance advisor to ensure your coverage is adequate for your needs.

Emergency vs. Volunteer Care Some health care providers mistakenly believe that Good Samaritan laws exempt them from all liability when volunteering. The federal government and 43 states have passed laws to protect medical volunteerism; however, California has not. In California, liability remains when providing non emergency treatment or assistance in the state.

For care rendered in a legitimate emergency that occurs outside of a health care facility, Good Samaritan laws usually lower the standard of care to encourage private citizens, including health care professionals, to assist others in emergency circumstances without fear of litigation. For more information, check the specific standards and limitations of your state’s Good Samaritan law.

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Free Services for Family and Friends Outside of an organized event or program, the risks of donating services can be more complex. Friends and family members who receive treatment at no charge must still be treated as patients of record. This means having an informed consent discussion, signed treatment plans, detailed chart entries and a thorough review of health histories prior to providing treatment — as well as discussing options for follow-up care.

It’s also important to note your liability remains the same whether the dental treatment is performed during or outside of normal office hours. And it’s the same whether the patient incurs treatment costs or not. Understanding that the liability is unchanged, the question is if no-cost care should be provided in certain situations.

TDIC’s Advice Line received a call from a practice owner that highlighted the problematic nature of offering free services. Her associate dentist had asked if he could offer discounted treatment to his nephew. The nephew was a pediatric patient with special needs whose family could not afford dental insurance. The associate dentist understandably wanted to help his brother’s family.

However, the extent of treatment needed and the fact that their office was not equipped to treat pediatric patients raised some concerns for the practice owner.

Along with her concerns for the young patient’s well-being, the dentist felt uncomfortable with her associate’s request and was unsure how to refuse it without compromising their relationship.

The Risk Management analyst advised the dentist to prioritize what was in the best interest of the patient. The patient in question would be better served by an experienced, properly equipped pediatric-centric practice. Ideally, the level of care warranted might require dentistry in a hospital setting. Since the owner’s office wasn’t equipped to manage complex pediatric cases, it was not in the patient’s best interest for his uncle, the associate dentist, to offer care, despite the cost savings. The owner agreed with that approach to the situation and felt more comfortable communicating a denial to her associate’s request that was framed within what was best for the patient.

Risk Awareness and Rewards Volunteering does not absolve you of risks, but simple awareness of those risks shouldn’t deter you from offering your skills for the benefit of others. Giving back by volunteering life-changing dental treatment can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your professional life, especially when your skills help individuals and families who are experiencing emergencies or barriers to access to care. Whole communities are changed by dental and health professionals who put their compassion into action.

JOIN THE TEAM. HAVE A LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! Become a dental volunteer and use your expertise to help bring urgent dental care to underserved people in your local community.

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Feeding the Fire

By Dr. Harlyn Susarla

Last week, I stumbled upon a conversation between my third grader and kindergartener. My third grader was telling a story that began with “a long time ago...in ‘normal’ school…” My kindergartener was very confused, as she could only remember being in school in the context of the pandemic. In her mind – this was “normal.” I realized that the bulk of both of my children’s school experiences have been during a pandemic. Reflecting on this conversation made me pause and think about the ways, big and small, that our day-to-day lives as dentists have changed over the past two years, and how our whole profession has been challenged. This opportunity also allowed me to consider the ways that my family, friends, and colleagues have helped me face these challenges head on.

Burnout is a concept that we all understand conceptually; however, it remains relatively understudied in dentistry. There are many ways to define burnout, including a lack of empathy, disengagement from work, and loss of a sense of purpose. The pre-pandemic factors contributing to dentist burnout, such as increasing lack of autonomy in the face of a commensurate rise in clinical demands, have only been exacerbated by the social and financial impacts of the pandemic. In conjunction with decreased opportunities for self-care and interpersonal contact, it is unsurprising that studies have found that rates of depression among clinicians have risen markedly over the past two years.

Dentists may be particularly susceptible to burnout because we often practice within our own clinical spaces, whether as small groups or solo practitioners, while still performing work that is intellectually and technically demanding (and, for the most part, cannot be performed remotely). In this context, opportunities to connect with our peers and share our experiences, positive and otherwise, have remained vital to preserving our collective well-being. While I’ve found that talking out loud about these challenges does not prevent them from existing or consistently afford a resolution, it always makes me feel a bit better to know that I am not alone - the struggles I have faced are not singular to my experience. There is comfort in knowing that others have similar experiences – this comfort comes in the form of reassurance when advice is offered to us and a sense of purpose when we assist those in need.

Being thankful for friends, family, clinical partners, and community support helps us through the most difficult of times, and in fact, may also assist us in recognizing signs of burnout. Even in the “normal times” it would be infeasible for a single individual to deal with the challenges dental professionals face. The added stresses of the pandemic have served to highlight the importance of our support networks when navigating an uncertain terrain defined by rapidly changing information and an unpredictable future.

In this regard, organizations like SKCDS continue to serve a vital role to our well-being. They allow us to connect with our colleagues and work together to ensure that we maintain our autonomy, continue with our sense of purpose, afford avenues of mentorship for younger dentists, and move forward together as a profession. When thinking about the “old normal” versus the “new normal,” I find hope in the idea that our community has been a consistently positive factor and one for which I remain extremely grateful.

16 l 2022 SKCDS SPRING QUARTERLY

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For the limited time beginning with new credit applications submitted May 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022, take advantage of the following promotion: A promotional interest rate of 2.99% for the first 12 months on qualifying approved new and refinanced Small Business conventional and SBA term loans that are secured by collateral. Qualifying secured term loans are those with single fixed interest rates and no draw, revolving or interest only periods. The promotional rate supersedes other rate discounts during the promotional period. A waiver of the bank portion of certain fees for the approved qualifying fixed rate secured term loans will also be included.

These fees may be categorized as loan origination, loan packaging, loan processing, permanent, or miscellaneous fees, depending on the approved product. Any and all fees or costs not specifically waived shall apply and will be due and payable by you at or before closing.

Bank ordered appraisal fees on approved qualifying real estate secured term loans will also be waived (however, appraisal fees not directly ordered by Bank of America will not be waived or paid by Bank of America). The appraised real estate must meet the bank definition of owner-occupied, which will be determined in underwriting but has a general requirement of 51% occupancy by the borrower or affiliated company. Any and all fees or costs not specifically waived shall apply and will be due and payable by you at or before closing.

To be eligible for this promotion, the qualifying secured term loan must close and fund by January 31, 2023. This offer is only for qualifying secured term loans described above with a minimum approved amount of $100,000 and a maximum approved amount of $5,000,000. All credit terms and repayment structures are subject to credit approval. Bank of America credit standards, collateral and documentation requirements apply. Other restrictions may apply. Small Business Administration (SBA) collateral and documentation requirements are subject to SBA guidelines. SBA financing is subject to approval through the SBA 504, SBA 7(a) and SBA Express programs. Exclusions include, but are not limited to, variable rate loans, franchisor guaranteed lending programs, Practice Solutions loans not secured by commercial real estate and the refinancing of existing Practice Solutions loans.

All promotional and marketing materials are Bank of America Practice Solutions property and, as such, cannot be changed, altered or modified, orally or in writing. All questions regarding these materials should be directed or referred to a Bank of America Practice Solutions Sales Associate.

OOCRE: For Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate loans (OOCRE), terms up to 25 years and 51% occupancy are required. Real Estate financing options are subject to approval and product availability is subject to change. For SBA loans, SBA eligibility and restrictions apply.

Bank of America Practice Solutions is a division of Bank of America, N.A. Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. ©2022 Bank of America Corporation. | MAP4671659 | FL-04-22-0025.E | PS-551-FL | 05/2022

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MEMBER FEATURE: Dr. Christine Wu

Growing up, Dr. Christine Wu knew she wanted to work with people through the healthcare field…the question was, which part of healthcare. It wasn’t until high school that she managed to narrow it down to dentistry. She went on to attend the UW School of Dentistry and graduated in 2015, after which she worked in private practice in North Seattle.

After a few years, she and her husband, Dr. Chris Shyue, (another UW SOD grad and SKCDS member) became proud practice owners and now work together in Snoqualmie.

Despite their practice keeping her busy, Dr. Wu continues to serve as an affiliate faculty member in the Oral Medicine Department of her alma mater and has also pushed herself to continue to learn more advanced surgical procedures.

Recently, she completed the ‘Clinical Implantology from A-Z’ course offered at the Washington Academy of General Dentistry as a ten-month mini residency under the instruction of Dr. Alan Yassin. Dr. Wu feels that this course has “helped me to become more confident in surgical procedures and enabled me to better serve my patients. Although I still have a lot of room to grow and improve, this is a valuable experience in my life, and I have met a group of supportive colleagues during the process.” Beyond her educational accomplishments, Dr. Wu is an avid volunteer and has been a part of the Seattle-King County Clinic since 2015 (which we hope to see return soon)!

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Wu would like to learn golf and yoga, as both hobbies can help to strengthen the body and could be enjoyed well after retirement.

However, she is also a self-proclaimed homebody, and makes a concerted effort to find some time during each week to do activities in solitude. One of her top things to do is to listen to music and focus in on a jigsaw puzzle for hours at a time. Even better is when she has a bubble tea in the mix! She has specific favorites from each bubble tea shop, like TP Tea, Sharetea, Yi Fang, and Happy Lemon. Before she met her husband, she would always order her drinks with 100% sweetness, but when they started dating the dentist in him couldn’t help himself…and he would nudge her to decrease the sweetness ever so slightly each time. She is now down to mostly 50% sweetness, sometimes dropping as low as 30%! It’s the little things!

Prior to the global pandemic, one of Dr. Wu’s favorite spring traditions was travelling to Taiwan. The weather is perfect, it’s an easy time to plan a trip as far as work is concerned, and it’s where her parents and most of her relatives currently live. It’s less of a vacation destination for her and more of a second home.

Unfortunately, due to Taiwan’s strict COVID quarantine rules, she has not been able to visit for more than two years. Hopefully that changes soon!

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How To Support Your Seattle-King County Dental Foundation This gets confusing sometimes, right? You know you’re a member of the Seattle-King County Dental Society. So why do you keep hearing about a Foundation with an oddly similar name? Well, we’re two branches on the same tree. The Society is all about YOU! Our members, how to support you, how to make you happy, and cheering you on even when you might not know it. The Foundation is all about our community. Breaking down unseen, but very real, barriers to care in an effort to ensure that the people around us can live their best. So how can you help?

Time

Time has become one of our most fleeting resources, because goodness, we are all SO busy! And hopefully the busy is also happy. But if you’re able to give some of that time to any of the projects supported by the Foundation, past or present, it can always make a difference.

Medical Teams International – we talk about them a lot, but how can we not, they are doing such amazing work and have a plethora of opportunities for dentists wanting to volunteer. MTI travels all over King County to serve people who might not be fortunate enough to have easy transportation or even know where to go for the pain they are feeling. The clinics are often six hours long, but these take place throughout the week so if you have a random weekday free, they probably have a spot for you to treat some people whose lives you will make a significant change in by providing the care they need. To volunteer with them, email Rose Corazza at rcorazza@medicalteams.org.

Sealant Program in Highline School District – this project is just getting off the ground and it is so exciting! We need volunteers who are willing to come to the school(s) we are working with to put sealants on the kid’s erupting molars to get ahead of dental decay. Programs like these used to be available in many districts in the area, but with budget cuts and a shift in priorities, these have fallen by the wayside. Therefore, we’ve stepped in and are trying to ensure these kids have a healthy dental start. To volunteer with this program, email Dr. Bill Leicht at accessmanager@skcds.com.

National Children’s Dental Health Month with the KidsQuest Children’s Museum – we have established a partnership with the KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Bellevue to encourage dental health through a wide range of activities during the month of February, and at other events that they invite us to participate in! We need you to help promote this message to the children we are able to reach through this unique platform and, when the occasion calls for it, perhaps provide a free basic oral health exam.

Financial

If you’ve read this far, you probably knew this section was coming. But don’t worry! There are some effortless ways that you can support the Foundation.

Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program – if you shop at Fred Meyer with a Rewards Card and know your login information for that account to track it and add digital coupons, etc. then this is the easiest thing you could do! Go on the Fred Meyer website and log on to your account, then select “My Account” in the top right-hand corner. Using the Main menu, scroll until you see the category ‘Community Rewards’ and click. In the ‘Organization’ search bar, you can either search ‘Seattle-King County Dental Foundation’ or the much shorter organization ID of ‘XF942’. Click ‘Enroll’ and you’re done! It doesn’t cost you anything, doesn’t add anything to your bill, it’s just a give back program through the Kroger brand.

Amazon Smile – this is almost a secret branch of Amazon, they don’t advertise it much but the non-profit organizations (like ours) that are a part of it certainly work hard to promote it for them! By shopping through Amazon Smile, and selecting Seattle King County Dental Foundation as your charitable organization of choice while doing so, 0.5% of those eligible purchases will be donated back. There is a slight trick though: make sure you are on smile.amazon.com when you make those purchases. Shopping through the regular Amazon site doesn’t automatically correct to the “Smile” feature of the company.

Donations – possibly the most straight-forward option of all: a donation. The Foundation has a donation portal hosted on the Seattle-King County Dental Society website, in the section ‘For Dentists’. Simply click on the link, enter your desired amount and payment information, and know that you’ve helped to make the programs mentioned above, and many more to come, possible.

2022 SKCDS SPRING QUARTERLY

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Have A Nice Day

By Al Munk DDS Reprinted from a previous issue with permission.

You’ve heard this saying many times during your life. Perhaps someone said it to you today. I don’t recall how this saying started though I seem to remember hearing it for the first time about twenty-five years ago, about the time that those smiley-face stickers started appearing everywhere. America must have been undergoing some kind of Nice epidemic at the time to inspire two lasting cultural icons at once. Maybe I was a nice young man and didn’t even recognize it. I was certainly having many nice days. How could one not have nice days when one is twenty-one years old, living on a campus of thirty thousand similar aged children.

One thing that twenty years in Dentistry has done for me is a marked alteration in my perception of just what constitutes a nice day. My cousin from Sweden, Anders Hassler, perhaps said it best. By the way, he is also a dentist of a similar vintage to yours truly. Anders was explaining to his teenage son that a nice day for him could consist of something as simple as sitting in a chair reading or looking out a window.

His son could not fathom how anyone could enjoy anything this simple. I believe it was about this time that Ola (Ander’s son) decided not to pursue a career in dentistry for fear of a similar brain-rot condition.

My own teenage son, Woody, has a similar outlook on life to Ola. It would not be unusual for Woody to have a day of baseball, bike riding, basketball, video games and water balloon fights, then coming in the house for five minutes and announce that “Gee Dad, I’m bored, there’s nothing to do.” The thought of sitting still and doing nothing is as alien to Woody as it is pleasant to me. How has dentistry wrought this change in my attitude? For there was certainly a time when I shared the feelings of my youthful relatives.

EXPOSURES Let’s take this morning for example. At 7:45 a.m., a five year old boy with snot dripping from both nostrils presented at my office. He had obviously had his morning sleep time interrupted (as had I for that matter) to attend this dentiferous episode. After sitting in the chair for a moment, he started yawning with the kind of yawn only certain children can attain - - kind of a loud bark or howl which made the snot expand slightly in perfect stereo during the out breadth portion of said yawning. Undaunted, I raised my weapon loaded with 1.8 cc of my best and stuck him with it using my best pediatric technique. A howl worthy of a hyena emitted from his deepest innards and tears soon followed, snot now flowed in rivers down upon my occupied hands. As if in harmony, his brother and sister in the the waiting room took up similar oration of yowls, ending in little comfort to my patient or myself. This went on for perhaps five minutes, a long time when trying to quiet a five-year-old patient or hanging by your heels over a chasm. Of course, the drilling hurt, and we repeated the aforementioned symphony a few times. By 8:15 we were done…or is it that we were finished!

Imagine repeating this episode a thousand times in all it’s glorious permutations and one can see how my perception of just what is a nice day has changed over the years. Unlike my son and Ola, I crave a little boredom. Give me a dental day of normality, banality, com­monalty. I’ll go to the hockey match for excitement. Give me calm and quiet. Give me lower dentures that fit. Give me madibular blocks that work. Give me patients who call the next day and say how nice it was and how won­derful you are. Give me a year in a Tibetan monastery with bread and wa­ter. Give me sleep. Give me a day when nothing major goes wrong and I’ll dance in the street like Gene Kelly. I don’t need to break 80, I just need a little peace and quiet once in awhile. I can always gather new material from the other good citizens of Ballard. Just once, let the war happen on the streets instead of between the walls of my tiny office. Have a nice day.

That’s all for now from Ballard.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the Seattle-King County Dental Society.

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