Access, SKCDF, DEI, Workforce: An Interview with SKCDS Leaders

It goes without saying that the COVID pandemic brought about tremendous change and upheaval to “everything”. But another major change of the last year has been the increasing push to prioritize Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). DEI is not a new concept, the protests of Summer 2020 highlighted many of the racial and gendered inequities in our society, and highlighted the need to carefully consider how diversity, equity and inclusion are navigated in the workplace, as volunteers and at home. One of the biggest lessons reflected on as we closed out 2020 was the glaring differences between DEI intentions vs reality. The unfortunate but unsurprising reality is that lackluster efforts have been put forth to cultivate an environment where marginalized groups feel valued. That must change, and it will only change if each and everyone of us, do our part. This is the first small step by SKCDS to help dentists become agents to help make those changes.

Seattle-King County Dental Society’s (SKCDS), President Austin Baruffi appointed a Task Force on DEI led by Past-President Lisa Egbert to develop a society DEI statement and guide our strategic thinking as SKCDS works to better integrate these principles into our everyday way of doing business. At the same time the Seattle-King County Dental Foundation’s (SKCDF), President Nina Svino tasked the SKCDS Access Committee Chair, Rolf Christensen, assigned this to a work group of whom Dr. Doug Jackson was one of the authors of a white paper to SKCDF..

As we welcomed 2021 with hope, Dr. Randy Ogata interviewed Drs. Egbert, Svino and Jackson to share some of their thoughts on access, SKCDF, DEI, education and the workforce with SKCDS – so we could share them with our members. The amount of information they shared was so extensive that this will be the first of a multi-part article on DEI and related topics. The following is the truth, and it may make some feel uncomfortable – a good thing, it may make some sad or others angry – a good thing too. But if it encourages you to really think about the issues facing our world– that is a great thing.

OGATA (O): What are your current position(s) in SKCDS and Organized Dentistry?

EGBERT (E) – I am a Past President of SKCDS, Board Member of SKCD Foundation, and Former Chair of SKCDS Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

SVINO (S) - I am the current President of the Foundation as well as an active member of the Society‘s Events Committee.

JACKSON (J) - I am a member of the SKCDS’s Access to Care Committee, a committee on which I have served on since 2012.

O: What do you think SKCDF asking the SKCDS Access Committee for recommendations on developing a longitudinal action plan can accomplish for dentistry & the public? J - I think it is a great thing! After being inactive for the last few years, the Access to Care Committee is in a period of renewal. As the work of this committee is taking shape, being mindful of the need for there to be alignment between the beliefs, values and priorities of the Foundation and the initiatives being proposed by the Committee is important. S - I think as awful as these last 12 months with COVID has been in curtailing our many activities, it gave us the unique opportunity to methodically evaluate past accomplishments or failings and focus on improvements in a tangible manner. Since we are not able to have as much community exposure, it seems an ideal time to create long term goals. E - One of the key components of the SKCDS Strategic Plan is to increase opportunities for members to serve the community. Ideally, by creating more synergy between the Society and Foundation, a large-scale access to care initiative will captivate the membership. Dentists are caring, generous people. They are also results-driven and busy. J - These conversations are not only assuring this alignment, they are also providing a new level of excitement to members of the Foundation as they are actively engaged in conversations about the inputs, outcomes and impacts of the initiatives on the communities in King County that will be served. E - If there are easy ways for members to give their time, skills and financial support and see real results in the community, they will do so enthusiastically. If the public is healthier and dentists have full hearts from seeing the results of their philanthropy, everyone wins.

O - How do you envision SKCDF’s partnership with MTI to host six events a year for the next five years working into a longitudinal action plan? S - Initially, the Foundation wanted to have it’s own Dental Van but after much discussion and investigation, we determined that the Foundation was not in the Business of RUNNING a Mobile Dental Clinic. We were in the business of facilitating the Dental Vans with donated funds [and volunteer dentists] and MTI was arranging bringing the dental vans into areas with the greatest needs and to the locations they had already established with our Dentists from Washington and our Dental Society members. So now we are finalizing the “coverings” to be placed on these vans that will see 30 site visits over the next five years. E - SKCDS members have been providing mobile dental care on MTI vans in local communities for years, so it is a natural partnership for SKCD Foundation. Dentists know, however, that there is no substitute for a dental home. Anything that can be done at the SKCDF/MTI mobile events to motivate people to establish a dental home rather than using an emergency resource is beneficial. J - The partnership with MTI gives SKCDF a unique opportunity to move beyond the transactional nature of a patient using MTI services to receive needed treatment to one in which not only are treatments provided to individuals in need, information is shared with communities about topics ranging from the importance of oral health and prevention to introducing those seeking careers with livable wages to the workforce needs and opportunities in oral health. S - Hopefully as COVID phases progress, we would like to incorporate additional activities at these sites ie. family health screenings, job fairs etc., with communities becoming aware of job opportunities in assisting, hygiene, and dentistry that they may not have previously known about. E - By creating larger events around the MTI van, we can engage communities by developing relationships and meeting people where they are. Through upbeat community health festivals, including the availability of dental services on an SKCDF/MTI van, people can learn about good health and about the possibilities of entering the rewarding profession of dentistry. J - The day will return when people are able to safely return to celebrations and other events in their communities. With some careful planning and trust building with communities that have great oral health needs, the SKCDF and MTI partnership can be leveraged to not only meet the treatment needs of individuals, but to invest in the well-being and vitality of communities.

O – As COVID restrictions are lifted, SKCDS would love to expand the MTI/SKCDF/UW SOD events to provide so much more than emergent care. If we could partner with community health centers or private practice dentists from those areas, to schedule patients that day for follow up at a potential dental home.