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President’s Forum The Worth of the College

Richard E. Jones, DDS, MSD, FACD President of the American College of Dentists

My Mother was just like most mothers until half my life was over and she became remarkable. I had become immersed in talk of mission for my practice, my Church, the American College of Prosthodontists, and my local Arby’s (theirs was not valid). When she passed of cancer at 83, we discovered her Mission, which had been kept secret for 65 years. A paper was uncovered that revealed the nine guiding principles of an 18-year-old. Values and Mission that were never spoken but were illuminated by a life lived so purposefully that everyone that knew Ava Juanita Gentry, exclaimed, “yes, that was her—I knew her.” Many adults never connect with their core values. Almost no one has such a clear picture at 18 years that they are enabled to be consistent in their effectiveness. True missions don’t need a plaque because the consistent actions are loud testimony. I’m proud of and grateful for this guidepost in my life.

The Mission and Values of the American College of Dentists have been clear and constant for 101 years. The Mission is best announced as the Guiding Light of Dentistry. The principles of advancing excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership have been so consistent for a century that they hardly need to be spoken as they are so clearly felt. Certainly, the College has impacted all dentists and patients for 100 years. Many do not know us, but all have felt our presence despite our apparent reticence. The world and dentistry have seen great ebb and flow over the past century, but the College has been a guiding light throughout. The College gave birth to the profession and has continued to nurture and protect it. In the beginning, there were no standards for education, journalism, or for research. Then there was a long period of great vision and action. There came a time that professionalism was so endemic that our honorific purpose became prevalent. We are now in a period that requires vision and action.

Yes, today, we see great challenge. The profession is not keeping pace with generational and societal change and seems undermined by government, corporate from without, and much from within. The paradigms of practice are changing rapidly from what they have been for so long. Sometimes it feels like we are drifting back toward where we began. Professionalism is being challenged by entrepreneurialism. Commercialism pervades every component of the oral healthcare alliance. Excellent evidenced-based science is available for the benefit of our patients but unvalidated information from social media is often utilized by practitioners. The paradigm of mentorship has changed. Diagnosis and treatment planning is supplanted by billable procedures. The envelope of ethics is being pushed.

But the College stands firm in its identity and purpose. We advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership. We have vision that advances science, standards access to care, and equality. We are strengthened by ASDE, ADEA, AADEJ, and SPEA. Our umbrella represents the entire allied dental team. The 53 Sections of the College implement the initiatives. The Fellowship of the College will fortify dentistry with a new paradigm of professionalism, education, and practice. Competence, compassion, cultural sensitivity, and courageous advocacy are the critical tools. And you will make the difference.

Our Mission has been constant because it is valid and true. Our initiatives are insightful and dynamic. Often unnoticed, the American College of Dentists is ever-present and remarkable. I’m proud of and grateful for this guidepost of dentistry.

The Mission and Values of the American College of Dentists have been clear and constant for 101 years. The Mission is best announced as the Guiding Light of Dentistry. The principles of enhancing excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership have been so consistent for a century that they hardly need to be spoken as they are so clearly felt. Certainly, the College has impacted all dentists and patients for 100 years.

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