District XIII – California Newsletter
Winter 2023
News, views and possible previews!
INSIDE __ Photos of Events from this past year Noteworthy Events for the Calendar __ Predental Students Get Involved Early in Service Dr. Ronald Fritz __ “Better-Know-AMember” Each newsletter, we are going to feature a member and shine a spotlight on their achievements
Welcome New Fellows Please join in welcoming the newest class of Fellows for 2023 Dr. Hasnain Abbas, Dr. Elizabeth Andrews, Dr. Gisella Angarita, Dr. Beatriz Bezerra, Dr. John L Blake, Dr. Ruth Wauqua Bol, Dr. Jeffery Eastman Brockett, Dr. Hubert K. Chan, Dr. James Jonley Chen, Dr. Chuen Chie Chiang, Dr. Megan Clarke, Dr. Katherine Vo Cook, Dr. Margaret Delmore, Dr. Monica Diba, Dr. Charles Drury, Dr. Misako Hirota, Dr. J. Kevin Jetton, Dr. Kevin M. Kurio, Dr. David K. Lam, Dr. Jacob K. Lee, Dr. Emily Letran, Dr. Sayeh Massoumi, Dr. James Mattingly, Dr. Virginia Padua Mattson, Dr. Jeffrey McComb, Dr. Ruth “Candy” McComb, Dr. Sahar Mirfarsi, Dr. Rebecca Moazzez, Dr. Clifton Nakatani, Dr. Charmaine Genevive Ng, Dr. Trang M.T. Nguyen, Dr. Abraham Nobel, Dr. Aaron Noordmans, Dr. Noha Nour, Dr. David H. Okawachi, Dr. Krishna Prasad, Dr. Kari Sakurai, Dr. Martin Uribe Sanchez, Dr. Sandra Schmidt, Dr. Amy L. Scriven, Dr. Uday N. Shah, Dr. Gilbert H. Snow, Dr. Colleen Buehler Steinberg, Dr. Cary Sun, Dr. Scott O. Szotko, Dr. Kevin R. Tanner, Dr. Gaetan Tchamba, Dr. Abhi Thakkar, Dr. Ashok Verranki, Dr. Daniel S. Witcher, Dr. Tim Wong, Dr. Mark Wood, Dr. Lenise N. Yarber – 53 new fellows!
District XIII – California Newsletter
“Better-Know-A-Member” - Dr. Donna Klauser Gen Z is dying from accidental Fentanyl poisoning. According to the CDC, Fentanyl was involved in 76% of accidental drug poisoning deaths among young people aged 15-24 yrs. old in 2020. I created CHANGETHERX, www.changetherx.com nonprofit, to protect my Gen Z daughter, Gen Z and families from accidental drug poisonings from Fentanyl by dispensing free Narcan. CHANGETHERX’s board consists of a retired Firefighter/Paramedic/MFT, CVS Pharmacist and me, a board-certified Periodontist. My beloved dental patient asked for two free Narcan for her college kids and agreed to take a selfie with me to destigmatize carrying Narcan. She then shared that her University of Arizona Sophomore 19-year-old son died from an accidental drug poisoning from a Xanax that was given to him by a friend. The friend and her beloved son did not know that the nonprescription Xanax was a counterfeit pill, purchased from Snapchat. The counterfeit Xanax was tainted with deadly Fentanyl.
Our very own Dr. Donna Klauser representing her founding non for profit ChangetheRx. With her program, they donated 70 Narcan to The Boys & Girls Club San Fernando Valley. Pictured below with District XIII ADA Trustee and ICD Fellow Dr. Karin Irani
CHANGETHERX’s mission is to protect Gen Z and their families from accidental Fentanyl drug poisonings. We have distributed over 300 free Narcan, through California’s Naloxone Distribution Project, to the Boys & Girls Club and Music venues. One of the Boys & Girls Club thanked me for our Narcan donations and proceeded to tell me that their children are dying by suicide. Heartbroken, I vowed that we could do more to help them and added a clinical psychologist, my dental patient, to provide free mental health education for future Narcan donations. Our next goal is to distribute free Narcan, provide mental health education and give hope to the YMCA. Many families cannot afford the $50 Narcan that is being sold through the pharmacy. Our goal is to provide this life saving nasal reversal spray, Narcan, for free to families so that they may teach their children how to protect themselves and their friends against accidental Fentanyl poisoning. We have partnered with UCLA School of Dentistry, my alma mater, Pediatric Dentistry Department to distribute free Narcan to help protect Gen Z. CHANGETHERX would be grateful for donations to help protect our Gen Z. I am forever grateful to ICD Foundation for awarding us grants to protect our vulnerable youth. Thank you, ICD, as we continue to “Serve Others” together. In Fellowship, Donna Klauser, DDS, FICD
District XIII – California Newsletter
2023 – The year of the ICD Breakfast Meetings Whether it be continuing the strong tradition of being at CDA Presents Anaheim or venturing into new territory of hosting the Inaugural Joint ACD/ICD breakfast at CDA Presents San Jose; it is clear that ICD members will represent our illustrious organization with smiles all around. Pictured (clockwise): Dr. Ned Nix, Dr. Pamela Alston, Dr. Charles Drury, Dr. Ned Nix, Dr. Doug Cassat, Dr. Craig Yarborough, Dr. Donna Klauser, Dr. Alma Clark, Dr. Karin Irani, Dr. Gary Dougan, Dr. Craig Yarborough, Dr. Elizabeth Andrews, Dr. Setareh Lavasani, Dr. Hubert Chen, Dr. Robert Hanlon, Dr. Ariane Terlet, and Dr. John Blake.
District XIII – California Newsletter
Dr. Wallace Bellamy, pictured with Dr. Gail Duffala, Dr. Donald P. Rollofson and Dr. Craig Yarborough, receiving the Outstanding Sponsor award for 2023
“Honored to be an ICD fellow. What a memorable convocation!” Dr. Charmaine Ng (New Fellow) with International President Dr. Ho Youl Chang
“I am truly honored to be inducted into this prestigious organization Dr. Noha Nour (New Fellow pictured with colleague New Fellow Dr. Emily Letran)
2023 Convocation Held in Orlando, FL and Virtually
New Fellows pre-convocation huddle with our Regent Dr. Craig Yarborough
District 13 and the class of 2023 new Fellows triumphantly travelled across country to help commemorate our newest brothers and sisters who help answer the call of promoting ethics in dentistry.
District XIII – California Newsletter
Predental Students Get Involved Early in Service Dr. Ronald Fritz The predental students at the San Diego State University (SDSU) have formed a Chapter of the Flying Samaritans, and a group of them travels to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, on the border with California, USA. The Flying Samaritans were formed back in 1961, as a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free health care for underserved populations in Baja California, Mexico. Now with more than 1500 members the Flying Samaritans mission has spread broadly across California, Arizona, and Baja California. I was contacted several months ago by the predental coordinator, Victoria Vongkaysone, also a predental student at SDSU, asking me if I could work with them at the Tijuana clinic. Always interested in new volunteering experiences and getting to know more predental students, I agreed. I found a basically equipped dental room with functional used equipment, and a group of very enthusiastic ladies ready, willing, and able to help. Basic care is provided, emergencies, exams, extractions, restorations; no endo, ortho, or perio, prosthetics, or crown/bridge is provided. With the help of these students who know where everything is, who know well how to assist, working was stress free. The patients we treated were very appreciative of our help and give a good reputation for this clinic. It is simple, it is straightforward, but it is magical in how it shows disadvantaged people we care about them and want to help. They need more volunteers to chip in and help, as some of their monthly clinics have been canceled, with no dental provider available. Contact info: Victoria Vongkaysone fsdentalsdsu@gmail.com Ronald Fritz DDS MPH ronaldefritz.dds@gmail.com Cell: 760-801-9595
Thoughts from the Editor It certainly has been a very eventful year to be a California dentist. There have been many differing ideas on how to best proceed forward for our profession, however, above all else, you can take comfort in your membership in the International College of Dentists. We are one of fewer than 6000 members nationwide, just over three percent of American dentists that have been thoroughly vetted by colleagues and peers. We represent great value for our profession in service, ethics, and education – and for this, I am eternally grateful. A friendly reminder that there is a Pay Dues button always available on our website until your dues are paid. The central office can also arrange quarterly payments and automatic payments. Please do consider following our ICD Facebook page for real-time updates and think about downloading the new ICD APP! As per usual, if you have any interest in writing an article or being featured – please reach out to me Amir Kazim at amir.e.kazim@gmail.com.
WE WANT TO WISH ALL MEMBERS A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON! Until Nashville in 2024 my colleagues and friends!