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The voice of the Washington State Dental Association
news
HEALTH & Wellbeing FOCUS ON
THE PNDC ISSUE
th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 1
GENERAL DENTISTRY PEDIATRIC
ORTHODONITIC ENDODONTIC
PERIODONTIC
PROSTHODONTIC
COSMETIC DENTISTRY ORAL SURGERY
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I was fortunate to have this creative team on my project Dr. Peter Jacobsen, DDS Northwest Family Dental Care
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Bracken and Kate Killpack · Photograph by Scott Eklund
WSDA news Cover story by Rob Bahnsen DAD photos by Craig Mitchelldyer KIllpack article photos by Scott Eklund
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editorial
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guest editorial
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ethically speaking
8-13
issue 4 · march 2015
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wdia news
40-41
wohf news
dad in pictures
45
call for nominations
14-15
legislative update
47
membership marketplace
16-23
cover story
24-31
meet bracken killpack
33
regulatory update
37
component president follow up
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classifieds parrish or perish
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateDentalAssociation WSDA News Editor Dr. Mar y Jennings Editorial Advisor y Board Dr. Victor Barry Dr. Richard Mielke Dr. Jeffrey Parrish Dr. Rhonda Savage Dr. Robert Shaw Dr. Mary Krempasky Smith Dr. Timothy Wandell Washington State Dental Association Dr. Gregory Y. Ogata, President Dr. Bryan C. Edgar, President-elect Dr. D. Michael Buehler, Secretary-Treasurer Dr. David M. Minahan, Immediate Past President Board of Directors Dr. Theodore M. Baer Dr. Marissa M. Bender Dr. Dennis L. Bradshaw Dr. Ronald D. Dahl Dr. Christopher Delecki Dr. Gary E. Heyamoto Dr. Eric J. Kvinsland
Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.
Bernard J. Larson Cynthia R. Pauley Lorin D. Peterson James W. Reid Ashley L. Ulmer
WSDA Staff: Executive Director Bracken Killpack Senior Vice President/ Assistant Executive Director Amanda Tran
Vice President of Government Affairs Anne Burkland
Association Of fice: (206) 448 -1914 Fax: (206) 443 -9266 Toll Free Number: (800) 448 - 3368 E- mail: info@ wsda.org/w w w.wsda.org
Art Director/Managing Editor Robert Bahnsen
In the event of a natural disaster that takes down the WSDA web site and email accounts, the WSDA has established a separate email address. Should an emergency occur, members can contact washstatedental@gmail.com.
Manager of Continuing Education and Speaker Ser vices Craig Mathews Government Affairs Coordinator Michael Walsh
Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Peter Aaron
Public Policy Coordinator Emily Lovell
General Counsel Alan Wicks
Membership Manager Laura Rohlman
Vice President of Operations Brenda Berlin
Exhibits and Sponsorship Ser vices Coordinator Katie Olson
Vice President of Communications Kainoa Trotter
Bookkeeper Joline Hartman Office Coordinator Gilda Snow
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The WSDA News is published 8 times yearly by the Washington State Dental Association. Copyright © 2015 by the Washington State Dental Association, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibilit y of the authors alone and do not express the opinions of the WSDA, unless the Association has adopted such statements or opinions. Subscription price is $65 plus sales tax per year for 8 issues of the News. Foreign rate is $97.92 per year. Advertising is published as a service to readers; the editor reserves the right to accept, reject, discontinue or edit any advertising offered for publication. Publication of advertising materials is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either the advertiser or product. Communications intended for publication, business matters and advertising should be sent to the WSDA Office, 126 NW Canal Street, Seattle, Wash. 98107. ISSN 1064-0835 Member Publication American Association of Dental Editors. Winner: 2014: ADA Golden Apple Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion, 2013: Journalism Award, Platinum Pencil, 2012: Journalism Award, Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2012: Platinum Pencil Award Honorable Mention (2), 2008: Best Newsletter, Division 1, 2007 Platinum Pen Award, 2006 Honorable Mention, 2005 Platinum Pencil Award, 2005 Publication Award; International College of Dentists
table of contents issue 4, march 2015
a day in the life
editorial dr. mar y jennings
Undefined territory Christmas before last, my older brother John was seemingly his normal self, large and in charge, witty and charismatic. Today, his wife has to watch him take a shower to tell him which soap goes where. He just turned 58 and has rapidly advancing “early onset” or “younger” Alzheimer’s. Like all Jennings, he is opinionated and highly verbal. We did not realize when he kept telling stories over and over again that there was really much wrong. We happen to like hearing our stories over and over. His co-workers must have understood at some level because after an amazing thirty-five year career of diagnosing and treating sick oil wells internationally for Halliburton they fired him for disagreeing with his boss. He was devastated. No one really understood how that could happen with such an intelligent, hardworking, and amiable soul. Now we do. I am shocked and heart broken. This was my childhood fearless leader. Mr. Action. He rappelled, wrestled, played football and excelled in virtually anything he did. He developed computerized protocols for treating oil wells and was finishing writing a book. In my ever so awkward teens, I envied his easy way with people and I actively studied him. Like everything we faced, if he could do it then so could I. And here we are today. Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that interfere with connections between neurons and cause neuron death. Younger Onset Alzheimer’s (YOA) affects people under 65. It can start as young as 30 but more commonly begins in patients in their forties and fifties. It is estimated that less than five percent of the five million Americans with Alzheimer’s have this type. The cause of Younger Alzheimer’s is still under investigation. Everything from head injuries to genetics is under the microscope. It is thought that most people with YOA have the common form of Alzheimer’s that will progress in the same way it does with older people. A small subset of YOA patients has the genetically based “Familial Alzheimer’s disease.” This type is due to mutations on chromosomes 1,14 and 21 that cause abnormal proteins to be formed that somehow form the plaques. Apolipoprotien E-e4 (APOE4) was discovered in 1992 is the first gene variant found to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Still, having this mutation does not mean that the person will develop the disease. Diagnosis of YOA is difficult. It took us eleven months to get John’s diagnosis. I suspect that if the advancement was not so rapid we would still be undiagnosed. There is not a lot of training for physicians about YOA so it is often missed until late in the disease process. There is no cure for any type of Alzheimer’s but there are medications available to help slow the process for some. There are promising drugs in the research pipeline. I have no arena to speak to our MD friends but I can ask you to consider YOA into your differential diagnosis when dealing with your friends, family, co-workers and patients. It is hard to talk about literally losing one’s mind. Here are today’s thoughts. I will support my brother and family every way I can. I will have to fit them into my life in a different way. I wish I could take it away or make it all better. I mourn for his loss of self and our loss of him. I need to stop screaming, “I’m doomed, doomed, doooomed” every time I misplace or forget something. I am sorry to tell you but I do! I am going through a natural phase of irrational self-worry. It will pass. I reassure myself that this is undefined territory and life, at some level, is a crapshoot. I know that the research is just not stable and even if it was, fate so often plays a funny hand. I need to call my broker and friends at WDIA and get professional advice. I must make sure that my retirement plan and insurances are set right to cover this new contingency. I am sure they have suggestions that would never occur to me. I called the University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. I am in the process of volunteering as a lab rat. They need siblings to study. I want to help others and be on the cutting edge of this disease so we are a perfect match. The researcher I spoke with said “everyone gets dementia if they live long enough. The brain wears out too.” Most of all, I need to relax and do some Lamaze breathing. Life is beautiful albeit hard. Everyone has problems to face. This is ours. If we did not love we would not care. We must hold tight to each other and make every day above ground the very best for ourselves and all the lives we touch.
Dr. Mary Jennings Editor, WSDA News
“Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles that interfere with connections between neurons and causes neuron death. Younger Onset Alzheimer’s (YOA) affects people under 65. It can start as young as 30 but more commonly begins in patients in their forties and fifties.”
Dr. Mary Jennings, WSDA News editor, welcomes comments and letters from readers. Contact her at her email address:mjenningsdds@gmail.com.
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Spring’s arrival is exciting for so many reasons — it’s a time of rebirth and renewal, a time when many of us recharge and reinvigorate, and as we get to see the first crocuses pop up from their winter sleep we know that warmer, longer days are just ahead. It’s also the perfect time to roll out information to dental professionals across the state about the 2015 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference (PNDC) The conference will be held in Bellevue, Wash. for the third year, with classes in two facilities — the Hyatt Regency Bellevue and the Meydenbauer Center — and continuous shuttle service between the two properties. The PNDC is still one of the best deals anywhere — WSDA members can earn up to 17.5 credits for just $215, and dental staff can earn up to 16.5 credits for $140 (applying the early bird discount). It’s an exciting time for us on the Committee on PNDC — we work very hard to make sure that the conference, your conference, is packed with content that’s important to the practice of dentistry, new and relevant, and fun and exciting. It’s a daunting task, to be honest. We visit conferences around the country, scouting speakers, listening to content, and weeding out the folks who we feel won’t deliver on our promise to present one of the best conferences anywhere.
Focus on Health and Wellbeing
This year we’re focusing on health and wellbeing with a series of lectures and workshops aimed at improving your current health, your future health, and ways you can positively impact you and your patient’s lives. With offerings in areas of nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, cancer prevention and more, we’ll take you out of your practice (and sometimes even out of your comfort zone) to make you healthy and fit. We’ll even have a national personality on board — Ali Vincent, Season 5 winner of television’s reality show “The Biggest Loser” — to tell you about her struggles, her philosophy about weight loss, and what she’s been doing since losing 112 pounds on the hit show.
Cutting edge education
But as you know, the PNDC has always been about cutting edge education, and this year is no different — we looked at trends, changes in laws and regulations, and emerging technology to craft the very best educational experience for dentists, hygienists, assistants and front office staff. Because we know that ongoing Medicaid audits can leave practices with massive fines, we’re presenting a series of lectures and workshops explaining how the audits work and what you need to know if you’re audited — how to ensure your practice is in compliance, how to train your team to properly code and chart, what auditors will be looking for, and what your rights and responsibilities are. It’s serious business, and you need every advantage if you’re audited. We’re even presenting a view from the other side — we’re bringing in a dentist who served time following his disastrous audit, so that you can learn from his mistakes.
Evening programs and more!
In a continued effort to offer you as many options as possible, we’ve expanded our evening session offerings, with a mix of lectures and workshops on subjects like retirement strategies, crown lengthening, implants and restorations. We’re excited because many of these evening sessions allow you to add to your CE earnings over the two day period — and we’re excited because of the value of the course content. It’s a win-win. We’re also pleased to announce the return of the Emerald City Lecture Series — where your peers and colleagues will present 50-minute lectures on a wide range of subjects, and the opportunity to earn even more CE at the Exhibit Hall at the Meydenbauer Center at table clinics presented by post-graduate residents in general dentistry at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma. But all work and no play makes for a dull dental team, so we’ve paired those lectures and workshops with some really enlightened, fun opportunities for the entire office — opportunities that run the gamut from our “Sip & Save Reception” in the exhibit hall with drinks and hor d’oeuvres on us, to team building experiences like the Oral Cancer Fun Run and free pilates and yoga classes courtesy of our friends at Lululemon. Shopping’s always popular with staff (but please, shop on your breaks between lectures, we’ve allowed plenty of time), and Bellevue has shopping in spades — from the Bellevue Collection, to the Bravern, Lincoln Square and Old Main Street, the city has boutiques, shops and offerings for every pocketbook. For an expanded look at this year’s conference focus, please see the cover story on pages 16-23. We’re excited that you’re joining us, and we want to stress that not only does the PNDC offer stellar education and fun social opportunities for the entire dental team, but it also serves to keep your WSDA dues low, and generates the income for the Association so that we can keep on top of legislation, regulatory changes and issues that affect your practice and livelihood. We look forward to seeing you and your entire team in Bellevue!
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Dr. John Darling Chair, Committee on PNDC
“This year is no different — we looked at trends, changes in laws and regulations, and emerging technology to craft the very best educational experience for dentists, hygienists, assistants and front office staff.”
guest editorial dr. john darling
This year at the PNDC
ethically speaking does size matter?
ETHICALLY SPEAKING: Does size matter?
Dr. Rod Wentworth Past President, WSDA
There has been a lot of discussion about corporate dental practices. In the state of Washington, the law is clear that dental practices must be wholly owned by Washington State licensed dentists [If the practice is incorporated, then the shareholders must each be licensed dentists]. It is important to understand that “large practices” are not synonymous with “corporate practices,” although both of these entities have been branded with allegations of unethical conduct in the dental and public media. The courts have had to deal with issues such as overbilling, over treatment, and Medicaid fraud. Concerns about young dentists being required to treat patients based on office protocols with financial incentives for these dentists and staff are common complaints when the subject is discussed. Many states, like Washington, prohibit corporate ownership of a dental practice because of the risk that the motivation for profit will negatively affect the quality of patient care. In this article, I will look at large practices, be they corporate or not. Is the large practice model the cause of these ethical issues? The ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct (the Code) applies to all dentists, regardless of their employment or practice situation. We have an obligation to ethically practice our profession -- period. The issues attributed to large practices usually have to do with the employeremployee relationship. (The employee in this case maybe both the employee dentist and the staff.) Each of us has an obligation to provide ethical patient care; an employment contract cannot influence this obligation. Let’s look at the “employee dentist” first. Although they may have an agreement to provide care for patients that also provides revenue for their employer, the employee dentist is ultimately responsible for the care of the patient. If the planned procedure is treatment planned by someone else, the employee dentist has an obligation to confirm the need for the treatment before completing it. An employee contract does not excuse the dentist from unethical or illegal conduct. The “employer dentist,” on the other hand, has these same obligations and, as an employer, may have additional responsibilities for oversight. The employer dentist typically has the responsibility for oversight of the patient records. Although the employee dentist has responsibility to enter legal and complete chart entries, the employer dentist is the guardian of the records. The Code addresses this in Section 1.B. PATIENT RECORDS: Dentists are obliged to safeguard the confidentiality of patient records. Dentists shall maintain patient records in a manner consistent with the protection of the welfare of the patient. Upon request of a patient or another dental practitioner, dentists shall provide any information in accordance with applicable law that will be beneficial for… If the employee dentist leaves the practice, the employer dentist has an obligation to maintain the records and provide copies to other providers to facilitate future care or to other individuals or entities upon legal request.
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Dentists shall be obliged to protect the health of their patients by only assigning to qualified auxiliaries those duties which can be legally delegated. Dentists shall be further obliged to prescribe and supervise the patient care provided by all auxiliary personnel working under their direction. The employee dentist also has the obligation to supervise auxiliaries appropriately and practice within the laws of their jurisdiction. There is another section of the Code that the employer dentist should keep in mind: Section 3.F. PROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR IN THE WORKPLACE , which states: Dentists have the obligation to provide a workplace environment that supports respectful and collaborative relationships for all those involved in oral health care. ADVISORY OPINION 3.F.1. Disruptive Behavior in the Workplace. Dentists are the leaders of the oral healthcare team. As such, their behavior in the workplace is instrumental in establishing and maintaining a practice environment that supports the mutual respect, good communication, and high levels of collaboration among team members required to optimize the quality of patient care provided. Dentists who engage in disruptive behavior in the workplace risk undermining professional relationships among team members, decreasing the quality of patient care provided, and undermining the public’s trust and confidence in the profession. The employer dentist is the leader of his/her team, which includes not only the staff, but any employee dentists. There is an ethical obligation to respect the autonomy of the employee dentists to make their own treatment decisions and maintain a respectful relationship. The business side of the practice should never dictate patient care. Production goals, bonuses, and office policies should not influence the dentist-patient relationship or the quality of care offered by any dentist in the practice. Leveraging employment to increase production or alter treatment plans by employee dentists would be considered unethical behavior under this section of the Code. Any use of power as an employer dentist to undermine the employee dentist’s ability to provide quality patient care, including directing staff to work differently with the employee dentist, would be a violation of this section. As you can see, there is really no difference in our ethical obligations in patient care. The dentist employee-employer relationship adds another element in the dental office that must be addressed in our ethical treatment of patients. Be it a single office with one employee or a multisite practice with fifty-plus dentist employees, our ethical obligations are no different. In an ethical sense, size doesn’t matter.
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“If the planned procedure is treatment planned by someone else, the employee dentist has an obligation to confirm the need for the treatment before completing it. An employee contract does not excuse the dentist from unethical or illegal conduct.”
ethically speaking does size matter?
The employer dentist also has an ethical obligation to hire and delegate to staff legally. Section 2.C. USE OF AUXILIARY PERSONNEL:
2015 dental action day in pictures
With six bills and a budget ask on the table this year (see Legislative Update, pages 14-15), WSDA members and UWSoD students hit Olympia en masse once again on February 20 for the annual Dental Action Day. In the more than 115 meetings scheduled during the course of the day, dentists and students had the opportunity for face-to-face conversations with legislators as constituents and concerned dentists. Anne Burkland, Vice President of Government Affairs for the WSDA said, “From midlevel providers to the corporate practice of dentistry, the 2015 legislative session could shape the future of the profession in Washington. That’s why it’s so great that hundreds showed up from around our state, met with their legislators and had their voices heard.” We want to sincerely thank everyone who made it to Olympia this year — Burkland notes, “Participation in Dental Action Day by so many people is part of why dentistry has such a successful record in Olympia.” Help us continue that record of success — if you’re not already involved in grassroots dentistry, we could use your help now! Dental Action Day always lives up to its name, with meetings scheduled back-to-back in cramped quarters. We tag along every year to give you an idea of the day — next year, consider joining in the fun!
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2015 dental action day in pictures
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2015 dental action day in pictures
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2015 dental action day in pictures
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2015 dental action day in pictures
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2015 dental action day in pictures
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legislative update on the hill
2015 could have proven to be a very tough year for the practice of dentistry in Washington. However, because of the work of our new lobbyists, a core group of member dentists with strong bipartisan ties in Olympia, and the WSDA staff, most of the challenges we faced have either been eliminated or severely weakened, for this year. Stay tuned for updates to legislation as we have them. The Washington State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn its 2015 regular session on April 26. February 20 was the last day policy bills could be passed out of the committees in the chamber they were introduced in. The following is an update on the status of WSDA’s legislative agenda. For the latest updates, visit:https://www.wsdasource.org/membership/legislative-affairs/legislative-action-center.
Safeguarding the Patient-Dentist Relationship:
Our state has a long-standing commitment to ensuring dental treatment decisions are made by a patient and their dentist. WSDA strongly supports state law which allows only licensed dentists to own, maintain and operate a dental practice. We also support licensed dentists organizing themselves into a group practice or a single-licensed dentist owning several offices. We are also in favor of dental offices contracting with others to provide supportive services. However, we have concerns about non-dentists acquiring ownership stakes in dental practices as this could allow outside forces to intrude on the dentist’s diagnosis and professional judgment. House Bill 1514, as introduced, would allow non-dentist ownership of dental practices. In February, the WSDA testified against HB 1514 during its hearing in the House Health Care Committee. Since then the WSDA has participated in several stakeholder meetings with legislators to discuss the Association’s concerns and provide potential amendments to the bill. A substitute version of HB 1514 was voted out of the House Health Care Committee. This substitute removed the original bill language and replaced it with amended language supported by WSDA. However, this amended language is strongly opposed by the original proponents of HB 1514. The WSDA will maintain its opposition to the legislation unless a compromise can be reached during the remainder of the legislative session. The Association will continue to work on this issue.
Dental Midlevel Providers:
WSDA continues to oppose any legislation which creates a dental midlevel provider. Five separate bills to create dental midlevels were introduced in the 2015 legislative session; all five are now dead for the remainder of the session. Only two received hearings: House Bill 1441 and Senate Bill 5159. These bills would have allowed Washington’s recognized tribes to employ Dental Health Aide Therapists on tribal lands outside of the jurisdiction of the State of Washington. Both bills were heard in their respective committees in January. Members of the WSDA’s testimony team testified against the legislation and explained that it would create a two-tiered system of care in our state. Under this system, it would be acceptable for tribal communities to receive dental care from providers with less training than a licensed dentist hygienist. Neither bill moved out of Committee; they won’t be moving forward this Legislative Session. .
Increasing dental coverage options and preventive care:
Sponsored by the WSDA’s own Rep. Michelle Caldier, this legislation would allow both embedded and stand-alone pediatric dental products to be sold inside of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. This would simply extend the same flexibility that consumers have outside of the Exchange to those using Washington Healthplanfinder. The legislation also prioritizes preventive care and requires that these services be paid for prior to a large deductible being met. This legislation was approved by the House Health Care Committee.
Improving transparency:
The House Health Care Committee approved House Bill 1002. The bill requires that standalone dental coverage insurance carriers submit loss ratio information to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. That information would then be posted online for the public to access. The legislation also pro-
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legislative update on the hill
hibits insurance companies from denying coverage for treatment of an emergency dental condition that was provided on the same day that the patient was examined and diagnosed with the condition. The WSDA supports this legislation. This legislation was approved by the House Health Care Committee.
Loan repayment:
The WSDA supports restoring funding to the Health Professional Loan Repayment and Scholarship Fund. We support allocating $8 million to this very valuable program. This appropriations request remains alive for the 2015 Legislative Session.
Reforming Medicaid audits:
The WSDA strongly supports the investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. But a growing number of providers have found that the way Medicaid audits are conducted is making them question if they can continue providing Medicaid-reimbursed care. House Bill 1712, sponsored by Rep. Paul Harris, would make simple, reasonable reforms to the Medicaid audit process. The legislation was heard by the House Health Care and Wellness Committee on February 18 and was not voted out by the deadline. The WSDA will advocate for this legislation again in 2016 and is also exploring the possibility of getting the bill language authorized through agency rule.
Impressions legislation:
Developed by the WSDA and the Washington State Dental Hygienists’ Association (WSDHA), Senate Bill 5606 is a technical fix and clearly aligns statute with DQAC rule on what impressions dental assistants and hygienists can take. The WSDA and WSDHA testified in support of the legislation, and the bill was voted out of the Senate Health Committee.
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cover stor y 2015 pndc highlights
This year the PNDC focuses on health and wellbeing with more than ten lectures and workshops that address a range of health issues from cancer, nutrition, fitness, depression and more, including a special presentation by lifestyle personality Ali Vincent, Season 5 winner of television’s reality show “The Biggest Loser” (and the show’s first female winner). We’ve also queued up a wide variety of fitness and health-related special events (Pilates, anyone? Yoga?), The Result? A line-up for the 2015 PNDC that really delivers. Now, it’s not just about health and wellbeing, of course. You’ve come to rely on the conference as the place you can get nearly all of your 21 CE credits in two days (17.5 if you attend evening sessions, 16.5 for dental staff) and this year we packed the schedule to offer plenty of options for all attendees. For a complete list of speakers visit http://www.wsda.org/2015-pndc-schedule. Continued on page 19
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cover stor y 2015 pndc highlights
HEALTH & Wellbeing FOCUS ON
THE 2015 PNDC Bellevue, Wash. · June 11& 12
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About our speakers Ali Vincent, Winner, “The Biggest Loser” Winning the top prize by losing Ali Vincent was the winner of NBC’s hit show The Biggest Loser season 5, and the first-ever female winner. An Arizona native, Vincent is a dynamic and inspirational speaker, television host, philanthropist and author.
Life after “The Biggest Loser” A former champion synchronized swimmer, Vincent first appeared on the show weighing 234 pounds. After weeks of hard work and dedication to health and fitness on the ranch and at home, she stepped on the scale at the finale weighing in 112 pounds less than her starting weight. This successful weight loss was enough to earn her the title of Season 5 winner and the first-ever female winner. Vincent has been featured in numerous magazines and on both national and local talk shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, Ellen and the Today Show, among others. She is now the host of her own show, “Live Big With Ali Vincent,” on the Live Well Network. Through her show Vincent helps guests to rediscover their potential and live big through a healthier lifestyle. She also shares how her life has changed so dramatically in the past five years as her journey to continue to be healthy remains a new choice in every moment.
Philanthropic causes Vincent holds several philanthropic causes close to her heart. She regularly participates in and speaks at fundraising events throughout the United States. She often speaks about the importance of health, fitness and total wellness at Go Red events sponsored by the American Heart Association and Healthy Woman events. In addition, Vincent is the Ambassador of Movement for Phoenix Children’s Hospital’s Kid Rock Star program, and is committed to changing the future of our kids through play and knowledge. She is an honorary chair on the board of directors for the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant and Community Kitchen, where she continues to bring awareness and close the gap to nutritional needs of families with lower incomes.
Ali Vincent at the PNDC: Thursday, June 11 from 5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For information about Ali Vincent visit: http://www.wsda.org/2015-pndc-schedule/
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Getting their spin on health We reached out to three of the speakers we’re bringing to Bellevue to ask them about their lectures and the kinds of topics they’d be covering — Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, Dr. Uche Odiatu, and Ali Vincent, winner of Season 5 of “the Biggest Loser.” They were all incredibly enthusiastic and engaging about their subject matter, and we’re really excited about their appearances at the conference this year. And while we don’t have the space to talk about all of their lectures, we gained fascinating insight into their health doctrines and the topics important to them when we sat down with them recently.
About our speakers
Dr. Low Dog, an MD, will be bringing four lectures to the PNDC on the topics of Aging, Women’s Health, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention; Dr. Uche Odiatu, a dentist and fitness lecturer, will discuss fitness and the dental professional; and finally, Ali Vincent, winner of “The Biggest Loser,” and currently the host of her own show on the Live Well Network will bring a lively discussion of the world according to Ali — musings about her victory on the show, her secrets for maintaining balance and perspective, and her personal struggle with keeping the weight off and living a healthy lifestyle. Amanda Tran, Assistant Executive Director and Senior Vice President of the WSDA said, “Each of these speakers brings a certain individual perspective to the table — Low Dog brings the medical side of the equation, with a vast knowledge of the human body viewed through both naturopathic and western medicine lenses. Dr. Odiatu is a dentist who understands the correlation between overall fitness and a healthy mouth, and Ali Vincent can speak from the perspective of a layperson — who, like perhaps you or your patients, is struggling with personal health issues. I think you’ll be pleased at how much you can learn from each of these speakers.”
Sleep: the elixir of life?
Perhaps most surprising of our conversations with the three is how vital they say sleep is to the overall health and wellbeing of today’s active professional. Odiatu says, “For years, scientists have wondered why human beings need sleep. So much of the research has shown that the body only grows, recovers and resets hormone levels in sleep. William Dement, a sleep expert from California, says he can tell the quality of a person’s life simply by how much they sleep each night — it’s definitely a part of healing. When you consider that dentistry is about lowering inflammation — whether we’re doing crowns and veneers or implants, we need a body that is going to heal well.” Odiatu advocates getting between seven to nine hours of sleep a night, while Low Dog has a slightly different take, noting that it’s more about what she calls your “Personal Health IQ.” She explains, “I think everybody has to have their own personal health IQ. We make a lot of public health recommendations for the broad population, so everybody should ‘do these things.’ The problem with that is that many of us aren’t average – some of us have health conditions, some of us are more or less active than others, some of us may take medications — so trying to understand your own personal health IQ is really important.” Low Dog says it’s the quality of sleep that’s most important. “I don’t ask people how many hours they sleep — what’s really important is how you feel when you wake up. Do you feel rested? You could sleep ten hours and wake up in the morning feeling groggy, or do you sleep six hours and jump out of bed with lots of energy without coffee? This is helping people to frame up for themselves where they can make small changes that may actually have big impacts about the way they feel, and their health and wellbeing.” In his lecture, Odiatu will cover sleep apnea, CPAP machines and the study of sleep, and the type of sleep related questions you ask your patients. He clarifies, saying “I think many times on patient intakes we talk about the drugs they may be taking, if they smoke, etc., and many of us leave out questions about their sleep habits — and many times we find that no one has ever asked them that question.” Odiatu explains that sleep can have a huge impact on the body’s ability to heal and recommends that hygienists make it a part of their initial exam and part of their care. He continues, saying, “If someone is a poor sleeper because of shift work or a CPAP machine, we can predict that the patient won’t respond well to certain treatments, and we have to be more careful — we have to make sure the patient does better oral hygiene around a crown or implant simply because they are poor sleepers This is new for a lot of us, and many of us aren’t comfortable talking about it.” In his lecture, Odiatu will reveal 10 things that will help anyone sleep better, including sleeping in a pitch-black room — no night light, cell phone, and no sheer curtains. “When there is light in the room, the retina sends a message to the pineal glands not to make as much melatonin, and our brain doesn’t let us go down to stage 3 or 4 sleep, or stay there long enough simply because our brain still thinks it’s daylight. When the brain thinks it is still daylight, it doesn’t feel safe enough to shut down completely – it’s quite primitive, but beautiful.” With all the lights from the modern conveniences and technology we hold so close in our rooms — from clocks and smoke detectors to cell phones — it’s a wonder we sleep at all.
Making better decisions
Sleep influences our overall health, but so do many other factors. Vincent says, “It’s about making better decisions – not only from the perspective of being active and vanity, but to be aware and healthy. A lot of people don’t realize the different factors that affect health and weight. I hope to educate and share with people – if you leave one part of your wellness out of the equation that it could greatly affect your day-to-day living. I’ll be spreading the word about how all of your small choices add up to big changes – for the good or not. It just depends on what direction we choose to go.” For Vincent, the proof is in the pudding, as she
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About our speakers Dr. Tieraona Low Dog Lifelong commitment to integrative medicine Dr. Low Dog’s extensive career in studying natural medicine began more than 35 years ago. She studied midwifery, massage therapy, and was a highly respected herbalist, serving as President of the American Herbalist Guild and running a teaching clinic in Albuquerque, before going on to receive her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Low Dog opened and ran a successful integrative medical clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico before joining the faculty of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona where she served as the Director of the Fellowship from 2005-2014.
Thought leader in health care In addition to her work as a clinician and educator, Low Dog has been involved in national health policy and regulatory issues for more than a decade. In 2000, she was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the White House Commission of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and she recently completed her three–year term as a member of the Advisory Council for the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Tieraona served as the elected Chair of the United States Pharmacopeia Dietary Supplements and Botanicals Expert Committee from 2000 to 2010. Low Dog now serves as the elected Chair of the United States Pharmacopeia Dietary Supplements Admission Evaluation Committee. Her many honors of distinction include the Martina de la Cruz medal for her work with indigenous medicines (1998), Time magazine’s “Innovator in Complementary and Alternative Medicine” (2001), the Burt Kallman Scientific Award (2007), NPR’s People’s Pharmacy award (2010), the “Compassionate Care Award” (2013), and the “Herbal Insight Award” from American Herbal Products Association (2015).
Dr. Low Dog at the PNDC: Women’s Health: A Woman’s Guide to Wellness Thursday, June 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. The Nutrition Prescription Thursday, June 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Optimal Aging: Strategies for Life Friday, June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cancer Prevention for the 21st Century Friday, June 12 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m
For information about all of Dr. Low Dog’s lectures visit: http://www.wsda.org/2015-pndc-schedule/
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has continued to struggle with weight after leaving the show. In a recent episode of her television show “Live Big with Ali Vincent” on the Live Well Network, Vincent stepped back on the scale for the first time in years — with disappointing results. Like so many of us, Vincent cops to struggling with balance, saying, “I’ve never been a girl who will do without – if I say I can’t have something it takes on a life of its own. So if I want to have a sandwich on occasion I do, because I know if I don’t I’ll become obsessed to the point where I want to eat an entire bakery.” Still, stepping on the scale again gave her the freedom to dive back into controlling her weight in a different way. She explains, “Once I was able to admit that I had gained back some of the weight I was able to give myself permission to confront the weight gain and talk about my struggle. That made it possible to ask for the support I needed to get back on track.” Vincent says that one of the things she realized as a result of the Biggest Loser is that this is something that she will live with for the rest of her life. “It doesn’t come naturally to me,” she says, “It’s important to also acknowledge that while some people may be naturally thin, it doesn’t mean that they’re healthy. I’ve worked on changing my perspective to questioning if something is a healthy choice or not. It’s been an interesting journey — figuring out my relationship with my body and my lifestyle.” Odiatu concurs, saying, “Making better decisions is key — even if the change is as simple as trading water for diet pop, or sleeping more on average every night, or eliminating foods that fatigue us.” He continues, saying, “If you have good adrenal glands and a good functioning metabolism, you’ll automatically be alert in the morning. If you’re not alert in the morning it’s an indication that your sleep is poor, you’re eating too many refined carbs, you’re not exercising enough, or there is something else amiss. The body in the moment is its own report card. We can do blood work during a check up, but there’s nothing like living in the present and making the correlation between how you feel right now — are you tired, are you still full from a meal you had two hours ago— simple things we can look for to tell if the decisions we’re making moving us toward ease or disease.” All three of these speakers will address choices in life and how to make better ones to positively affect our health.
Options: finding solutions in your decision making process
Sometimes though, the healthier path involves something we not only aren’t drawn to, but we simply don’t like. Low Dog says, “I hate fish, I don’t like the way it tastes or smells. I live in a desert, so I can’t ever get fresh fish, but I am also very aware that the data shows that Omega-3 fatty acids are really important for my health. So what are the places that I can get Omega-3s in my diet without having to eat fish? I could buy Omega-3 enriched eggs, I could have grass fed beef, I could maybe think about fish oil capsules. The point of it is that we know that much of chronic disease including oral disease is driven by chronic low grade inflammation and one of the best ways of resolving inflammation is by increasing your Omega-3s.” Likewise, exercise is a vital part of a healthier lifestyle, but not everyone likes logging hours at a gym. You’re in luck — all three speakers know easy ways to add exercise into your regimen in a way that nearly anyone can find palatable. Low dog says, “Step up your activity level – and I do mean step it up – I’m a big one for walking. Just walk. You don’t have to run or get on the treadmill. Stepping your way to health is really simple. If you can get up to that 10,000 steps a day level, in a year you can lose about 10 pounds if you’re not a really active person. It will influence your insulin sensitivity and reduce your risk of becoming diabetic, it will cut your risk of heart attack in half, and it’s been shown to be as effective for your mood as antidepressant drugs.” Doctors like Low Dog agree that unless you have some sort of physical impairment there’s no reason you can’t get walking. “Getting started is the tough part, she says, “and trying to get your coworkers or family to do it with you can be a real help. There are so many ways we can motivate ourselves, and there is so much wearable technology today – Fitbits, pedometers — all kinds of ways to track our movement and reach our goals. People always underestimate how much they eat, and they always overestimate how much they move. There are a lot of amazing apps out there that help us achieve our health goals.” Vincent adds, “It’s so important for people to start a program that’s interesting, challenging, but within their personal fitness levels in order to succeed. When I was on ‘The Biggest Loser’ I found that a lot of people would compare their progress to mine, which was completely unfair. I’d tell them to get three jobs that were exercise-related and do that for 24 hours because that’s essentially what ‘The Biggest Loser’ experience was like. Give yourself a break!” She continues, saying, “We’re all different, and what works for me may not work for you or your friends. After ‘The Biggest Loser’ what I do know is that I can completely and wholeheartedly commit to something and get it done. But life is not about an end result – life is about every day, every moment, every choice. I really had to put that in perspective. The show was a stepping stone, a moment in time on the scale – it was so big and important to me and I really needed that, but then it became too small for me. I realized that if I made it about ‘The Biggest Loser’ it would be like every other diet I had ever done in my life.”
Nutrition choices/life choices
Saturated fat — is it good, is it bad? Should we be using butter olive oil or coconut oil? “I hate to tell you,” says Low Dog, “but saturated fat is not nearly as bad as we thought it was. We’ve changed a lot on this. We don’t want to demonize carbs, but let’s be clear: a lot of what’s driving the disease we see today is all that processed carbohydrate foods.” In her lecture on nutrition, Low Dog will break down fats the different types of fats out there, carbs and what the data shows, blood sugar and fructose and the liver — especially in light of evidence that fructose is metabolized in a similar way as alcohol, and leads to a lot of the same problems in the liver
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About our speakers Dr. Uche Odiatu Renaissance man Author, speaker, fitness educator, and NSCA certified personal trainer (National Strength and Conditioning Association) Dr. Uche Odiatu has inspired people on national television, radio, and in magazines with his energetic and enthusiastic message. His passion for his mission is evident in his numerous seminars and workshops.
About Dr. Odiatu Uche Odiatu has a Bachelor of Arts (psychology) and is a Doctor of Dentistry (DMD). He is a certified fitness leader in resistance training for older active adults. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a certified trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Odiatu is a certified Nutrition and Wellness Specialist by the Canadian Association of Fitness Professionals. His varied life experience has enabled him to assist other professionals in their fitness quest. He contributes lifestyle health and fitness articles to the Canadian Dental Association’s newsletter The Communiqué. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Pankey Institute in the USA. He has been writing, presenting, and promoting fitness related events since 1994. He also competed internationally and represented Canada in Madrid in 1986 and Poland in 2000.
Dr. Odiatu at the PNDC:
Fit to Lead for the Busy Dental Professional Friday, June 12 from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
For information about Dr. Odiatu’s lecture visit: http://www.wsda.org/2015-pndc-schedule/
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that we see in someone who drinks too much. She’ll talk about sources of fructose, about red meat and the Paleo diet, processed red meats and their links to cancer. “There is a lot to cover,” she says, “and it’s one of my favorite talks. It’s very well attended, and most people leave with a lot of information they didn’t have when they walked in.” And while nutrition is an important part of the equation, Vincent knows from personal experience that much more comes into play, saying, “I know what it feels like to start over again, and regardless of successes in the past, if we’re starting over we’re back at that point where we don’t feel good about ourselves, and maybe feel overwhelmed. We know what works and what doesn’t, but what we really need to do is forget everything we’ve ever known, focus on making healthy choices and start tracking everything that we do. By becoming aware of everything that we’re doing, whether it’s eating or exercising, or not exercising, we can avoid the pitfalls of going on autopilot. If you do nothing – no changes to diet or activity and do only one thing — become aware of your life, the things you eat, and the things you do or don’t do by tracking. When you become aware you can make decisions like adding steps by taking the long way home or just by wanting to be healthy. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We just can’t continue to live on autopilot – I know that I want to live consciously because I’m healthier when I do it.”
These topics and so much more
Come to the PNDC and take away a wealth of knowledge about how to live a more balanced, healthy lifestyle from these speakers and many others. And don’t forget to sign up for free offerings like Yoga and Pilates at Lululemon. For more information visit wsda.org/pndc today!
Other highlights of the 2015 PNDC: Ambassador program
Become an Ambassador and get your CDE, parking and meals free at the PNDC. Signing up for the Ambassador program is easy — visit wsda.org/volunteer to sign up. If you have questions you may contact Craig Mathews at 800-448-3368 or email craig@wsda.org. Sorry, but these opportunities are only available for WSDA Members and their staff.
Microsoft Campus Tour · Sponsored by Microsoft
Explore hands-on exhibits featuring some of the most exciting technologies that can only be found at the Microsoft Visitor Center on the Microsoft campus. Interact with holograms, have fun with the latest gaming technologies, and encounter the newest virtual reality experience not yet available to the general public. Show your PNDC badge for complimentary shuttle service to and from the Microsoft Visitor Center, leaving from the NE corner of the breezeway between Lincoln Square and the Westin every 15 minutes. For a complete shuttle schedule, visit wsda.org/special-events.
Video Star Program
Create and submit a promotional video for the 2015 Pacific Northwest Dental Conference. The winning video will be used for PNDC 2015 promotions. Make it bold. Make it compelling. Make it action-packed. Make it funny. Make it something you have never seen before. Make it the conference everyone must attend. It’s up to you, just make it awesome. The winner will receive a $200 gift card to the Purple Café & Wine Bar.
Video Guidelines: • Video must be 60 seconds or less • You may use any recording device • To qualify, each video must mention the following: Pacific Northwest Dental Conference or PNDC, Bellevue & the theme “Health & Wellbeing” If you have any questions, visit wsda.org/videostar or contact Craig Mathews at craig@wsda.org or by calling (206) 448-1914.
Save-A-Seat Program
Ten dollars reserves you a seat in many popular lectures. Because the Save-A-Seat program was so successful last year, we are offering it again for 2015! The following courses have a designated portion of the room set aside for reserved seating. This opportunity is optional and only available in advance. Beyond these reserved seating options, all lectures remain free on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on the program, visit http://www.wsda.org/pndc/save-your-seat/
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wsda news bracken killpack takes the helm
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BRACKEN KILLPACK
WSDA’s New Executive Director Takes the Helm
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When you first meet Bracken Killpack, WSDA’s new Executive Director, one of your first thoughts might be, “This guy is young.” Fresh faced and just 32, Killpack is probably younger than most newly-minted EDs by a decade, if not more. But many, like WSDA Board member Dr. Dennis Bradshaw, see Killpack’s age as a benefit, saying, “I think being younger helps him a lot — younger people have a more accepting perspective, and they’re willing to look at things from every angle, whereas the older we are, I think we get more tunnel-visioned and more apt to have a ‘my way or the highway’ perspective. In the changing political landscape we inhabit, that attitude can be dangerous. Having someone who is young and open to listening to any idea without prejudice or the influence of age actually makes him a better leader.” The selection committee agreed — they wanted someone younger who could understand issues from the perspective of the membership and could see it through. Killpack says, “The fundamental difference is there is a group of dentists who have been practicing for 30 years who aren’t as vested in the problems that dentists face today because they’re at the end of their careers. Younger dentists are thinking about how all of the issues play. Part of that is age, and part of that is their challenges are different than the dentists who came before them.” Also, while dentists well into their careers share a homogenous quality — many went to UW, are male and white — that is no longer the case. Killpack says, “UW provides only a third of the new dentists coming to the area, the people themselves have different ethnicities, genders, needs, and political viewpoints.” Additionally we’ll have the first graduating class of mostly women dentists soon– and that’s never happened before. Regardless of his age, part of what makes him so right for the post is his political provenance, and not just the “I went to college and I majored in Poli-Sci” kind of stuff — though he does have that — he got his tassel in ’05 from Willamette University. Killpack cultivated and grew interest in politics organically from an early age, drifted for a bit to dabble in theater and improv (that’s right, improv), and then found his way back to the political mother ship in college. And here’s the thing: this young guy has packed more life, more experience, and more joie de vivre into his 32 years than most people twice his age. That’s why he’s Executive Director of the WSDA. Oh, and did we mention that he’s smart, and nice, and funny? Everyone, it seems, says that about him.
Good fortune
From their first, fortuitous meeting, when she asked Bracken to help her hang a poster in her room freshman year, his wife Kate knew he was different. “He was kind, warm, and tall…which helped,” she says, easing into a laugh. Joking aside, Kate says she saw enormous potential in him from that time forward, noting
that when he ran for Hall Council he was articulate, funny and smart — and that when he spoke, people stopped talking and paid attention to him. “He had a quality people responded to, and he stood out because he came to the table with actual ideas and substance,” she recalls, “and I had the sense that he would likely be super successful someday.” Of course, wives are supposed to support their husbands, so her objectivity could be called into question, but she’s quite clear about the potential she saw in him then, and still sees in him. “It’s not surprising to me that he’s become an Executive Director at such an early age,” she says, “I’ve seen many examples of times when he has come in and been able to work with diverse groups of people and constituents. He truly understands what their motivations are, what’s driving them, and what they’re responding to in a way that most people can’t. People have a hard time separating their personal feelings to really get to the root of a situation, but he does it really well, and he’s calm. It’s an innate quality he has.” Dr. John Lo, who has known Bracken almost since he first came on board at the WSDA a decade ago, agrees, saying, “What impresses me the most is his organization, his ability to track different things and pull them up at a moment’s notice. He’s pragmatic and always looking for solutions. In private moments if he’s not happy with the way things are running he will let you know. But he’s able to take what he has and work with it. He’s very open minded – he’ll take solutions offered by others and evolve them, he’s not at all close minded – that’s why I enjoy working with him because policy is never black and white.”
An insulated life
So how did this kid, who by his own admission grew up sheltered and isolated in Logan, Utah, become this exceptional leader? He says his childhood was unremarkable, and notes, “I grew up in a small town in a beautiful area, and I thought that everyone had an amazing canyon and mountains in their back yard. It wasn’t until I went to college I discovered that it wasn’t that way. I didn’t have a sense of what the larger world was like until then.” Killpack was the oldest of three boys. His dad worked in quality assurance for a company that made medical devices — and later for Dentsply, where he works to this day. His mother is a hairdresser. In high school he developed his interest in politics, recalls enjoying presidential races on CNN, ran for student council, and says he wrote a lot of reports on presidents. He paid attention, and connected the dots between how laws prescribe what we can and cannot do, and saw that in order to create change you have to take
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Giving back
Willamette has a proud heritage and history of community service and of producing a great number of Peace Corps volunteers for a school its size. When Bracken and Kate were in school, Kate’s cousin was in The Gambia with the Peace Corps, and they followed his service with interest. Bracken had always wanted to go overseas, and the idea intrigued them both. They put a pin in the idea, and moved to Seattle after graduation. Soon after, Bracken
answered an ad in Craigslist and came to work for the WSDA. The couple applied for the Corps and waited for an opening. And while they both prepared for the experience with open minds and realistic expectations for the rigors of the corps, neither could have prepared themselves for the road ahead and the struggles they would face.
A rocky start in Panama
While the couple never assumed Panama would be a cake walk – neither had a command of the language, they would be living in poverty-stricken areas of the country where the need was greatest, and they would be likely performing manual labor to a degree greater than either had in their life — they didn’t anticipate just how dangerous their first six months would be. Kate elaborates, “I could talk all day about our experiences in Panama, but I think the main thing for us both individually and as a couple is that I believe it made us stronger people. Especially in our first six months – we had a tough transition and a lot of health issues, and we were not in an entirely safe living environment in the beginning that really tested us. We relied more upon each other in that period than I have ever relied on anyone in my life.” The two spent their first Christmas in the hospital, sick for three days. Kate wasn’t sure she could make it, and wanted to leave. “I remember him saying that he thought we would regret it if we gave up, and that he thought we should give it another try,” she says. “I am so glad we stayed. As hard as things were, he helped me to understand that it was too soon to give up on something we had been really excited to do, and that we could turn it around and find a way to make it a better situation for us, and therefore be able to help the people we were sent to work with.” Calling the period the hardest she’s had to endure in her life, especially physically, Kate was grateful that she had the support of her husband. “In that regard, it was amazing. Now, it just feels like anything life throws us we can handle. I feel like it changed our perspective on the importance of family and supporting each other no matter what. In terms of how Bracken changed through the experience, I think he gained a new level of depth and understanding of the world around us.” Once in their new community, the real work of being in the Peace Corps could start. “We were living with farmers in a cinderblock house,” Killpack says, “but we saw people with very little who were very happy. In a lot of ways we realized it was what our grandparents and their parent’s lives must have been like in small towns in America — that sense of community and of ethics. That’s an experience that you really can’t get in the states anymore.” The couple immersed themselves in their new community, working side-by-side in projects ranging from building mud structures to working closely with government agenices, which could be an exhaustive process. Kate says, “It was an amazing opportunity for Bracken to hone his leadership skills — he was working with government organizations that operated in a structure of blatant favoritism — we had to be very persistent, and always polite because we were representing the Peace Corps and the US. We had to put aside personal feelings and make small steps.” The
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the time to understand the issues and learn how to improve the process — early lessons that would stand the test of time. He attended Willamette on a theater scholarship, but dropped the major and the scholarship after the first semester. He loved theater – had started an improv group in high school, and worked to revive one while at Willamette, but found that theater was taking up too much of his time. As Kate explains it, “He was in college to do new things, have new experiences, and meet new people, and instead was in the theater rehearsing, building sets, and blocking staging every night.” In fact, it wasn’t until he dropped the major that he was around more and the friendship between he and Kate had the room to grow. Fate had intervened, and not only did Bracken have time to get to know Kate better, he had time to pursue his own political aspirations. In his senior year he ran for President of student body unopposed, but he ran his campaign very seriously. He and Kate made signs and put them up all over campus, they made flyers and he gave speeches, and when he had the chance to speak to the student body he was always well prepared with notes and talking points. There was never any sense that he knew he was going to win or felt that he didn’t need to try his hardest. Kate says, “I think that’s a testament to his work ethic and commitment. He’s always had the ability to work with disparate groups – in college he not only worked with the Board of Directors and college administrators, but he was able work with the Greek community, the theater geeks, the politics department, and others. He had respect from a lot of different groups.” How is he able to do this? Kate says, “He has a great calm demeanor and the ability to make people comfortable with humor. He’s passionate about the things he cares about and able to articulate a bigger picture and longer term vision. He can see the whole story — so many of us, myself included, get hung up on the details or emotion.” Bradshaw agrees, saying “He is really accepting of anybody, doesn’t take his position or knowledge and use it to create a hierarchy. I remember a few years back at the PNDC when Bracken helped us move boxes without a second thought. There was no task too menial, he really wanted to help out and learn about the PNDC because it was important to him. It was fun to see his willingness to learn.” Dr. Ashley Ulmer seconds that, saying, “Let’s not forget how intelligent he is. He’s really patient, but he also is able to focus in on what is really important, so he doesn’t waste time on things that don’t matter. He’s caring, takes time to really listen to what people are saying, and makes sure that they know they’re being heard. He’s very good at that.”
wsda news bracken killpack takes the helm
“So many associations are rudderless — they meet for the sake of meeting and talk about problems but never really do anything. This Association has put resources in place to actually move forward on issues. We’ve always been strong and effective in legislative advocacy, but I think that we do a lot of things well – we’re responsive, answer problems and put programs in place for our members that make a difference.”
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From top: Kate and Bracken Killpack dressed in traditional Panamanian clothing near the end of their Peace Corps service, wedding photograph from 2007, Bracken Killpack participating in a community work day preparing to construct a home from mud and straw, Kate and Bracken prepare to scuba drive of the Pacific Coast of Mexico.
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TACOMA, WA PROSTH – Well established practice collecting $450K+ in 2013. 7 ops, digital x-rays and a full denture lab. Building is also available!
NEW! ANCHORAGE, AK – Excellent practice collecting $1M+. Practice has a Prosthodontic emphasis, but the production mix is varied.
KETCHIKAN, AK – G/P collecting $600K. Well established office has 4 ops, updated about 5 years ago. 100% fee-for-service!
MAT-SU VALLEY, AK – Excellent G/P collecting almost $400K in 2013. Newer equipment, 3 ops, pano and digital x-rays. Seller relocating.
HOMER, AK – PRICE REDUCED!!! Wonderful, long established G/P collecting around $550K. Includes a pano, digital x-rays and laser!
OREGON – Several opportunities.
FAIRBANKS, AK – Associate wanted for busy endodontic practice!
KAILUA-KONA, HI – Fee for Service G/P collecting around $400K. Come live, work and play on the Big Island! Seller is motivated!
www.PracticeSales.com Aaron@PracticeSales.com RandyH@PracticeSales.com 3 0 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org
Back in Seattle
For Killpack, there was never really a question of returning to WSDA when his service with the Peace Corps was through — he’d always enjoyed his work with the Association and particularly, working with dentists. “His grandfather was a dentist, his dad is in the industry, so there’s a thread there,” says Kate. More than just the dental connection, though, Killpack has always seen the WSDA as something special and different than many others like it, “So many associations are rudderless — they meet for the sake of meeting and talk about problems but never really do anything. This Association has put resources in place to actually move forward on issues. We’ve always been strong and effective in legislative advocacy, but I think that we do a lot of things well – we’re responsive, answer problems, and put programs in place for our members that make a difference.” Upon his return he immersed himself in politics and all things related to the Association, taking a keen interest in how all the puzzle pieces fit together. As Bradshaw noted, “He is willing to help at every level – it has always impressed me. He wants to learn every facet of it down to minute detail, has called me with questions about PNDC — simply so that he could have a better understanding of how the conference works. It makes him a more rounded leader — most leaders wouldn’t care for that level of minutiae, and that’s something he did long before he was in consideration of the ED position.” Applying for the Executive Director was a natural evolution for Killpack. It aligns beautifully with his strengths — he’s bright,
skillful at bringing heterogeneous stakeholders together, finding commonality, and working through differences. He’s a powerful, articulate communicator who happens to love that role, and he’s friendly, popular and social. He even claims to like attending DQAC meetings, which is hard to believe. And while he loves the political process and will still be involved to a certain degree, he’ll be leaving that largely to Anne Burkland now that he’s at the helm of the Association. “This year I will have a lot to do with it because of all the transition happening in the organization. And, of course, I’ll be involved in future legislative sessions because charting our political course as an association is an important part of the Executive Director’s job, but I won’t be handling the day-to-day tactical discussions, which I will miss.”
Challenges ahead
When reviewing the kinds of challenges he faces in the coming years, insurance reimbursements are in the forefront, and Killpack is intent on working to make the dental insurance market more competitive by providing more options. “As long as everything isn’t the same type of PPO product,” he says, “ I think that would be a benefit.” The immediate need is in the legislature, however. “That’s always just about being in the trenches and delivering on the issues that are important at the time,” says Killpack. Beyond that, he says WDIA’s expansion this coming year is exciting and will be important for the insurance division and the Association as a whole. He wants to focus on making educated assessments — analyzing data and formulating decisions based on specific populations rather than guesswork, and utilizing new databases like Aptify and software will bring that to fruition. “Once we transition to Aptify as an organization, we’ll have access to organized dentistry’s database, so the resources will be in place for more targeted analytics. I will credit ADA with getting much more sophisticated in the last couple of years – they’re in a position that they could be very helpful to us in other areas, too. In the future we might be able to target specific demographics in specific zip codes for PNDC marketing, for instance — I can imagine a lot of uses for the tech and the information.” And, speaking of the PNDC, Killpack knows that the years ahead are crucial for the conference. “I don’t think we’ll see any major changes through 2016, but we will have big decisions to make. We’re going to be able to extract qualitative and quantitative data about what people want in a conference, and that’s going to shape how we proceed. We’re trying to figure out how we can attract more assistants and hygienists to the conference because that’s where we’ve seen the greatest decline. Dentist numbers seem to be holding steady. But it ties into the question we have: 20 years from now, should the PNDC still be one big event or will it be something completely different? I’m not going to enter into these discussions with preconceived notions — I want us to collect data and information that will help us make the best decisions going forward. I’m much more concerned about process than outcome.” Killpack knows that it’s not just about what we as an Association want or what our members want — we’re just one piece in the grand equation, and we have to take the global perspective into account, “The bigger part of all of that is not so much what we want, but how the world around us is changing,” he says, “We’re seeing all kinds of reforms in health care —in general medicine more than dentistry, but a lot of crucial shifts are happening. Consumers like the state and large employers are thinking about making health care better and cheaper, and that’s putting a lot of interesting pressures on medicine. So, while you may have the ability to shape a course by degrees, you ultimately have to play in the environment that exists. The members ultimately set the broad course of where they want to go and it’s up to us to maneuver within those parameters based on how things develop.”
th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 31
wsda news bracken killpack takes the helm
couple’s main project was helping a group of cattle ranchers in their community get a grant from the United Nations for a pasture improvement program. They knew nothing about pastures and cattle, but the people of the community did, and they were able to help them develop the idea into a proposal for funding, put together timelines and budgets, and construct logic models. That was the skill set they brought to the table — they worked with the stakeholders in the community and helped them figure out how to engage in that process. It was a great project for Kate and Bracken, who had never worked together professionally, because it gave them the opportunity to use their complementary skills to problem solve. Kate says, “I am very detail oriented and thorough, Bracken is very strategic and thinks on a bigger scale. He was great at seeing the vision when it was harder for me — and you have to remember that this was all in Spanish, and we had to know words for cattle that we didn’t even know in English.” Killpack utilized his skills at connecting the right people, while Kate would coordinate logistics such as meetings and transportation and other needs prior to the meetings. “It was a partnership that worked very well for us in terms of complementing one another,” says Kate, “That’s still true today here back home” When they left Panama they were unsure if their grant would be funded, but it was, and last year they returned to Panama to see the fruits of their labor. The Peace Corps experience changed them both dramatically. Killpack returned with an acute understanding of the privilege and access he’s afforded simply by virtue of his race and gender that he didn’t fully appreciate or understand prior to their time in Panama. He gained a much broader perspective on life, the struggles people in other cultures face, and that happiness can, and does, transcend. “Panama, helped me realize what happiness is,” he explains, “it’s not an accumulation of things, it’s more of an emotional, internal state of being. I learned that from people who had hard lives, but who are very happy, really enjoy life, and wouldn’t want it any other way. They love their lives, their families, their religion, and that they get to be themselves. I’m not saying that all people living in poverty are happy, but we met many people in that environment who found happiness in their lives despite their poverty. That came into focus in the Peace Corps.”
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The Washington State Department of Health and the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) are currently reviewing several rule changes. If these changes are approved, they could be implemented before the end of the year. Interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit written testimony relating to the proposed rules prior to the formal rules hearing.
DQAC rulemaking activity: • DQAC withdrew its initial CR-101 proposal to amend WAC 246-817-360: Prescribing, dispensing or distributing drugs. The commission is altering the current rule by modifying the term “dental-related conditions” in the WAC to be consistent with the definition of the practice of dentistry in RCW 18.32.020. A new CR-101 reflecting this change has since been filed. • The CR-102 has been filed for WAC 246-817-230: Dentist retired status. The proposed rules add a new section to the Washington Administrative Code to create a retired active status dentist license. A rules hearing is expected this April to review public comments and determine whether to move forward with the proposal. • DQAC filed a statement of inquiry for WAC 246-817-450 and -460 in November. The Commission is proposing rule modifications to clarify that forcible and nonconsensual acts are within the definition of sexual misconduct by a dental provider. The proposal is still pending. • Rules have been proposed for temporary practice permits (WAC 246-817-187) issued to military spouses or state-registered domestic partners who hold an out-of-state credential as a dentist, EFDA, dental assistant, or dental anesthesia assistant. DQAC approved the proposed rules in October and a rules hearing will be held on March 6, 2015 at 8:00 am to review the proposal and comments from public stakeholders. • DQAC’s Dental Assistant Scope of Practice Committee met on Friday, February 20, 2015 at 10:00 am at the Department of Health offices in Tumwater, WA. This publication was sent to print before the meeting occurred, look for more information in an upcoming issue of the WSDA News. To submit written comments to DQAC regarding proposed rule changes, visit foretress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview on the Department of Health’s website. Should you have any additional questions regarding legal and regulatory issues, please contact WSDA’s Government Affairs Coordinator, Mike Walsh at michael@wsda.org or 800-448-3368.
DQAC Openings: DQAC has two openings for actively practicing dentists and one public member. The Commission is seeking people willing to study the issues and make decisions in the best interest of the public. If you would like to apply for one of these position, you can apply online at: https://fortress.wa.gov/es/governor/boardsapplication.
REGULATORY UPDATE
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regulator y news dqac
Regulatory Update
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Intentionally Different All of our technical managers are Certified Dental Technicians.
Cindy Turner, CDT (Ceramics) Ceramics Department Manager Nakanishi Dental Laboratory, Inc.
• The CDT certification is the only recognized standard for dental technicians and gives added assurance for fit and quality of all our restorations. • Three of our nine CDT’s are certified in Ceramics, leading the way in esthetics and custom shading. • Our clients can rest assured that we continually assess our standards, research, materials and technician qualifications.
Please visit our website for important ceramic preparation information:
www.nakanishidentallab.com/prep-guide 2959 Northup Way | P.O. Box 99590 | Bellevue, WA 98004 th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 35 425.822.2245 | 800.735.7231 | nakanishidentallab.com
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Follow up
Dr. L. Blaine Kennington (4th from left) With wife Carolyn and family
Dr L. Blaine Kennington Lower Columbia District Dental Society
It is a great opportunity to serve as President in the Lower Columbia component this year. It is continually amazing to me to see the dedication and service that members bring to the Society. Organized dentistry adds so much strength to the profession. It provides a forum for growth and mentoring, for exchange of ideas and information, and for growing friendships. It also makes it possible to have our voices heard in the profession as we consider issues and work to solve challenges. When I get a chance to set dentistry aside for a while, I like to do some fishing. I was raised in the Rockies on Rainbow and Cutthroat trout. Steelhead and salmon are a whole new experience for me. I also like to do some woodworking. Measuring in inches instead of tenths of millimeters is somehow… a vacation. You might want to try it – if you were to ruin a piece of wood, you could just start over with another one. It’s not like dentistry at all! But no fishing trip or woodworking project compares with time with children and grandchildren. My wife, Carolyn, and I thoroughly enjoy our five children, their spouses, and our three granddaughters. The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful experience.
we’re not competitors, but colleagues. I’m married to a dentist, Dr. Karen Yee-Lo, and the father of two great kids, Ali (15) and Johnny (12). Nowadays we seem to spend most of our spare time shuttling kids around to practices and games! Still, as much as we complain sometimes, there’s nothing like seeing your kids find a passion and go after it! What a great lesson for all of us! I’m so proud to be a member of the Pierce County Dental Society. I believe that we have the best group in the state! As Goldilocks said, we’re ‘not too big, not too small, but just right.’ We have a super group of people in the PCDS, and it’s a group that is diverse and ambitious, and represents the composition of the PCDS as a whole!
Dr. John Lo Pierce County Dental Society
It has been my honor to serve for years on the board, and as the editor of the PCDS newsletter. I’ve also been proud to volunteer with WSDA in the capacities of Committee on Government Affairs, DentPAC board, and ADA representative. I believe that membership in organized dentistry is one of the best benefits any dentist could have. Organized dentistry is our voice in legislative affairs, locally, in Olympia, and in Washington DC. We have a great profession, and our membership safeguards our livelihood and protects our patients. I came to organized dentistry through attending local meetings, and being encouraged to seek a position and find a place for myself in PCDS and WSDA. I can’t emphasize enough how open and supportive people have been along the way, and I’ve made so many great friends. We have to realize that we’re not alone, and that
Dr. John Lo and family
th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 37
member news component presidents, continued!
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3 8 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org
LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
As you build your financial portfolio both for your financial security now and in anticipation of enjoying a long retirement, you need to factor in the cost of care for when you need assistance in performing the activities of daily living. This care can take place in your home or as a resident in an assisted living facility or a nursing home. The average length of stay at a nursing home is 2.4 years, which would cost you over $200,000. You can designate money in your portfolio to cover the costs or you can purchase Long Term Care Insurance.
70% of people over the age of 65 will need Long Term Care services at some point. Long Term Care Insurance is similar to Disability or Life Insurance in that you are paying a monthly premium to have a pool of money available to you when you need it. Unfortunately, “Long Term Care” is not an accurate description of the benefits provided on a Long Term Care Insurance policy: “Family Freedom Coverage” may be a bit more accurate. This type of insurance frees you from the substantial financial burden of paying for care while it frees your family from the burden of caring for you at the detriment of their time, finances and physical and emotional well being. In 2014, the average annual cost of a nursing home in Washington was $102,000; an assisted living facility was $51,000 and in-home care with a health aide was $52,500. Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency strongly believes in the need for Long Term Care Insurance. Along with Disability and Life Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance will protect your family and you from the large financial burden that an accident or illness may cause. Purchasing coverage will relieve your family of having to center their lives around your personal care while giving you the freedom to choose where you would like your care to take place.
41% of people receiving long term care are between the ages of 18 and 64. Since the need for assistance, not age, is the trigger for receiving long term care benefits, this insurance will cover you should the unexpected happen at any age. For example, if at age 47 an illness or accident leaves you needing care, you would be eligible to receive benefits. This would allow your spouse to continue working or caring for your children while a professional caregiver comes to your home to help you with your daily needs such as bathing, dressing or getting in and out of bed. Having Long Term Care Insurance will help you meet the cost of your spouse’s and your care should you need assistance with daily living at any age. It gives you the flexibility to choose when and where you receive care and to provide emotional and financial support for your family. WDIA encourages dentists to consider a Long Term Care Insurance policy as additional insurance protection for your financial security. To learn more about Long Term Care Insurance and to receive quotes, please contact WDIA at 206-441-6824 or 1-800-282-9342 or at info@wdiains.com.
th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 39
Matthew French Director of Insurance Services WDIA
Time for your Annual Insurance Review Washington Dentists’
Insurance Agency encourages you to review your insurance annually to ensure that your coverage matches your current insurance needs. Please contact WDIA at 1-800-2829342 or info@wdiains.com for a free annual insurance review.
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wohf news chef lena video debuts
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wohf news chef lena video debuts
In one of two new videos produced expressly for the Washington Oral Health Foundation, Chef Lena (a young, very personable actress named Lauren Alberico) talks about cooking for herself, making healthy snacks, the dangers of bacteria and sugar, and loads of other topics — in a spot-on delivery to the demographic. The nearly 5-minute video is punctuated with clever animated drawings and clear, concise explanations about ways to combat caries and dental disease. It’s a home run for its target market of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. “The video will be used in school presentations to reach a group of children that we haven’t had resources for in the past,” said Launa Lea, WOHF’s Oral Health Education Programs Coordinator. Lea co-wrote the video as part of the overhaul of the Foundation’s health education presentations in the state. Soon, the video will be paired with collateral materials the kids can take home with them following school presentations to help extend the video’s reach into the home. The second video’s purpose is twofold: to educate the public about the programs the Foundation offers across the state, and to serve as an appeal for contributions of all kinds — from
volunteer time, financial contributions, to in-kind contributions. “We want to let the public and our members know that there are many ways for them to become involved,” said Ruth Abate, WOHF’s Director of Operations and Community Outreach. In the video, current volunteers in WOHF outreach and education programs tell their stories to let dentists and the general public know what the needs are in the community, how WOHF is helping to facilitate the dissemination of that information across the state, and how they can help in concrete ways to get the message out. Take a minute to view the new videos, we think you like them both! For information about volunteering or donating, please contact Ruth Abate at (206) 973-5229, or via email at ruth@wsda.org. Watch the Chef Lena video: http://washingtonstatedentalassociation.createsend1.com/t/j-l-dtjhmk-nxiukiuk-b/ Watch the education video: https://vimeo.com/121694782
READY FOR THEIR CLOSEUPS
TWO WOHF VIDEOS TARGET NEW AUDIENCES th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 41
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4 2 路 th e wsda ne w s 路 issue 4, march 路 2015 路 www.wsda.org
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ISDA 119th Annual Session Sun Valley, Idaho
Speakers Include: David Hornbrook, DDS, FAACD, FACE “Hot Topics in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry”
Sponsored by: Ivoclar Vivadent, Bisco, VH Technologies & Garrison Dental
Brian P LeSage, DDS, FAACD “Minimally Invasive Dentistry” Betsy Reynolds, RDH, MS “Diet Wars” & “Drug Store Addiction” Sponsored by: Delta Dental of Idaho
Charles R. Braga, DMD, MMSc “Laser-Mediated Regenerative Periodontal Solutions: LANAP and LAPIP as Treatment for The Ailing and Failing Dentition and Dental Implant” “Laser-Mediated Resective Therapy: Predictably Approaching Frenum to Fibroma and More” Mohammad R Razavi, DDS, MSD, FRCD(C) 21st Century Orthodontic Anchorage and a TAD more Sponsored by: The Idaho State Orthodontic Society
Earn up to 12 CE credits! Visit www.TheISDA.org for more information. ISDA is a Recognized Provider through the ADA CERP Program. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, but it does evaluate providers of continuing education in 14 aspects of CE program quality. Only providers that meet ADA CERP standards and procedures are authorized to use the ADA CERP logo and recognition statement.
4 4 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org
Participate in organized dentistry
Nomination for elective offices of the WSDA Dr. David Minahan, Immediate Past President of the WSDA and Chair, Task Force on Nominations, has put out a call for recommendations for elected positions within the Association. Submission deadline is June 26, 2015. The House of Delegates of the Washington State Dental Association is scheduled September 17-19, 2015, in Spokane. Elective position descriptions are available upon request. During the meeting, the House will fill the following elective offices (terms are for one year unless otherwise specified). · President-elect: One year and three-year term as ADA Delegate · Board of Directors: Four positions, three-year terms · Committee on Budget and Finance: One position, four-year term · Committee on Government Affairs: One position, three-year term · Delegates to the ADA House: Three positions, three-year terms beginning January 2016
Timelines
In accordance with a resolution passed by the 1994 House of Delegates, nominations for these vacancies should be submitted to the Association Office no later than 12 weeks before the first day of the House of Delegates, June 26, 2015 (this deadline ensures that your information will appear in the WSDA News). The Task Force on Nominations will meet soon to formulate recommendations for elective offices, so it is imperative that nominations be submitted in a timely fashion.
Forms and Photos: http://tinyurl.com/2105Noms Members interested in running for elective offices should complete and return the Biographical Questionnaire, Conflict of Interest Statement and Disclosure of Dental Affiliations Form to the Association Office. Feel free to make copies of the materials as needed.
The following forms should be submitted and emailed to brenda@wsda.org — get all forms here: http://tinyurl.com/2105Noms
• Completed biographical questionnaire for each prospective candidate. • A statement from the candidate of 250 words or less on his or her reasons for running for office, sent by email (included on the bio form). This will be used in the WSDA News and with materials distributed to delegates. Please note, submissions longer than 250 may be edited at our discretion. • A color, high resolution (300 dpi or greater) head-and-shoulders photograph of each candidate, suitable for publication in the WSDA News. • A conflict of interest statement signed by the candidate. • A disclosure of dental affiliations form. To be considered, each submission must contain all of these elements.
Background Information
Bylaws provisions for the available positions are also enclosed in the nomination packet, available here: http://tinyurl.com/2105Noms. The WSDA bylaws provide that “no person shall be elected to the office of President-elect or Secretary-Treasurer who has not been a member for the preceding five consecutive years.” The Task Force on Nominations cannot list any member for office unless the member has signified willingness to serve. Recommendations from component societies are of great assistance to the Task Force on Nominations in its deliberations and are greatly appreciated.
Terms of Office
All terms begin when the WSDA House adjourns on September 19, 2015, with the exception of the ADA Delegates whose terms begin on January 1, 2016.
Questions?
Please contact Amanda Tran at (800) 448-3368 or e-mail amanda@wsda.org.
th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 45
Speaker of the House Submission deadline April 3, 2015 Selection of Speaker of the House: 1. The Speaker shall be an Active, Life or Retired member in good standing. 2. The Speaker will be selected by the Board of Directors annually at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the beginning of the House of Delegates. 3. The Speaker shall not serve more than three (3) consecutive years. 4. The following individuals will not be eligible to serve as Speaker of the House: a. Voting delegate of the WSDA House of Delegates. b. Member of WSDA Board of Directors. c. Any member running for an officer’s position or a position on the Board of Directors of WSDA 5. In case the Speaker is unable to fulfill the duties, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement Speaker of the House.
Duties of Speaker of the House:
1. To conduct the second business session of the House of Delegates. The WSDA president shall preside over the first business session. 2. The Speaker of the House shall be a member of the Reference Committee on Rules and Order. 3. To perform such other duties as custom and parliamentary procedure require or as prescribed by the House of Delegates from time to time.
Submission
Please submit a letter of interest and CV to Amanda Tran at amanda@wsda.org.
hod news call for nominations
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
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MARKETPLACE
Each issue, the WSDA News will run up to 30 free classifieds for dental students and new graduates of dental schools who are seeking employment. To qualify, you must be a member of ASDA or the WSDA. Restrictions apply. Please contact Laura Rohlman at laura@wsda. org for more information.
GENERAL DENTIST – Seeking long term associate position in greater Seattle area. Compassionate, patient-focused and enjoy doing dentistry. 2 years experience in private practice. Please email shan0313@u.washington.edu for resume and CV. GENERAL DENTIST – Seeking long-term associate position in a family practice in the Greater Seattle area. UWSoD Graduate 2014. Currently finishing AEGD Residency in Seattle, WA. CV: http://tinyurl.com/racheldds. Email at racheldds05@gmail.com. 253-576-5565.
GENERAL DENTIST – Seeking private practice or public health position in greater Seattle area and other cities within WA. Comfortable with anterior/posterior RCTs and EXTs. Contact me at dwang@ student.roseman.edu or 908-922-1881.
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th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org · 47
membership membership marketplace
membership
parrish continued
parrish, continued from page 54
augment their sense of incompetence by making such systems user-unfriendly and unreliable. Ask your front office folks if this is not happening already. Promote a sense of insecurity among the medical staff. A comfortable physician is a confident physician, and a confident physician usually proves difficult to control. Place a significant percentage of compensation “at risk,” so that physicians begin to feel beholden to hospital administration for what they manage to eke out. Does this sound very familiar; ask the Concerned Dentists of Washington. Transform physicians from decision makers to decision implementers. Convince them that their professional judgment regarding particular patients no longer constitutes a reliable compass. Refer to such decisions as anecdotal, idiosyncratic, or simply insufficiently evidence based. Make them feel that their mission is not to balance benefits and risks against their knowledge of particular patients, but instead to apply broad practice guidelines to the care of all patients. Again, sound familiar? Is it your treatment plan or theirs? Increase physicians’ responsibility while decreasing their authority. For example, hold physicians responsible for patient satisfaction scores, (this is coming, I assure you. CIGNA has tried it already; it is here already with Yelp, Angie’s List, and others) but ensure that such scores are influenced by a variety of factors over which physicians
have little or no control, such as information technology, hospitality of staff members, and parking. The goal of such measures is to induce a state that psychologists refer to as “learned helplessness,” a growing sense among physicians that whatever they do, they cannot meaningfully influence healthcare, which is to say the operations of the hospital. Above all, introduce barriers between physicians and their patients. The more directly physicians and patients feel connected to one another, the greater the threat to the hospital’s control. When physicians think about the work they do, the first image that comes to mind should be the hospital, and when patients realize they need care, they should turn first to the hospital, not a particular physician. One effective technique is to ensure that patient-physician relationships are frequently disrupted, so that the hospital remains the one constant. And is this not exactly what the insurance companies do with their lists of providers—ask us, the company, first as to whom you should see. So there you have it; contemplate it; act on your contemplation; stay together; stay organized; stay vigilant. I thank Dr. Gunderman for making my job easier this month by providing most of the words. And I thank him for the warning. By the way, he also wrote an article entitled, “Why are Hospital CEO’s Paid So Well”—think about the correlations. Medicine has a very sad history of slowly giving up all autonomy. Perhaps we will do better.
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4 8 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
ASSOCIATE DENTIST NEEDED — Seattle. Experienced associate dentist needed for a busy, well established, fee-for-service practice in Seattle. Long term, highly capable staff. 4 days a week, M-TH. Great income opportunity. Please email CV campheathern@gmail.com.
ASSOCIATE — Associate wanted for busy, well established, South King County practice. Competitive salary based off of production. Two to four days per week. Please email cover letter and resume to jmcgonegle@hotmail.com.
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS — Seattle, VancouverPortland Metro, Central and Southern Oregon, As an industry leader, Gentle Dental provides a large network of resources, including an experienced practice management staff, cutting edge technology, and outstanding benefits to help our affiliated dentists and employees grow in their careers. Are you a Dentist just wanting to focus on building relationships with your patients and providing quality care? With Gentle Dental, you can count on us to manage the nitty gritty of your office so that you can focus on dentistry. You will also have plenty of dental professionals supporting you to confer and collaborate with as you continue to grow in your career. Gentle Dental has delivered high quality care with a personal touch for over 30 years. We have the resources you need to achieve true personal and career success. We aim to provide our network of affiliated doctors and staff with a competitive benefits package, which include: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K plan, CE credits, and career opportunities to advance with the company. We’ll handle the details, you focus on your patients, let’s practice together. Contact Tiffany Griffin, griffint@ interdent.com, (360) 449-5618.
PORTLAND, ORE. — Dentist opportunity. Do the clinical dentistry you want to do. We offer paths in which you can manage or open your own practice with profit sharing. Pdxdentist@yahoo.com. DENTIST NEEDED — On-call Dentist for 1 day and weekly assignments in the Greater Seattle area. Rate: $52.77 Please contact Hans Gomez at Dentist@Triplenettech.com or (206) 260-8998. ENDODONTIST POSITION — Large dental group looking for a PT endodontist to work six days a month in the Tacoma area. For more information or to apply please contact Tiffany Griffin at: GriffinT@InterDent.com. RENTON/DESMOINES F/P time position available for experienced dentist. Must be able to perform all phases of dentistry. Good salary. Please contact at 425-226-9770 or baljinderbuttar1@ gmail.com. PEDIATRIC DENTIST WANTED — Teeth R Us is looking for a pedodontist associate to open a Brand new surgical pediatric dental office located in Bothell. We are in the DMG dental/medical building. http://dmgdentaldesign.com/ Ideal candidate will be willing to grow with the office. Days are flexible as this office just finished construction. We are equipped with state of the art equipment. We seek high-caliber professionals possessing degrees or certificates from accredited pediatric dental programs/residency (as well as valid/current wa state license). If you are a good candidate please call to set up an interview. In addition please provide your CV via fax to (425) 489-4082 Attn: Kristen. Excellent compensation contract. TRI CITIES — Great opportunity in beautiful, sunny Tri-Cities (Eastern Washington). Established and very busy group practice looking for an energetic and motivated general dentist. We’ve got the patients, the chairs, and the best support staff possible ready to make your transition easy from the start. Great earnings potential especially if you are experienced and efficient. Contact us today if you’re ready for a new adventure! Please contact Jolene Babka at jbabka@applesmiles.com for further information. SEEKING ASSOCIATE/PARTNER DENTIST Various locations in Western Washington. We are a small group of private practices in Western Washington dedicated to providing dentistry at the highest level. We are seeking a long term associateship/partnership with someone who is passionate about providing excellent care and has the ability to relate to each and every patient. Please email resume and CV to adam@cramerdentistry. com.
DENTIST NEEDED — Great opportunity on the east side of the cascades. Established and very busy group practice looking for an energetic and motivated general dentist. We’ve got the patients, the chairs, and the best support staff possible ready to make your transition easy from the start. Great earnings potential if you are experienced and efficient. Contact us today if you’re ready for a new adventure! Please contact Jolene Babka at jbabka@applesmiles.com for further information. A REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE — When you work at Willamette Dental Group, the organization’s progressive approach frees you to do what matters to you — and your patients. What makes this multi-specialty group practice unique, and better, is a commitment to proactively facilitating the best possible health outcomes. Combined with a dedication to leveraging scientific data, skill, and the experience to make them happen, when you embrace the organization’s guiding philosophy, you free yourself to facilitate health outcomes— and open yourself up to a world of professional growth and success. Please visit www.willamettedental.com/careers or send your resume to nlachance@willamettedental.com. DENTISTS NEEDED — Dental Professionals is recruiting dentists for temporary and permanent positions throughout western Washington – Vancouver to Bellingham and the Olympic Peninsula. No fee to you and you pick the days and geographic locations that you are available to work. This is a great opportunity to earn supplemental income or find a permanent position. If interested please call Bob at (206) 767-4851. SPOKANE — Seeking full-time general dentist, able to work a varied shift schedule including weekends; must be able to do all aspects of general dentistry including molar endodontics and 3rd molar/surgical extractions; able to adapt to new systems and paradigms; great opportunity to grow and learn; 3-5 years experience preferable. Send resume to Dr. Bradley J. Harken; bradharken@hotmail.com. MANAGER, DENTAL CLINIC, OBCC — Seattle, Wash. Manage operations of the Dental Clinic at OBCC in a manner that meets continuous quality improvement, customer service, programmatic growth and financial requirements that support the mission of Seattle Children’s. Apply at: https://www3.apply2jobs.com/seattlechildrens/ProfExt/index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal. showJob&RID=9183&CurrentPage=1. EOE. PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATE — We have a part time position (may lead to full time and buy in) open for a pediatric dentist in our busy South King County dental office. Please contact skcpedodds@gmail.com for further details.
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ASSOCIATE POSITION — Seeking associate for fast paced growing practice in Vancouver area. Position is going to be for four days a week. Two years experience is desirable. Please email resume to declinic@gmail.com. PART-TIME GP IN BELLEVUE — We are looking for an associate in Bellevue to work 2.5 days Wed-Fri. More days possible. We are a top office in our area. Beautiful modern office with state of the art technology. Fantastic patients and team. Fully digital. Must be highly skilled and experienced. Please email resume to bellevuedentists@ gmail.com. WASHINGTON – Seattle area orthodontic associate needed. Excellent opportunity for partnership buy-in. Seeking an Associate with an outgoing, friendly chairside patient rapport, excellent communication skills, and a positive attitude to provide the highest quality care in a fun, familyfriendly environment. Respond to: OrthodonticAssociateContact@gmail.com. DENTAL CONSULTANT (Hourly per week) — The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America is currently seeking an on-site dental consultant to review claims. Training provided for PPO and DHMO products. Minimum 5 years clinical experience. To apply visit http://tinyurl.com/nc9cec4. GENERAL DENTIST — Needed general dentist for our office in Kitsap County. We have an outstanding part time opportunity possible full time position in future. Long term position with excellent compensation. Must have experience with All RCTs, All surgical extractions. Please email resume to Dentalofc47@gmail.com. DENTIST: Seeking Associate Dentist with minimum three years experience, 1 day/week in modern NE Seattle general family practice. Please send resume, cover letter to seattlenedentist@gmail. com.
classifieds issue 4, march 2015
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
Civilian Dental Careers Advance your career while serving our military members and their families with the USA Civilian Dental Corps. World-class technology, top-of-the-line equipment and exceptional benefits are just a few reasons to consider this exciting opportunity.
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5 0 · th e wsda ne w s · issue 4, march · 2015 · www.wsda.org
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
OPPORTUNITY! Could This Be Yours? We are looking for an Associate Dentist in the beautiful and sunny Tri-Cities (Eastern Washington). Our award winning practice ranks in the top 1% nationally, where our associates enjoy one of the highest earning potentials you’ll find. The TriCities offers over 300 days of sunshine annually with award winning wineries at the confluence of 3 breath taking rivers. We pride ourselves on being one of the most technologically advanced offices in our area. We have a stunning office with enough chair space and patients to keep you busy. We are not your corporate dentistry. We offer 401k, medical and continuing education. Take a moment and look us and our area up online. You’ll be glad you did! We are Lifetime Dental Care the office of Dr. Michael Breier D.M.D. We look forward to hearing from you. Call (509) 628-1144 or email brande@lifetimedentalcaretricities.com, www.LifetimeDentalCareTriCities.com, www. VisitTri-Cities.com
FOR LEASE– Dental office in fast growing Eagle, Idaho (Boise area). 2,000 sq ft with $70/sq ft tenant improvements already pd for (equip not included). Lab, office, breakroom, plumbed for five ops. 208-908-5624; wkalina@hcollc.com
FOR SALE — Selling my dental practice of 23 years. Located in beautiful Grand Coulee Dam, the eastern side of Washington State. 500+ miles of lake shoreline, no traffic and some of the best fishing and hunting in the state. Live where other people play. Averaging $4-500,000/year on a 3 day work week. Four operatories with new digital xray, double monitor computers in each room and an intraoral camera. Office paperless. Seeing 1520 patients per day for general dentistry. Practice draws form approximately 10,000 including Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee, Electric City, Elmer City, Coulee City and surrounding wheat fields. Great place to own a boat and raise a family. Come take a look. Contact Dr. Jay Worden DDS, Class of 1990 U of W at (509) 633-3167 or (509) 631-1400.
ENDODONTIST and PERIODONTIST — Our South Sound multiple office endodontic practice is seeking both an Endodontic and Periodontic associate. Applicants must have great people skills and always put the needs and desires of the patient first. We provide an extremely high standard of care and wish to offer a wider array of dental services in an underserved market. This position is perfect for someone seeking a solid long term position with ownership opportunities. Please e-mail a cover letter and resume immediately for consideration to wash_3636@yahoo.com. ASSOCIATE WANTED-seeking FT or PT general dentist to join established family and cosmetic practice in Tacoma and Sumner. Days range from Monday through Saturday. Dentist should be skilled and personable and willing to be an integral part of the practice and community. It would be ideal to find a dentist who wants a long term opportunity and to call this practice home. Partnership buy in will be considered. Please e-mail resume and inquires to: docvan99@aol.com. DENTIST OPPORTUNITY IN WESTERN WASH. — Seeking experienced dentist for busy, well established, successful, fee for service, group dental practice. Full-time position available. Excellent immediate income opportunity ($180,000 to $375,000 + per year) depending on productive ability and hours worked. Secure, long-term position. You can concentrate on optimum patient treatment without practice management duties. Modern well-equipped office with excellent staff, and lab services provided. If you are bright, energetic with a desire to be productive, very personable, and people oriented, and have great general and specialty clinical skills, Fax resume to Dr. Hanssen at (425) 484-2110. OPPORTUNITY WANTED EXPERIENCED GENERAL DENTIST — Dentist with 11 years of experience seeking a position in greater Seattle/Bellevue. Proficient with implant placement/restoration, molar endo, surgical extractions, and prosthodontics. I love developing rapport/trust with patients and helping them achieve beautiful, healthy smiles! Email: tinasubherwaldds@gmail.com.
FOR SALE — Dental building for sale in downtown Bellevue. 1,750 sq ft, five ops, 12 parking space. Listed for 1.399 mil but seller financing available up to half at 4 percent. Call (206) 779 5742. BUILDING FOR SALE — Tacoma 2200 sq. ft. built in 2008. No down payment. Rent for $2988/ month for 30 years and you will own it. Email: hughbc@gmail.com . Call (206) 280-4582. FOR SALE — West Seattle. Newly upgraded dental practice in West Seattle for sale. $725,500.00. Five+ ops with the latest in imaging upgrades, new computers, software and hand pieces. One of the last fee-for-service practices left. Seller will pay for new floor covering throughout, leave the security deposit for the new buyer on the lease assessment and help with the transition. Call today for a tour. Annie Miller, (206)-715-1444. FOR SALE — Vancouver , Wash. Modern private dental office, 5 op. 2500 sf. Fully equipped, Built in Cabinets, X-ray, Waiting room furniture.Doctor’s room with private restroom, Consultation room, Kids playroom. This office is completely set up for immediate start up. Email: smiledoc02@ gmail.com. FOR LEASE —Vancouver, Wash. Next to Vancouver Mall. Brand new remodel 2,000 sq. ft., just move in equipment. Built-in cabinets, Pano room, private office. Very nice! neilgray@comcast.net. FEATURED PRACTICE OPPORTUNITY — Prosthodontic Practice in South Sound. Immaculate, well established and respected practice specializing in dentures; crown & bridge; implants and veneers. Also featuring custom restorations. The facility features four equipped/fully computerized operatories with potential for one or two additional. This beautiful office is approximately 2,300 square feet with an additional 300 square feet in conference room. Excellent parking. Office features digital radiography, digital pan, intra oral cams, lasers and electric handpieces. Exceptional geographic location. No contracted insurance. For more details and information please contact: Jennifer Paine at 425.216.1612 or Jennifer@cpa4dds. com. FOR SALE — Tacoma dental clinic collecting 850k per year. Four ops, digital xrays and charting. Room to expand and grow, working on four days per week. Lynnwood dental clinic collecting over 1.1 million per year. Five ops, digital charting and xray system and pano. Room to grow clinic as well, great location with high visabiltiy. Please email: thuandp@hotmail.com. FOR LEASE — Bellevue – Factoria Dental Clinic. Existing 1,452 SF dental layout with four (4) operatories. Generous parking, mostly covered. Close proximity to Factoria Mall and Newport High School. Email: Kevin.Bray@Colliers.com or call (425) 453-3116.
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INNOVATIVE OFFICE SPACE OPPORTUNITUY — Very Modern and Well-equipped Solo General Dental Office has two operatories available for creative lease. Adec chairs and delivery systems, electric handpieces, digital x-rays, full computerization--one of the nicest offices anywhere. Extremely convenient ground floor office near downtown, with parking. Front office staff provided, with possibility of chairside assistant as well. This would be an ideal situation for a specialist, or a new dentist, or a “phasing out” dentist looking to cut overhead and the associated headaches. Contact Shawne Neveu-Higdon at shawne@advanceddentalartsnw.com or (503) 235-0555, ext 206. SPACE SHARING OPPORTUNITY DOWNTOWN SEATTLE – Looking for a dentist with an existing practice to share our office space. This is not an Associate position. Restorative practice with In-House C&B, and denture processing lab, and technician. Modern downtown Seattle 5 chair office. Lease ending soon? Decrease your overhead now! Opportunity to buy into the facility for the right person. drnicolini@hotmail.com. FOR LEASE — Burien, Wash. Brand new, 2,300 ft, six op dental office with pano room, lab, break room, two restrooms and private offices. Completely wired and plumbed for state of the art digital dental office. $14/ft NNN or $2,700/mo. Must see to believe and appreciate. Great opportunity for start up or relocation. Contact (206) 909-3863. G/P PRACTICE FOR SALE IN LINCOLN COUNTY — Owner is selling two separate practices both within 35 miles of Spokane, Wash. Annual collections over $430,000. Four operatories. Well trained staff will assist with the transition and will stay with the practice after the transition. Excellent collection policy in place. Excellent cash flow for a practice of this size. Please contact Buck Reasor, DMD. Cell: 503-680-4366, email:info@ reasorprofessionaldental.com, www.reasorprofessionaldental.com FOR SALE — G/P practice for sale in downtown Seattle. Well established, mature practice for sale collecting over $550,000 annually. Excellent modified start-up practice. Seven fully equipped operatories. Current staff will stay with the practice. Excellent collection policy in place. Practice has been located in downtown Seattle for over 50 years. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD Reasor Professional Dental Services at info@reasorprofessionaldental services.com, (503) 680-4366.
classifieds issue 4, march 2015
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
in memoriam drs. gale, reimche-vu
In memoriam Dr. Dennis A. Gale
On October 7th family and friends of Dennis Gale lost a special man. Dennis touched so many with his spirit and passion for life. He was an enthusiastic entertainer, always singing, storytelling, or sharing his wisdom. Dennis was born in Tacoma, Washington on July 7, 1948. He graduated from Charles Wright Academy and the UW School of Dentistry. He practiced in Bellingham for 33 years then retired in 2008 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Dennis leaves behind his wife Cheri, 3 children, 5 grandchildren, his brother Todd, a large group of extended family, and countless dear friends.
Dr. Brenda Reimche-Vu
Brenda Diane Reimche-Vu, (Dr. Brenda), 44, was born Aug. 23, 1970, in Walla Walla, Washington. She passed away October 2, 2014 in Tijuana, Mexico. Brenda graduated from Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry in 1996. She and her husband, David (Dr. David) came to Goldendale in August of 1997 after having purchased Dr. Howard Kubler’s Dental Practice. Brenda did most of the practice’s extractions and denture work. She was well loved by her patients. She enjoyed pitting her gardening skills against the deer and ground squirrels, though the squirrels and deer usually won in the end. She was dedicated to her family and spent most of her time with her children, involved in one project or another. Brenda is survived by: Husband, David Reimche-Vu, and children: Nathan, Micah, Hannah, Havilah, Sarah, Adam, Isaiah and Elijah, of Goldendale, Washington; maternal grandmother, Opal Mills, of White Salmon; parents George and Janet Fullerton, of Moyie Springs, Idaho; siblings Bryan Fullerton, Alex Fullerton, Alinia Fullerton, of Vancouver, Washington; Nicole Fullerton-Doak, of Goldendale, Washington, and numerous nieces and nephews.
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OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
SERVICES
PROSTHODONTIC PRACTICE FOR SALE — Greater Seattle area. Outstanding practice with high gross & high net. Building is in a great location with plenty of parking and visibility. Building could eventually be for sale to prospective buyer. Experienced staff will stay on with the practice. Owner would stay on 1-2 days per week for up to a year to ensure a smooth and complete transition. Contact: Buck Reasor, DMD, Reasor Professional Dental Services, (503) 680-4366, info@reasorprofessionaldental.com
JUST AVAILABLE — Just available. 1200 square foot fully equipped 4 operatory dental space. Cerec , Panoral, 4 chairs, lights, nitrous, air and vacuum all available and in place. Please call Diana at Medical Centers Management (253) 508-1293
MOBILE IV SEDATION — Have your patients treated in your office w ith safe and proven techniques. Set your practice apart from others. Attract new patients. Increase quality referrals. Neil E. Bergstrom, DDS (360) 825-6596.
OFFICE SPACE TO SHARE — Excellent opportunity for specialist who wants to work one or two days a week or a start-up practice for any practitioner. Front office support. Contact Breezy at (425) 481-1038 or email office@gentletouchdental.com.
FOR RENT OR SALE — Dental building available for rent or for sale in Marysville, Wash. to restart dental practice. This great opportunity is situated in an ideal midsize and growing cosmopolitan town in beautiful Pacific Northwest. Last time patients were seen at this location: end of June 2014. Right candidate needed to re-start and take ownership of dental practice established since 1984. Start-up inventory, the domain name listed below and community good will is available to support the right doctor for this location. For more information call (208)6995311 or go to: www.marysvilledentalclinic.com. Email: olaruproperties@gmail.com.
VANCOUVER EXTRACTION LECTURE — Learn extraction techniques like how to use a 301 elevator, crane pick, how to section teeth with a hand piece and much more. Date: August 7, 2015, Website: w w w.weteachextractions.com, Email: dandds@dankaylordental.com.
FOR LEASE — Available for immediate occupancy. A fully plumbed dental office. 1,350 sq ft, three operatories, air, water, vacuum, nitrous oxide and oxygen, private office, lab, staff lounge, separate staff entrance. This office has exceptional exposure to the Southcenter Mall traffic. Call Diana at Medical Centers Management (253) 508-1293.
FOR LEASE — Professional office space available for lease in class A building in North Seattle Area. Approximately 2,500 sq ft available immediately. If interested send email to ballingercommons@ comcast.net for details. CHELAN LIFESTYLE — This is a well-established solo practice located in the beautiful community of Manson, Wash., literally on Lake Chelan. The office is centrally located in an established garden across the street from Manson Bay Park and marina. Three fully equipped operatories well appointed with views of Lake Chelan. An ideal opportunity for a younger dentist who wants a growing practice without the hassle of a buildout Rural practice affords opportunities in all aspects of dentistry. Routine procedures include oral surgery, placement of implants, periodontal treatment, endodontic treatment, and fixed and removable prosthetics. Local Highland Dental Lab within minutes from the office. Lake Chelan lifestyle is a recreational paradise — boating, hiking, fishing, and skiing are all within minutes of the practice. Annual production 800,000 on three day work week with six weeks vacation. Contact Delaney Transitions: (425) 890-8271 or email piega@ delaneytransitions.com. On the web at www.delaneytransitions.com. NEXT/ANNIE MILLER & ASSOCIATES — Providing consulting services to the dental community for the past 35 years. New practice start-ups, practice transitions, sales and valuations. Dental space planning and architecture; real estate leasing and acquisitions, employment benefits; staffing resources and training; financing. Call today for your free consultation…we can’t mint money for you, but we can sure save what you have now! Annie Miller (206) 715-1444. Email: annie@nextnw.com. FOR LEASE — Great location, over 2000 square feet, five operating suites in beautiful Olympia, conveniently located on Martin Way close to St. Peter Hospital. Over 30 years of quality dental care provided here. Contact Don at uncledgh@aol.com.
FOR LEASE — New construction. Professional Building in Lynnwood by Alderwood Mall. 2,0006,000 sq ft available. Ample parking. Private entry. High visibility and high traffic count. Each unit has up to 40 sq ft of signage on main-street. Ideal for specialist and/or group practice. Call Dr. Nguyen at 206-250-3282 or email datman1@mac.com. FOR LEASE — 300 Pelly Ave N. Dental suite available in Renton, walking distance to the prestigious Landing, as well as Boeing. 1,361 sq. ft. on 2nd floor, with only two other dentists in building. Three operatories, open configuration, plumbed with electrical, air, vacuum, and plumbing. Corner lot with heavy traffic flow. Rate is $23.26/SF/Y NNN, Triple Net is $5.60 (incl utilities). Contact Dennis Schmuland (425) 417-1206. DENTAL OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE — 963 – 3,000 square feet of fully built out dental space available for lease at various locations around the Puget Sound. Kirkland, Duvall, Redmond, Renton, Auburn, Federal Way |Contact Claudia Moore at AGM Commercial Real Estate|425.503.9375|Claudia@AGMrealestate. com. EQUIPMENT FOR SALE FOR SALE — Tero digital impression system. This system is like new has the most up to date software. It is able to capture perfect impressions of all crown, bridge, implant procedures as well as invisalign retainers. This unit is ideal for those who want to start taking digital impressions, implant specialists who wish to provide their referrals with digital impressions, or orthodontists. $8,000 obo. (retail is over $22K). Please email mark@drgermack.com. FOR SALE — Hydrim -1 Scican L110W DO1 for sale. Still in good condition $500 or best offer. Was working when it was uninstalled in our practice in 2012. Complete maintenance records available. Contact Smilessouthcenter@Comcast.net. USED/REFURBISHED EQUIPMENT — Adec, Gendex, Pelton Crane, Dentalez, Porter, Air Tech, Midwest, Midmark and etc. Lab equipment. Parts are also available for almost all equipment. Call Dental Warehouse at 800-488-2446 or http:// cascade-dental.net.
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MODERATE SEDATION COURSE — Instructor: Steven Ganzberg, DMD, M.S. Dates: April 15-19 & May 13-16, 2015 at Wendel Family Dental Centre Vancouver, Wash. Cost: $12,000. A deposit of $5,000 is due at time of registration. Course is 80+ hours with 20 patient cases. Contact: Lori, (360) 944-3813 or loris@wendeldental. com. Space is limited. AGD#218643. MOBILE ANESTHESIA AND SEDATION - Have a residency trained Dentist /Anesthesiologist t r avel to your of f ice. Ped i at r ic, med ic a l ly compromised, or adult patients. All equipment provided. Contact Dr. Westerhaus at office@ emeraldcityda.com or (253)470-8161. LOCUM TENENS — Experienced, personable, professional General Dentist prov iding oncall ser vice to practices located in the Greater Seattle A rea. Plea se c all Dr. Molly Melbye (direct) (206) 905-4364 to schedule and visit www.melbyelocum.com for more information. OFFICE CONSTRUCTION CONSTANTINE BUILDERS INC. (CBI) — WSDA endorses CBI as their preferred builder of Dental facilities with over 25 years of experience from ground up buildings, renovations, remodels, and interior tenant improvement projects. All projects are completed on time and within budget. CBI provides the highest level of quality service with integrity that exceeds our client’s expectation. Please see our display ad on page two and website at www.constantinebuilders.com for additional information and how you can become another satisfied client. Telephone (206) 957-4400, O. George Constantine. ALLIED CLINIC BUILDERS — Premier healthcare contractors in the PNW for over 35 years. On time, on budget and providing quality that you can afford. Call today for consultation George McBee - Allied clinicbuilders@comcast.net (425) 941-3088.
classifieds issue 4, march 2015
OFFICES FOR SALE OR LEASE
parrish or perish
Lessons from medicine
Dr. Jeffrey Parrish “If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.” — George Patton
“When reading this article, I suggest we substitute “insurance company” for “hospital”, “dentist” for “physician”, “dentistry” for “medicine”, and other obvious substitutions making it applicable to us.”
We would do well to learn from our medical colleagues on how NOT to allow our profession to be taken over by outsiders: government, insurance, non-profits, etc. In that vein I highlight some key passages from “The Health Care Blog” from September 18, 2014. All bold passages are my emphasis in the original article. All in italics are my comments. The blog post is quite scary but worthy of our consideration. The author, Richard Gunderman, MD, PhD, is a prolific contributing writer for The Atlantic. He is a professor of radiology, pediatrics, medical education, philosophy, liberal arts, and philanthropy, and vice-chair of the Radiology Department, at Indiana University. He inadvertently came upon a report developed by a healthcare consulting company advising hospitals on how to gain control over their expenses. It’s title: “How to Discourage a Doctor.” I will cut and paste many of the comments Dr. Gunderman found in the report. When reading this article, I suggest we substitute “insurance company” for “hospital”, “dentist” for “physician”, “dentistry” for “medicine”, and other obvious substitutions making it applicable to us. Here we go with the cut/paste: The stresses on today’s hospital executive are enormous. And for the foreseeable future, the most important driver of costs in virtually every hospital will be its medical staff. Though physician compensation accounts for only about 8% of healthcare spending, decisions that physicians strongly influence or make directly – such as what medication to prescribe, whether to perform surgery… have been estimated to account for as much as 80% of the nation’s healthcare budget. I’d love to know these numbers for dentistry. To maintain a favorable balance sheet, hospital executives need to gain control of their physicians. Most hospitals have already taken an important step in this direction by employing a growing proportion of their medical staff. What are the ramifications if the Legislature allows the corporate ownership of dental practices? Transforming previously independent physicians into employees has increased hospital influence over their decision making, an effect that has been successfully augmented in many centers by tying physician compensation directly to the execution of hospital strategic initiatives. Is not your income directly tied to the insurance reimbursement rates? But physicians have invested many years in learning their craft, they hold their professional autonomy in high esteem, and they take seriously the considerable respect and trust with which many patients still regard them. To truly seize the reins of medicine, it is necessary to do more, to get into the heads and hearts of physicians. And the way to do this is to show physicians that they are not nearly so important as they think they are. Physicians have long seen the patient-physician relationship as the very center of the healthcare solar system. As we go forward, they must be made to feel that this relationship is not the sun around which everything else orbits, but rather one of the dimmer peripheral planets… How can this goal be achieved? A complete list of proven tactics and strategies is available to our clients, but some of the more notable include the following: Make healthcare incomprehensible to physicians. It is no easy task to baffle the most intelligent people in the organization, but it can be done. For example, make physicians increasingly dependent on complex systems outside their domain of expertise, such as information technology and coding and billing software. Ensure that such systems are very costly, so that solo practitioners and small groups, who naturally cannot afford them, must turn to the hospital. And
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the WSDA.
continued on page 48
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50 IS THE NEW 40: It’s also the ideal time to purchase Long Term Care insurance. Are you covered? Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency will make sure you are. You’re in your 40s, and healthier than you’ve ever been. So it may seem counter-intuitive to shop around for the Long Term Care coverage, but it’s actually the best time. At WDIA, we can guide you and help you make decisions for your future. Call Matt or Kerri today for a complimentary Long Term Care insurance assessment. They’ll help you navigate through the myriad choices, and connect you with the best products available. Call us today!
Life Disability Long Term Care Professional Liability Practice Loan Protection Health Savings Accounts Business Owner Coverage Group and Individual Medical Risk Management Consultation Medicare Supplements and MedAdvantage Employment Practice Liability
Matt French · Kerri Seims 206.441.6824 · 800.282.9342
CyberSecurity Protection ERISA Surety Bonds
www.wdiains.com
Washington Dentists’ Insurance Agency: LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE
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Sole broker for:
Washington State Dental Association 126 NW Canal Street Seattle, WA 98107
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PA ID SEATTLE, WA PERMIT NO. 8115
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
How much is good customer service worth? You may never really know how good your insurance company is until a claim is filed against you. At NORDIC, we’re invested in you and the business ofinsuring you and your practice. When you call with a question, you’ll speak directly with the person handling that aspect of your policy, not a random operator. In fact, you’ll always speak with a live person unless you call after hours. We think that’s important. Those big companies? Not so much. NORDIC prides itself in excellent customer service before, during, and after a claim is filed against our customers.
800-662-4075 · www.nordicins.com 206-343-7800 · 206-441-6824
sole broker for NORDIC
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