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President’s Message
Unionizing Dentistry—To Do or Not To Do! |
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A few days ago, an article appeared in a local newspaper about the foundation of a union group of dentists and physicians somewhere in the United States. This, I think, was an effort on their part to try to level the playing field between our profession and managed care. We as a profession are definitely at a disadvantage when it comes to discussing fees and negotiating contracts with insurance companies.
The following comment and opinion are solely those of your scribe. This is something that concerns many of us in organized dentistry. Will we (the profession) be better off if we unionize? Should we or should we not? I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of unions and their legal functions is zero to nil. When I hear the word “union,” I think of the coal miners’ and the auto workers’ unions which sometime make the front page in an uncomplimentary manner. On the other hand, I am sure that these unions do a lot of good for their members. However, when you mention unionizing within our profession, this causes some degree of trepidation for me. Our profession of dentistry is one that I dearly love and one that I will fight fiercely to preserve. Our profession has been one of the most respected professions in America for years. Outside forces and inside forces are very active in an effort to fragment our profession. I would not want dentistry to be fragmented like our sister profession of medicine. Sometimes I think that we are our own worst enemy. |
The big plus that I hear on the side of unionizing would be the ability of the profession to openly discuss fees in the legislative arena without being in violation of the Federal Trade Commission. This alone would afford the profession the opportunity to bargain with insurance carriers on our behalf. Managed care or “managed fees” is ever growing and we—the dental providers—are at the complete mercy of the insurance companies in setting reimbursement schedules.
If joining or forming a union would enable dentists to become an equal partner or have input into the fee setting process, then unionizing might be an asset to us. I do not know how some of the more intricate legal ramifications would affect this. If this were to become a reality, it would be through the process of legislation in our ADA House of Delegates. Having watched the House deliberate and function, I doubt this would happen overnight. As stated before, I love our profession and the code of ethics to which we all adhere. This should not be jeopardized! This is professionalism and must be maintained. We must control our destiny. The jury is still out! Forming a dental union could be a two-edged sword: It could be good for dentistry, but remember that a two-edged sword cuts both ways. |
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Dr. James E. Long
President |
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Hawaii Meeting
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8–10 October 1999
The 141st Annual Session of the American Dental Association will be held in our 50th state. And as many affiliated groups do, we follow and hold our annual Meeting then to enhance maximum attendance. This year, the Academy and Foundation Board Meetings will be held at the Sheraton Waikiki, 8–10 October 1999. All Section Chairmen are especially invited to attend the Academy Board Meetings, the President’s Reception, and the no-host Fellowship Dinner. All Academy reports for the Hawaii Meeting packet are to be received in the Central Office no later than 11 September in order to be included. Reports not filed by that date are the responsibility of the author to distribute to the meeting participants.
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Saturday, 9 October
Foundation Board Meeting 7:30–11:30 am, Oahu Room Awards Luncheon 11:30 am–2:00 pm, Honolulu Room Installation of Officers/Foundation Board Meeting 2:30–5:00 pm, Oahu Room Section Chairman’s Caucus 2:30–3:30 pm, Waialua Room President’s Reception 6:30–8:00 pm, Niihau Room Sunday, 10 October Foundation Board Meeting 8:00 am–noon, Hilo Room Academy Board Meeting 1:00–5:00 pm, Hilo Room Fellowship Dinner (no host) 6:30–10:30 pm, Kahuku Room |
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Gottschalk to receive
International Distinguished Service Award |
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At our annual Awards Luncheon on 9 October this year in Honolulu, Dr. Jack W. Gottschalk of Cincinnati will be presented with the PFA International Distinguished Service Award.
Dr. Gottschalk served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bragg following his graduation from Ohio State University for both his undergraduate and dental degrees. In 1957, he returned to Cincinnati to open a private practice; he became involved in organized dentistry and served as President of the Cincinnati Dental Society in 1969. For 29 years starting in 1965, he served as a Delegate to the Ohio Dental Association and chaired nine of the 12 committees he served on. In 1980, he was elected ODA President. He has served as an ADA Delegate for 19 years and has participated on many committees. Dr. Gottschalk’s love for his profession has seen him serve in other capacities such as Dental Consultant for Procter & Gamble, consultant for numerous insurance companies, Trustee Advisor for the American Fund for Dental Health, Chairman of the Delta Dental Plan of Ohio Insurance Company, President of the Board of the Dr. Harris Dental Museum Foundation in Ohio, and Chairman of the Callahan Memorial Award Commission to mention a few. But his community service is not limited to dentistry. Dr. Gottschalk has been active with the American Heart Association, the Cincinnati Mental Health Association, Health Careers Association, the Children’s Dental Care Foundation of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and an Advisor for children with speech impediments for the Cincinnati Public Schools.  Dr. Jack W. Gottschalk
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Dr. Gottschalk holds Fellowship honors in PFA, ICD, and ACD, and he is a member of the American Academy of Dental History. He has been recognized for his service with ODA’s Meritorious Service Award and Distinguished Service award; with the Cincinnati Dental Society’s Meritorious Service Award; with Ohio State University’s Distinguished Dental Alumni Award; with the Hayden Harris Award from the American Association of Dental History; with the Ohio PFA Section’s Distinguished Service Award; and with the Volunteer of the Year Award from the University of Maryland.
One of Dr. Gottschalk’s crowning achievements was his involvement in founding the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, Maryland. His enthusiasm and leadership have made the museum an international showpiece for our profession. As Chairman of the Board and National Campaign Chairman, he traveled from coast to coast—meeting with corporations, dental organizations, and individuals—to get the Museum from idea to paper to reality. To honor him for this unselfish dedication, the Museum has named an annual lecture for him. Through all this, he and his wife Nancy had the time to raise four children and now have seven grandchildren. For his outstanding service to our profession and to his national community, the Academy honors Dr. Jack Gottschalk with their International Distinguished Service Award. Dental Trade & Industry Award to 3M The PFA International Executive Board has selected 3M Company of Minnesota to receive their 1999 Dental Trade & Industry Award in Honolulu during our Awards Luncheon on 9 October. |
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Mexico City Meeting
26 October–2 November 1999 At the dawn of civilization, a native tribe left their homeland Aztlan (in the southwest of what later became the United States) and, over decades, migrated southeast through the Valley of Mexico. These traveling people called themselves Mexica. They were the last to leave their arid homeland, so it was no wonder that when they reached Lake Texcoco, the area was already inhabited. The only place available to them was Chapultepec on the western shores. The descendents of the mighty Toltecs bested them in a war and drove the Mexica to a wilderness called Tizapan. However, their war god had told them their real homeland would be where they saw an eagle holding a serpent perched on a mighty cactus. The Mexica spotted this sign on an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco. So they settled there and built the mighty city of Tenochtitlan. By the time the Mexica began their empire building, several layers of ancient civilizations had come and gone. Teotihuacán, with its huge pyramids to the sun and to the moon, having a population of some 200,000 people at one time, had a gridded city divided into quarter barrios, but was in ruin when the Mexica arrived. As the immigrants from mythical Aztlan grew in power, they became known as the Aztecs. They formed a Triple Alliance with the peoples of Texcoco and Tlacopan to conquer the other powerful cities around Lake Texcoco, forming the mightiest military empire in North America—from the Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico) to the Pacific, from the northern Yaki wastelands south into the Maya tropics. This mighty Aztec Empire, armed with only obsidian blades, faced the |
mighty Spanish Empire armed with cannon, metal weapons, and European diseases. The rest is history. And we are invited to be a part of that history this Fall.
Over Lake Texcoco, built on the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, spread over the ancient ruins of Teotihuacán, is one of the world’s largest cities—Mexico City. The Féderation Dentaire International will host their 87th World Dental Congress here. And you are invited to attend this blending of ancient American history with the epitome of modern organized dentistry in the world. Your PFA will be there. Come along with us. The FDI is composed of 115 national and 29 international dental associations. The Pierre Fauchard Academy, as an international dental honor service organization, is an affiliate member. We will participate in the General Assembly on Tuesday and Thursday, and be hosting our Elmer Best Ceremony at the French Embassy to honor Dr. Francisco Raul Miranda B. of Mexico with our Academy’s most prestigious international award on Wednesday, 27 October, at 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Amid ancient American history, the Aztec Empire capitol, surrounded by Toltec, Olmec, and Maya lands of legend, Spanish and Mexican flavors, in the oldest continuously inhabited city in the New World, the FDI hosting the world’s most modern dental congress in a beautiful recreational setting, and you can be there with us. When will you get another opportunity like this again? Are you doing something more important this Fall? |
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The 1999 Elmer Best Ceremony
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The Elmer S. Best Memorial Award is named for the founder of the Pierre Fauchard Academy. The Award was established by the Academy in 1962. This award is given to members of the dental profession outside the United States who have made distinguished contributions of international significance to dentistry. This is the most prestigious award given by PFA. This year the Board has selected Dr. Francisco Raul Miranda B. of Mexico to receive the Elmer Best Award on 27 October during the FDI Congress.
Dr. Miranda was born in 1911 and earned his dental degree from the Dental School of the National University of Mexico (1934). He is a retired oral surgeon after 50 years of active practice and 30 years as a Professor of maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Miranda is past President (1971–73) of the Mexico Section of ICD, Fellow and Master in ACD, Honorary Member in PFA, Honorary Member of the El Salvador Dental Association, and Honorary Member of the Texas Dental Association. |
Dr. Miranda helped found many professional organizations: in 1942, the Mexican Dental Association (he further served the group as President in 1965–67); the Mexican Association of Oral Surgery (which also elected him President); in 1970, the Mexico City Dental Society; and in 1958, the National Academy of Stomatology (with another stint as President).
Mexico Chairman Dr. Ernesto Acuña has confirmed holding the Best Ceremony in the French House of the Embassy of France through their Cultural, Scientific and Technical Councillor, Alain Fohr. The event will take place on Wednesday, 27 October 1999, at 7:00 pm, with the French Ambassador to Mexico as host. A cocktail buffet is planned after the ceremony. All PFA members are invited to attend to honor Dr. Francisco Miranda.
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Leadership Conference 2000
The Fourth Leadership Conference will be held in Chicago at the Swissôtel on 26 February 2000, during the annual Chicago Midwinter Meeting. This will also be the site for the PFA Interim Meeting. The Academy Board will meet on Friday, 25 February. The Leadership Conference will take place that Saturday, and the Academy Board will conclude their meeting on Sunday, 27 February. |
International Trustee Robert Friedman is the Chairman of the Leadership Conference. All members are invited to attend at no charge, but must make reservations with the Central Office to insure that participant materials are available and a seat reserved. Section Chairmen are expected to attend, since the basic purpose of this Conference is to hone their skills. The Conference is designed to fully inform the members about the Academy resources available to assist their advancement in leadership.
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Smokeless Tobacco
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Mentorship
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 Dr. Mark Barry giving presentation during the symposium on smokeless tobacco at Columbia’s Embassy Suites This Project was initiated by theInternational Board of PFA Officers at the Academy Board Meeting in Chicago in 1998. Trustee Gordan Stine was appointed Project Chairman. His South Carolina Section presented a continuing education program in Columbia, South Carolina, entitled, “Smokeless Tobacco: The Silent Addiction,” on 19 February 1999. The speaker was Dr. J. Mark Barry, Assistant Professor of Oral Medicine at the College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina. The PFA Foundation provided funds through its grants program to sponsor this program. Dr. Barry spoke to an audience of dentists and dental hygienists from private practice and dental education. This educational program provided information on all aspects of smokeless tobacco. Specific topics included epidemiological studies, marketing and industry strategies, anti–smokeless tobacco efforts, nicotine addiction, baseball’s influence, oral and systemic complications, prevention, intervention, and cessation. Participants received education, training, print literature, publications, and videotapes to enable them to go out and present short programs to schools, Little League baseball teams, civic organizations, or any other appropriate group. The dental health care providers in attendance were also taught how to incorporate smokeless tobacco education and cessation into their practices. Smokeless tobacco products range from finely ground snuff to loose-leaf chewing tobacco. Many smokeless tobacco samples were available to help the audience become familiar with the products. Additionally, smokeless tobacco substitutes were available for learning purposes. Dr. Barry and the participants discussed a variety of patient cases and experiences. Dr. Sam Hazel, a practicing dentist from Walterboro, contributed greatly to the discussion of smokeless tobacco and the peer pressure that our youth face each day to use these products. Dr. Charlie Millwood of Irmo was very pleased with the program. As a leader in the South Carolina Dental Association, Dr. Millwood indicated that education and dissemination of information on smokeless tobacco is crucial to help the youth of South Carolina to become free from smokeless tobacco use. Support from professional and service organizations like the Pierre Fauchard Academy are helping make these efforts a reality. |
 Chairwoman Christine Benoit addressing the Las Vegas Meeting Co-Chairpersons Michael Perpich and M.Christine Benoit presented their report at the Las Vegas Interim Meeting. In their subsequent follow-up report, Dr. Benoit noted that New York Section Chairman John Billen is planning to start a Mentorship Program at the dental schools in New York. The committee recommended that he appoint a Section Mentorship Chairman. Dr. Billen has been sent a Program packet. Mexico Chairman Ernesto Acuña will be expanding his country’s program to the dental schools at the University of Baijo and the University of the Yucatan. Michigan Section Chairwoman Virginia Merchant stresses their mentorship activities with dental students and recent graduates out of the University of Detroit Mercy. Efforts are underway to extend this program into the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.  Christine Benoit discussed the Mentorship program last April at the Rhode Island Dental Association office with new dentists Lisa Daft, New Dentist Chairman Michelle Smith, and Brad Turchette Belgium/Luxembourg Section Chairman Professor Jose Dahan is promoting their West-East Professional Exchange Program. The goal is to have young dentists in a mentor-protégé program that is continental and international in scope. Dr. Dahan has been meeting with Republic of Georgia Section Chairman Vladimer Margvelasvili and Bulgaria’s Dr. Laura Andreeva to initiate this project. Rhode Island Section Chairwoman Christine Benoit spoke about this PFA program with a group of young women dentists in Providence last November. Section Mentorship Chairman Richard Walsh discussed the program with another group of new dentists last April at the state dental headquarters. Many other mentorship programs in progress are sponsored by the ADA, state dental societies, other countries, and even by dental schools themselves. PFA has been laboring in this field for many years, as well developing its own pamphlet to promote it. Mentorship is one of the most difficult programs to initiate. You cannot simply throw money at it and get it to work. The enthusiasm of a handful of sponsors will not make it work. It takes many one-on-one relationships, dentist-to-student, to achieve success. That is why mentorship programs, when initiated, work so well. |
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Foundation News
From the Desk of the Executive Director |
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Executive Director Shig Ryan Kishi reports that the following students have sent thank-you letters to the Foundation for the dental school scholarship awards: Tisha Lanete Ross, Meharry Medical College; Brenda Schweitzer (1997), University of Illinois; David Olsen, University of North Carolina; William Baldwin, Ohio State University; Maura Conniff, New Jersey Dental School; Monica Mattson, Case Western Reserve University; Debora Ebroon, Northwestern University; Michael Condon, Creighton University; Leigh Carter Kuyrkendall, University of Mississippi; Darcy DeBoer, University of Minnesota; Shane Fisher, Indiana University; Iwany Amalliah Badruddin, University College London Medical School; Weng Cheu-Yue, National University of Singapore; Maria Rannazzo, Maimonides University (Argentina); and Wilson Yong Than Fong, University of Malaya (Malaysia).
Also, the following dental school deans have responded with thank-you letters to the Foundation: Dean Lonnie Norris of Tufts University; Associate Dean Frank Ayers of Creighton; Dean Art Dugoni of the University of the Pacific; Dean Richard Ranney of the University of Maryland; Dean No-Hee Park of UCLA; Dean Paul
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Robertson from the University of Washington; SEPC Chairman J.H. Brown of Meharry Medical College; Dean Bruce Graham of the University of Detroit School of Dentistry; Dean Chong-Lin Chew from the National University of Singapore; Dental Public Health Professor Aubrey Sheiham of University College London Medical School; Decano Fernando Saenz Forero of the Universidad de Costa Rica; Dean F. Smales of the University of Hong Kong; Dean Peter Innes of the University of Otago (New Zealand); Dean Rolando Peniche Marcin of the Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan (Mexico); Dean Elias Feldman of Maimonides University (Argentina); Professor Tatsuya Ishikawa of Tokyo Dental College; Dean Michael McGinnis from the University of Western Australia; and Dean Keith Lester of the University of Sydney (Australia).
Sixty-nine grant applications have been mailed to requesting prospectives to date. In 1998, U.S. donations to the Foundation totalled $13,950. International donations were $785. To date in 1999, U.S. donations are $14,199. International dues statements have just been mailed. Life Members’ donations this year stand at $2,160. |
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Canada
Dr. Louis Touyz, Director of Periodontics at McGill University, sent a thank-you letter for the “honor afforded me to present this year’s PFA Student Award” to student Souzi Mahanna at the Leahy Lecture Theatre in the Montreal General Hospital last March.  Souzi Mahanna receives scholarship certificate from Professor Louis Touyz |
Uruguay
Chairman Roy Cooper presented the Foundation Scholarship Award to senior student Virginia Rossi of the Dental School of the University of Montevideo at their Awards Ceremony.  Scholarship recipient Virginia Rossi receiving Foundation check from University of Montevideo Councillor Mario Scarrone |
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United States
California, Southern Section In the Spring 1999 issue of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society’s publication, the group printed an article expressing their appreciation to the Foundation for its grant to the MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) Dental Clinic; the grant would cover their costs for an entire year. MEND in Pacoima provides dental needs to poor, uninsured families and is staffed by volunteer dentists. This clinic is one of the major community service projects of the San Fernando Valley Dental Society. The dental equipment donated to the Foundation by the late Michael Kennedy, Georgia State Chairman, has been sent to Dr. Roger Kingston of San Diego for a dental clinic in Tijuana, Mexico; to St. Leo Clinic in Solana Beach; and to Father Joe Carroll’s Clinic.
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Florida
Section Chairman Robert Hart presented the Foundation scholarship to University of Florida College of Dentistry senior May Chen last April. Dr. Cynthia Skigen of the I.M. Sulzbacker Center for the Homeless in Jacksonville reported on the progress of the Foundation grant to treat homeless and indigent patients who are unable to afford dental care. Rhode Islands Chairman Christine Benoit reported the publication of the international Foundation grant awards on page 15 of the Spring 1999 issue of the Rhode Island Dental Journal. South Carolina Dean DeChamplain of the Medical University of South Carolina announced that the 1999 Foundation scholarship recipient is Clarissa Schmidt; the award will be presented in November. |
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United
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Florida
Fellow Samuel Dorn of Plantation was elected Secretary of the American Association of Endodontists during their 56th annual session last April in Atlanta. Dr. Dorn is Professor and Director of Postgraduate Endodontics at Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale. In 1987, he was the East Coast District Dental Society’s Dentist of the Year. He is also a Fellow in ICD and ACD. Nevada Lt. General George Fisher of the First U.S. Army presented Colonel Richard Kozal of the 88th Regional Support Command with The Legion of Merit, on behalf of the President of the United States, for his 22 years of service as staff dental surgeon, chief of professional services, and deputy commander. Dr. Kozal is now retired and works full time as Secretary/Treasurer of the PFA at our Central Office in Nevada. Pennsylvania Dr. Joseph A. Donato of Freeland has accepted the position of State Chairman from retiring Chair Lester Levin. Rhode Island Several PFA Fellows are serving professional organizations as President: John Coletti of Warwick for the Rhode Island Academy of General Dentistry; Brian Hogan of Newport for the Rhode Island Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; and Edwin Mehlman of Providence for the Rhode Island Association of Endodontists. The Section’s Annual Awards Reception was held last May to induct nine new Fellows into the Academy. Dr. Raymond George, Sr., received their Outstanding Dentist of the Year Award. Fellow George Carrallas passed away on 22 April. He was a big supporter of PFA and had nominated many new Fellows for membership. He will be missed.
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South Carolina
At their May commencement exercises, the College of Charleston presented PFA Trustee Gordan Stine with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Humane Letters. Dr. Stine was also acclaimed by the Alumni Association of the College of Charleston, which bestowed its highest recognition on him—the 1999 Alumni Award of Honor—during his 55th Class Reunion  Trustee Gordan Stine presents a PFA Award to former MUSC Dental Dean Arthur Haistew .
Texas
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