Dennis Charlton
Dr . Dennis Charlton , Incoming President , Addresses the House
As I sit down at my computer to begin this report I realized that the deadline to complete this report is more than two months before the PDA Annual Session . So as I begin writing , I ’ m reflecting back over only nine or ten months that I have served in this office . My “ year ” as President-elect has been educational , interesting and rewarding . I ’ ve learned so much and I still sit here feeling there is more I need to master to be able to effectively take the lead on the issues that are before the PDA . In the book , Outliers , the Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell , the author theorizes that it takes 10,000 hours to master a particular subject or skill . After spending four years as a PDA Trustee , five years as Speaker of the House of Delegates and this last year as President-elect , I ’ m sure I ’ m approaching that mark . Let me tell you what I ’ ve been up to these past months preparing to follow in the footsteps of so many great PDA presidents .
This past year has been one of increased concern about the prospect of mid level dental providers . I spent a weekend in Austin , Texas , last February as my introduction to the strong Texas opposition to any dental auxiliary providing restorative service . Many of your ADA delegates and alternates spent time at the ADA Annual Session in debate about all aspects of allied dental personnel . Then in December 2010 , I attended and spent time at the Dunning Symposium conducted by Columbia University School of Dental Medicine . There the debate continued as they presented the “ dental practice of the 21st century ” ( which included mid levels .) The Kellogg Foundation and Pew Foundation both have weighed in to effect the development of some type of mid level provider in dentistry . Kellogg is actively pursuing legislation in five states this year ( thankfully not here in Pennsylvania ) that would result in a law that develops dental providers other
July / August 2011 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal
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