The 146th PDA Annual Session was historic . The House of Delegates capped off a multi-year process of governance restructuring by adopting transformational Bylaws changes that will completely reshape this association .
Stephen T . Radack , III , DMD
For starters , there is no more House of Delegates , but instead a new leadership body that will work with the Board of Trustees , the Council of Presidents . The format of the 2015 Annual Session ( Pennsylvania ’ s Dental Meeting and Expo ) and all subsequent gatherings will be much different than anything previously conducted in this state . Monumental change has come to your PDA . It is fitting that the person at the helm for 2014-2015 is a leader who not only believes deeply in this bold , new path , but one who has taken a pivotal role in mapping it all out . Dr . Stephen T . Radack , III , is perhaps the best possible president to lead PDA through this exciting , yet potentially daunting , time of transition .
An Erie native who began sounding the wake-up call for his colleagues several years ago after seeing and experiencing first-hand the structural challenges and demographic realities facing organized dentistry at all levels , Dr . Radack came into the presidency embracing this opportunity to reshape PDA , with an unmistakable focus on revitalizing membership numbers .
Near the conclusion of the PDA House , he asked the assembled delegates and alternates to join him in an aggressive effort to reach a set of specific goals , some that he admitted may take longer than one year : reversing a declining market share and reaching the ADA ’ s target of 65 percent ; converting and retaining a much higher percentage of dental students as members and getting 100 percent of the fourth-year dental students at Penn , Pitt and Temple to sign with ADA next spring ; passing an assignment of benefits bill in the General Assembly ; and significantly improving the 19 percent market share of PDA members in PDAIS ’ core revenue .
Dr . Radack bluntly explained that a declining market share imperils PDA ’ s brand as The Voice of Dentistry in Pennsylvania as well as its status as an ADA single state district .
“ To that end I am challenging all members here and throughout the Commonwealth to be a partner with me in reversing this trend ,” he said .
This push comes during a time when the ADA ’ s “ Power of 3 ” theme is centered on working to strengthen the tripartite structure . While there are a multitude of reasons for the recent negative trends organized dentistry confronts , Dr . Radack is candid and resolute about what needs to happen . Seven years as PDA treasurer and trustee have shaped his vision , that when everything else is stripped away , success comes down to one thing .
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