Meet your PDA President – Dr. Bruce R. Terry
“Some parts of it are working well and some
parts need changing,” Dr. Terry said. “We have
already changed our Government Relations Advisory
Group back to a committee, with more responsibility
and more face to face meetings. Advocacy is so
important to our members that we needed to put
more attention to that workgroup.”
Dr. Terry and his wife
Susan enjoy traveling
with their family.
Part of that attention has been a re-evaluation
of some of PDA’s grassroots events and how best
to reach key legislators and decision makers in
our state. With the rebirth of the Government
Relations Committee, Dr. Terry is hopeful that our
advocacy efforts will be revitalized and members
will engage legislators with a unified message.
Through advocacy, PDA can help members with
initiatives like Assignment of Benefits and fairness
when dealing with insurance companies. PDA can
also advocate for all patients,” Dr. Terry said.
“Adults on Medicaid have limited or no dental
benefits through the Pennsylvania Department of
Health. We must find a way to help them, and
charity alone won’t solve the problem.”
Building membership is vital. But just as crucial is
having those new members take an active role and
build connections that will benefit organized
dentistry from the local level up to the national level.
“One Voice. It’s simple,” Dr. Terry said. “No group can
compete in today’s legislative arena or workplace
without unity. Dentists need unity to lookout for
our interests and that of our staff and patients. We
need to maintain and grow our membership so
that when we speak to the public we do so with
the voice of the majority of our colleagues.
“In medicine participation is low, around 25 percent,
and they have little leverage. Along with being a
member we need members willing to go to work.
Getting involved gets you more informed and
helps yourself, your colleagues and your patients.”
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Dr. Terry considers the friendships and personal
connections he has made to be the most import-
ant benefits of organized dentistry, not just
personally, but in helping him develop his
practice and career.
“When you leave dental school you leave the
environment that was comfortable; where
everyone knew the same language. Outside
dental school is like living on an island,” he said.
“Being connected with other dentists brings back
the comfort of being home. It just feels right.”
“I can’t imagine not being an involved member.
PDA membership has helped me grow as a
dentist ever since leaving dental school,” he added.
“Individuals that have been mentors and resources
from the ADA and PDA have been invaluable to
me, my practice and my career. I have used several
reports from the ADA to learn more about trends
in dentistry. The ADA has some of the best
resources for dentist available. What a missed
opportunity for the non member.”
Dr. Terry received his BS in Biology and Natural
Science from Muhlenberg College in 1982. He
graduated from Temple University School of
Dentistry in 1986 and finished his Graduate
Endodontic training at Temple in 1988. He then
opened practices in Wayne and Phoenixville,
where he still works today, along with teaching
one day a week at Temple’s Kornberg School of
Dentistry, as a clinical associate professor with
the Department of Endodontics.
“I found endodontics in my second year of dental
school and I am a real nerd when it comes to the
‘science of the teeth and gums,’ as my wife likes to
say. That’s why I have stayed in the Philadelphia
area and in academics all of these years,” Dr. Terry
said. “When I go to teach on Wednesdays I don’t
know who benefits more, me or my residents. It
has also translated into my private practice. I love
explaining things and educating my patients.
I photograph and document my work for my
referring doctors and they really like my reports
with X-rays and photographs. I can honestly say
that I enjoy going to work every day.”