March/April 2017 | Page 27

To name a few …

u Who would advocate for me as a dentist, and serve as an educated and informed voice while I was able to treat patients?

u Who would create the ethical standards that I abide by in order to put patients first?

u Who would offer peer review so that I would be able to resolve a potential issue with a patient rather than navigate the legal system on my own, which can be expensive and time-consuming?

u Who would have negotiated a 0.25 percent interest savings for members on the endorsement with DRB on student loan refinancing programs? Who would acknowledge the importance of state and local societies and other loan refinancing programs as well, promoting healthy competition to give members options?

u Who would fight for dentist’ s rights on Capitol Hill- repealing the medical device tax, promoting the Student Loan Refinancing Act and postponing compliance of Sec 1557 of the Affordable Care Act while serving as one of the strongest national political action committees?

u Who would engage the public and be a resource through Mouthealthy. org?

u Whose members would treat 350,000 kids annually and provide over 5 million dollars in donated dental services while bringing awareness to oral health in America through Give Kids A Smile?

The ADA. Without the ADA, these things would never exist.

I’ m proud to be a member of the ADA. I’ m honored to be a part of an organization that is 159,000 dentists strong.

I know that if I need something the ADA is there not just to get me through … but also to make sure that I’ m successful. And even when I don’ t know what I need, it’ s the ADA that is the first to inform me and provide me with resources so that I can spend my time doing what I do best …. serving patients.

It’ s not about discounts and offers, but rather the peace of mind I receive knowing that for the cost of a cup of coffee a day, I have someone looking out for the small business owner, the young professional, the healthcare provider.

I’ m doing my part to be a cohesive voice, active member and support an organization that works tirelessly so that I can succeed. Without truly understanding the benefits of organized dentistry and being an active member, organized dentistry will dissolve. But I hope in my lifetime, I never see that day. I hope that my colleagues see that without the ADA, without your state and local societies … there’ s no network, no unified voice.

I’ d rather stand united with 159,000 ADA members than alone. Where do you stand?

About The Author

Dr. Emily Iskhanian is a New Dentist Now guest blogger and the 2016-17 chair of the ADA New Dentist Committee. She is a member of the ADA, the Nevada Dental Association and the Southern Nevada Dental Association. She is active in organized dentistry nationally and locally and created Southern Nevada New Dentist group to help new dentists ease the transition into dental practice. She is also involved in volunteer work in her community. Dr. Ishkanian obtained her D. M. D. degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine in 2010 and practices as a general dentist in Las Vegas.

MARCH / APRIL 2017 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL 25