Membership Issue
KARIN BRIAN, DDS
1991 graduate from the Baltimore
College of Dental Surgery
Practices in Coatesville
1. How many years have you been in practice? How would you
describe your current practice setting? As of August 2018, I’ve
been practicing dentistry for 28 years. I’m an employee dentist.
I choose this option because when I finished dental school I
knew I didn’t want the responsibility of managing or owning a
dental practice.
2. Have your membership needs evolved with your career?
If so, how have your needs changed? As an employee dentist
I value the supplemental benefits, such as malpractice, disability
and most recently long term care insurance offered by PDAIS.
I have also always valued the opportunities for camaraderie
offered by organized dentistry. Connecting with my peers
has been the reason why I have been involved in organized
dentistry. Through peer interaction, I have broadened my
awareness of the profession by discussing practice issues
and learning more about challenges that colleagues are
encountering on a daily basis. Without this, I would feel like I
was alone on an island. When I recently found myself out of
work due to the sale of the practice that I had been with since
graduating dental school, the relationships with my dental
society colleagues enabled me to easily find new employment
opportunities. Their support was invaluable.
As an established dentist I have gained a greater appreciation
for PDA’s advocacy efforts. When I was a recent graduate I didn’t
realize the impact legislation can have on the profession and my
personal career.
3. What has PDA done in the past five to 10 years that you
have found most beneficial personally or for the profession?
PDA’s support related to regulatory compliance and continuing
education. Over the past few years, dentists have been required
to complete an increased number of mandatory continuing
education credits. PDA’s offering of in-person courses including
Act 124 and 31 and online courses such as the radiology
program has personally helped me to easily comply with the
meeting the mandatory requirement.
In addition, the continuing education tracking folder allows me
to keep track of credits/courses taken. Upon completion of a
course I simply put the certificate in the folder and keep all the
documentation in one place.
4. What do you think will be the biggest challenge to the
profession in the next five to 10 years and how do you think
PDA can support you with addressing it? Possible change
in patient perception and satisfaction as a result of changes
to the dental practice model. The change in practice model
is a challenge to the profession because it may impact the
patient’s overall experience with dentistry. Patients who are
accustomed to going to a solo practitioner may have developed
a comfortable, ongoing relationship with the dentist. Some new
dental practice models may not provide the ongoing, longtime
relationship with the patient. Greater dentist turnover in some
practices could negatively impact dentist to patient rapport and
the level of patient care. Patients may feel less connected to the
practice if there is an increase in dentist turnover.
Keeping in mind Pennsylvania’s aging baby boomer population,
there is an increasing number of dentists who will retire in the
future. PDA can assist by helping the soon to be retired solo
practitioner with finding buyers.
5. If you weren’t a dentist what would you be? I would run a
bed and breakfast. I think it would be a great way to meet new
people and it combines my passion for gardening and cooking.
MARCH/AP RIL 2019 | P EN N SYLVAN IA DEN TAL JOURNAL
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