“ This past year has been a great reminder for me that tomorrow , and what it will look like , is never a guarantee . I feel this year has helped me grow as an individual . I look to my teenage son and sometimes still cannot believe what he has lived through this past year . It is my hope that the generations coming up take this experience they have had and make the world a better place because of it .”

— Linda Straub-Bruce , RDH , President , PDHA

“ Organized dentistry shone brightest during the initial shutdown of the entire profession . Our leadership attacked the dilemma of office closure and convinced the state that we are essential .”

Dr . James Mancini

“ PDA and PAGD were incredibly helpful in keeping the membership up to date with the latest information from the authorities . Leadership of organized dentistry advocated and won important concessions from the PA Department of Health to get us back to work .”

Dr . Michael Parenti

“ Organized dentistry was the one true beacon of light even from the earliest days . As the information from the DOH and CDC continued to change almost daily , both PDA and ADA were blasting out the most up-to-date trusted information for the profession . You can ’ t put an ROI on the value of that during the last year .”

Dr . Steve Radack , Editor

“ Through the COVID-19 quarantine , PDA , PAPD , PAGD , and other state groups helped establish with DOH that oral health is essential to good overall health , there is evidence-based research to support this statement , and it isn ’ t an elective service .”

Dr . Peter Ross , President , PAPD

“ I am exceptionally proud of not just my professional organization , PDHA , but I am also proud of the organizations and leaders that I had the privilege of working with since the start of the pandemic . In mid-March , the Pennsylvania Department of Health organized a coalition of organizational leaders , such as PDA and PDHA , and dental school deans in Pennsylvania to consult with while navigating through the crisis . Our group spent countless hours working tirelessly to navigate the various facets of dentistry in our state through these uncharted waters . In the intensity of the crisis , we came together and forged ahead , even if we did not always agree . As the only dental hygienist in the group , I knew the gravity of my representation and cannot praise the other members of the group more for a united approach in viewing all facets of the issues that we have faced . I valued the collaboration between myself and PDA President Dr . James Tauberg as we had continued and effective communication on the critical situations we faced , unlike any our two organizations have experienced before . It was integral that we worked in a symbiotic fashion for dentistry ’ s safety and success in our state . We have realized the value in joint efforts for common goals and look forward to continued joint efforts .”

Linda Straub-Bruce , RDH , BSEd , PHDHP , President , PDHA

“ Throughout the pandemic , both the ADA with their excellent guidance , along with us at the PDA , we made sure our members / dental staffs and our patients were informed and kept safe . Every day , and I mean every day in the past year , organized dentistry in Pennsylvania made sure dentistry was appropriate and safe as the