REPORT FROM ADA TRUSTEE
Dr. Linda K. Himmelberger
Since the program inception in 2015, ADA members have
refinanced more than 2,500 loans and members on average
save $33,000 over the life of the loan. ADA members receive an
extra .25% rate discount on already low rates.
I am proud to represent the PDA on ADA’s Board of Trustees
and I am proud of our organization and what we have
accomplished.
The ADA continues to work diligently on your behalf to assure
a better professional life and a better organization. We all keep
the mission statement, “Help All Members Succeed” as the
guide to our actions. Let me offer you some examples. Over the
last year, we have continued our efforts to make Find-A-Dentist
a success. As of the end of 2018, nearly three-quarters of a
million searches were completed on Find-A-Dentist; there were
more than one million public views; and nearly 70,000 ADA
members have uploaded a photo to their profiles. All of these
exceed our targets.
In 2018, the ADA continued its pursuit of a business model
initiative that will ensure that the organization maintains its
relevance while maintaining financial sustainability. A new
subsidiary for-profit corporation was established, ADAPT
(ADA Practice Transitions). ADAPT will offer state-of-the-art
technology to help new dentists and established dentists
connect for mentorship. ADAPT will also address a key member
need, helping established dentists experiencing difficulty
find a quality buyer for their practice. This year, ADAPT will
go live in two states as part of the process to test and assess
this concept. The ADA will consider the results of this testing
and make changes to the platform and program as necessary,
leading to what we expect to be a full launch of the business in
the coming year. While much work remains to be done, this is a
very exciting opportunity for our members.
The ADA is also working hard to address the needs of new
dentists for help with student debt. ADA members refinanced
more than 560 loans in 2018 with Laurel Road, an ADA
endorsed provider that allows ADA members to refinance their
student loans at a lower rate.
The ADA as an organization has looked hard at the concept
of a Medicare dental benefit and how this would impact our
practices. Based on action by the ADA House of Delegates, a
work group is being convened this year to examine the issue of
access to care for the elderly broadly, not limited to Medicare.
On the advocacy front, the ADA-championed Action for Dental
Health Act—which aims to improve access to oral health care
in rural, underserved and Native American communities—
became law. The new law will allow organizations to qualify for
oral health grants to support activities that improve oral health
education and prevent dental disease. It will also enable groups
to develop and expand outreach programs that facilitate
establishing dental homes for children and adults, including
the elderly, blind and disabled.
Our work is paying dividends. Total dentist membership—
excluding students—for 2018 reached 163,156, an increase of
1,689 over 2017. In addition, the total number of active license
dentists was 129,008 for 2018, a 588 increase over 2017. Of
course, we must continue to focus on recruiting new members
and retaining our current members, but we are headed in the
right direction.
Next year, the ADA will launch its next strategic plan. We
will build on our work over recent years and strengthen the
partnership among the national and state organizations.
Your ADA continues to work for you and for the profession in
many ways.
These are exciting times for our profession. Technology is
changing how the ADA interacts with the PDA, how ADA
interacts with our members and even how our members
interact with patients. With change come both challenges and
opportunities, but I know that we have the drive, passion and
resources necessary for success. As President Lincoln said, “The
best way to predict your future is to create it.” Let us create our
future together.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to serve our
profession and thank you for your service. Let me know what
you see in our future and how the ADA can help us all…I want
to hear from you!
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