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