Welcome to our newest members! Please reach out to these new members and welcome them into the ODA community.

• Christopher Butler, DMD - Lane County Dental Society
• John Miller, DDS - Multnomah Dental Society
• Tommy Ngo, DMD - Washington County Dental Society

It’s that time of year to renew your membership for 2022! Please check your email as electronic invoices were emailed on November 6th. Choose any of the available renewal programs and be entered into a drawing for one of three $100 Amazon gift cards. We encourage you to set it and forget it to experience uninterrupted membership!

Let the Oregon Dental Association guide you on your journey in continued excellence and leadership growth. Apply today to be part of the 2022 Leadership Academy! This program provides you with a unique backstage pass to ODA offerings and experiences, while developing and enhancing your leadership and interpersonal skills. Customized to each participant, depending on your area(s) of interest, the Academy guarantees a deeper understanding a growth where it matters most to you! Apply or nominate a colleague today! Applications/Nominations are due by December 3, 2021.

Make a difference in the life of a student or early career dentist by serving as an ODA Mentor! We’re looking for mentors from all practice modalities, specialties, new dentists (0-10 years out), established dentists, and retired dentists to share their knowledge about the profession. The program resumes in January where small mentor pods will be meeting in-person or virtually once a month. Please contact Melissa Juenger, ODA Member Specialist, to volunteer.

The Oregon Dental Association (ODA) has partnered with Permanente Dental Associates (PDA) and the Oregon Wellness Program (OWP) to expand free access to well-being resources to all licensed Oregon dentists. This expansion was made possible by a generous 3-year grant from PDA.

The Oregon Wellness Program promotes Oregon Healthcare Professionals’ well-being through education, coordinated regional counseling services, telemedicine services, and research. Access to OWP program benefits are the latest addition to the ODA’s Wellness Initiative prioritizing the physical and mental health of Oregon dentists and dental students. Learn more here.

Fall is here and it’s time to break out your ODA Molar Movement scarf! We would like to encourage you to show us your ODA community spirit by posting pictures of yourself and other members wearing your scarves in your community. Tag the ODA on Facebook and Instagram posts and use the hashtags: #MOLARMOVEMENT, #TOOTHPARTY, #FIGHTENAMELCRUELTY. You may see yourself reshared on ODA social media or in an upcoming issue of Membership Matters. This is a great way to stay connected as a community when we can’t all be together!

We’re living through a time of uncertainty, and it’s normal to feel stressed and anxious. We have many challenges that lie ahead, and if you feel the need to reach out to someone, we are here and you are not alone. The ODA's Wellness Program offers a robust network of compassionate Wellness Ambassadors, armed with resources to help support ​colleagues. The wellness program is open to all members, non-members, and dental students. If you need help or know of someone that needs help, please request support. Find ODA website wellness resources here.

Are you interested in serving your state, drafting and interpreting rules by which practitioners are held accountable, and making positive change for your peers? Serving on the Board of Dentistry, while time-consuming, is an incredible opportunity to directly affect how dentistry is practiced in Oregon.

There will be two open general dentist seats on the Oregon Board of Dentistry with 4-year terms beginning April of 2022. Statute affords the Oregon Dental Association the opportunity to submit recommendations to the governor for her consideration. ODA's Leadership Development Committee (LDC) will conduct interviews with interested candidates in order to form that recommendation. Diverse applicants and individuals living in rural areas of the state are encouraged to apply.

Please contact ODA Government Affairs Director, Jen Lewis-Goff at jlewis-goff@oregondental.org no later than Friday, January 14, 2022, for more information and to express your interest.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayment program is now taking applications through December 16, 2021. Learn more and apply online here.

ODA continues to update the COVID-19 Resources page on our website. Click here to access resources from ODA, ADA, OHA, CDC, and more.

All dentists who hold an active DEA license must register with the Oregon Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). If you have not already registered, please access the registration portal here.

Early career dentists and dental students take advantage of ADA CE Online. Using the code NEWDENT to save 50% off; plus, it’s free for dental students. From financial information to health and wellness webinars, ADA CE Online has an ever-growing catalog of clinical, practice management, and personal development education offering peer-reviewed continuing education credits to fit everyone's resources and schedule. Credits earned through this platform are maintained for all users in an online transcript that can be accessed when verification letters are needed.

ODA Member Connection, a members-only, private Facebook group, is designed to connect members throughout the state and provide you with a platform to share and collaborate. Join the conversation here!

Dentists and other dental professionals are invited to participate in the Pain Management and Substance Use Disorders ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) program, a 7-session program designed to build the capacity of dentists and their teams to identify and manage patients with oral pain or substance use disorders. Sessions for the upcoming cohort will occur via a virtual meeting space, beginning January 5, 2022. Learn more and register online here.

Monday, November 29 | Noon CT | 1 CE credit (pending approval)
Presented by the ADA Council on Advocacy for Access & Prevention

The family caregiver plays a critical role in the maintenance of the family’s oral health. In celebration of November as National Family Caregivers Month, come and learn about oral health and health literacy family caregiving considerations across the lifespan.  Learners will be able to describe 3 approaches to teach pregnant women how to keep their infants cavity free; understand what "teach back" is and how to use it; describe specific oral health challenges for disabled children, adults and the elderly and learn strategies to improve care; and improve their understanding of the unique role of the family caregiver and what clinicians need to know when working with special populations and their caregivers. Register here.

Tuesday, November 16 | 7pm CT | 1.5 CE credits (pending approval)

Join us for “Empower You,” the next webinar in the ADA Amplifying Voices series. Panelists representing various career stages will share how you can empower yourself and cultivate leadership in others as you advance along your path. The session will provide tools to help you develop self-advocacy skills, navigate imposter syndrome, and become better a leader in your practice, dental society, and larger community. Register here.