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

• Mariah Baldwin, DMD – Southern Oregon Dental Society
• Mark Bell, DMD – Multnomah Dental Society
• Peter Carlesimo, DDS – Marion Polk Dental Society
• Bradley Hagedorn, DMD – Eastern Oregon Dental Society 
• Margaret Klein, DDS – Multnomah Dental Society
• Ronald Le, DMD – Eastern Oregon Dental Society
• Heather Manka, DMD – Marion Polk Dental Society
• Tu Nguyen, DDS – Multnomah Dental Society
• Melvin Pederson, Jr. DDS – Multnomah Dental Society
• Benjamin Russell, DMD – Multnomah Dental Society
• Dane Schapper, DMD – Southern Willamette Dental Society
• John Waite, DMD – Marion Polk Dental Society
• Shannon Walker, DDS – Multnomah Dental Society

The ODA is hosting a two-hour Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging virtual webinar on February 21st from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. This event is in partnership with the OHSU School of Dentistry. Our speaker, Dr. Scott Finnie, has been a faculty member at Eastern Washington University since 1992 within the History Department and the Africana Studies Program (ASP) and is presently a Senior Faculty member of Africana Studies. This course meets the two-hour cultural competency renewal requirement for your Oregon dental license. Please use this link to register for the course.

Your membership is an investment in your success, our profession, and public health. This investment also fuels our efforts in legislative advocacy, helps you elevate your skills, and assists you in cultivating invaluable connections to broaden your network and engage with our community. Please remit payment or pay online. Let’s thrive onward together! We look forward to serving you in 2024!

The Tom Tucker Humanitarian Award is the highest humanitarian and service award for the dentists of Oregon. Submit your nominations to leadership@oregondental.org by March 1, 2024. Award criteria includes:

•  A significant number of years as an ODA member
• Active in leadership roles within the ODA and their local component society
• Demonstrated commitment to being an active member in their local communities
• Demonstrated to their communities and ODA a unique attitude and a willingness to serve
• Mirror the image of Dr. Tom Tucker with a can-do attitude and a genuine desire to serve

Do you know a new dentist who’s making an impact in the profession? The ODA New Dentist Council is excited to present the ODA New Dentist Award. This new ODA award recognizes one amazing ODA member dentist who graduated from dental school less than 10 years ago. We’re celebrating new dentists who demonstrate excellence and inspire others in science, research & education, practice excellence, philanthropy, leadership, and advocacy. Nominate a colleague today! Nominations close March 1, 2024.

Be sure to join us on Friday, April 5 at the ODC Party: 80s Edition! After a day of connecting and learning, gather your team for an evening of fun! Don't miss the dinner, awards, arcade games, dancing and fantastic prizes, featuring live music from 5 Guys Named Moe. Add a ticket for yourself or your whole team when registering for the conference here.  

Members have the opportunity to win a 7-day Hawaiian cruise, among other prizes, for recruiting new members from January 1 – August 31, 2024.* For each new member recruited, the recruiter is entered into a quarterly drawing for a chance to win a prize from the ADA Store or ADABEI-endorsed providers valued at up to $1,000. For every five new members recruited, the recruiter receives a chance to win a 7-day interisland Hawaiian cruise for two. Recruiting 25 members automatically guarantees a quarterly prize. Any degreed dentists, apart from retirees, who were not ADA members in 2023 are eligible to be recruited. Newly recruited members must list the recruiter’s name and contact information as a referral on the membership application at ADA.org/Join. *See complete sweepstakes details at ADA.org/R4R

The 2023 Legislative Session concluded with a big win for ODA members. Developed by ODA members, HB 3008, which was signed by the Governor in August and went into effect January 1, 2024, requires dental plans to obtain a provider’s consent before selling or leasing out provider panels, along with advance approval to receive reimbursement payments via electronic credit cards rather than checks. Insurers are also required to communicate about payment processing fees associated with these electronic reimbursements. For one ODA member, third-party credit card processing fees have added up to $11,000 a year. Read all about this bill, ODA’s workforce package, and others that ODA worked, tracked and advocated on this year in our End of Session Report.

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.

Whether you’re moving to a new job on the other side of town or across the country, making a career pivot can be challenging! In the final “Dental Sound Bites” episode of season 3, Dr. Tannaz Malekzadeh shares how her cross-country move forced her to get creative in the way she networked and built her career. We’re also sharing tips for making your move as smooth as possible.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or in the ADA Member App. (Tip: if you listen in the app, you get access to exclusive bonus content!)

With so many career options in dentistry, how do dental students and dentists find their fit? Introducing…the new career path quiz in the ADA Member App. The new career path quiz takes about five minutes to complete and provides members with their top career recommendations based on their interests and aspirations Learn more at ADA.org/App or search “ADA Member App” in the App Store or Google Play to download now.

Exciting news! The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) and its open-access companion journal, JADA Foundational Science (JADA FS), are now on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn! Follow @JADAJournals on X for the latest cutting-edge dental research, including quick takeaways, as well as insight from global oral-health experts on PracticeUpdate Clinical Dentistry. For more exclusive content and research highlights, join the conversation on LinkedIn.

This is a friendly reminder that the dental implant rule changes are effective January 1, 2024. The guidance document, communications and timeline for dental implant rule changes can be found on the OBD home page: https://www.oregon.gov/dentistry/pages/index.aspx

The Corporate Transparency Act, enacted by Congress in 2021, intends to combat the use of businesses as money-laundering operations. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the law now requires certain businesses to report beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Unit. All existing dental practices and companies that meet the requirements have one year to file before facing penalties. The ADA created a FAQ document to help dentists with questions. Visit fincen.gov/boi to file a report, view informational videos and webinars, find answers to frequently asked questions, connect to the contact center, and learn more about how to report. For sharing out with members, the ADA News article explains who is subject to reporting requirements and other relevant details.

Attending this world-class conference at reduced rates is just one of the many benefits reserved for ODA members! NEW DENTISTS can save an additional $100 on registration: ODA members already save significantly on registration, but recent grads save even more! ODA members who graduated between 2020 and 2023 are eligible to receive $100 off the ODA Member registration price! Make sure to select the ODA New Dentist Member category when registering.

Tap into a pool of top talent: Post your open positions on ODA’s Dental Career Center Connect and gain access to a vast pool of talented dental professionals actively seeking new opportunities. Our platform is the go-to destination for the brightest minds in dentistry. Looking for a change in your career? Discover a world of possibilities with our extensive job listings catering to every aspect of the dental field. Whether you’re a seasoned dentist, a passionate dental hygienist, or an aspiring dental assistant, find your perfect match with just a click. Visit the career center at https://careers.oregondental.org/

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!

The 2024 Oregon Dental Conference is just around the corner! Join the ODA at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, OR, April 4-6, 2024 for exceptional CE courses, the chance to shop the exhibit hall, and to catch up with your fellow dental professionals! Please check our Oregon Dental Conference website regularly for new developments and updates. http://www.oregondentalconference.org

Join the Trail Blazers in honor of National Dentist’s Day as they offer discounted ticket rates to all dental care workers, friends, and family. All who purchase through the link blazersgroups.com/dentists will get to come out before the doors open to the public and sit in the low bowl to watch the Trail Blazers warm-ups! Tickets start at $20. Contact Jacqui.wilson@trailblazers.com with questions.

The Oregon Health Authority is excited to introduce an upcoming webinar series, “ADA and Healthcare,” hosted by NW ADA Center. The webinar series focuses on ensuring accessibility and inclusivity within healthcare environments through ADA compliance.
 
Tthe first webinar in the ADA and Healthcare series, Disability Foundations, is for anyone involved in the healthcare field and advocates of disability rights in healthcare.
 
The first webinar included:

• Exploring disability as a legal, political, and cultural identity
• Presented a brief history of disability activism in the U.S.
• An overview of disability identity and pride
• Examined the impacts of ableism and disability bias in healthcare 

If you missed the first installment, it is available on demand at https://nwadacenter.org/oha-healthcare/ along with the webinar material.