NMDA Journal Spring 2016

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How can the ADA and NMDA serve you as a dentist?
This is a very good and valid question. And even
though it is good to hear and know all the benefits
that you’ve heard before (ie: CE, legislation, mentorship,
networking, peer review, financial perks via loans and or equip-
ment purchases, etc), to simply rattle off this list is really not
expressing the heart or true “value” that organized dentistry
serves to not only its members but the profession and its
patients. The main reason for this is that organized dentistry
in the form of either the national or state branches, the ADA
and NMDA, respectively, is made up of “you” the dentist and
many others like you. This creates a balance and reciprocation
of both what you get and what you give. And all of the benefits,
those listed above and then some, are not nearly as good for
either “you” or those around you if you are not there to gain
from them, or better yet others aren’t there to gain from you.
If you were to take each individual benefit above and analyze
it, you will see that every one of them offers something for you
as an individual dentist to gain. If you delve deeper you may
realize that the benefit you receive will only grow with more
membership because there are more voices, resources, buying
power, thinking power, and personal experiences when more
individual dentists join together as a community. The most
overlooked aspect of being associated with other dentists is
what you are able to offer to others. Whether it be social gath-
erings, educational or practice management seminars, or policy
meetings and planning, simply by being present, being heard,
and sharing your knowledge and experiences the profession as
a whole is gaining from you. You never know what tiny bit of
advice or different perspective that you may have to offer can
make the world of difference to others.
Now I can preach “strength in numbers” over and over again,
and although what I say is true that you will gain even larger
benefits if there is more involvement from you and the dentist
across the street from you. Whether it be knowledge or simply
that more numbers mean more buying power when it comes to
equipment purchases from vendors or larger scale CE confer-
ences, the gains will take care of themselves.
The best example of the balance of give and take is in the
mentorship through the NMDA. We have a rapidly expanding
population of new dentists starting in the state of New Mexico;
it turns out that we also have a great supply of seasoned
dentists as well. And it is easy to see the benefit of the new
dentists pairing up to learn and be mentored by the experi-
enced dentist. What about the mentor dentist? Can’t he/she
gain just as much from someone new to the profession?
Are you at a place in your career where you can say that you
are well enough as you are and that you couldn’t gain anything
yourself by mentoring a new dentist? (And if you are, great!
Please email me because I’d love to have you speak at our next
CE.) You may or may not learn much in the techniques of
restorative dentistry from the new dentist, however I think
every single dentist can gain and grow in a way to better serve
their patients and the profession simply by meeting 1-on-1 with
another dentist. And who knows, that new dentist may be
the right fit for the associate or partner that you were looking
for. The mentorship program with the NMDA is a microcosm
of how dentistry became and still is such a strong profession
statewide and nationwide. So think again about all the benefits
that you can receive as an NMDA member…but also consider
what benefits you may be withholding from your peers by not
joining.
By Joe Gherardi, DDS—Albuquerque, NM
If you are a dentist who is interested in either being a mentor or mentee feel free to email me:
Bigger and better for all to enjoy
…Especially You