NMDA Journal Summer 2019

4 New Mexico Dental Journal, Summer 2019 President’s Message Our Mission of Mercy Community My feet are heavy, and my head is throbbing. I feel like I am coming off what I would imagine a weekend bender to be. But in reality, I just returned from an incredible and exhausting weekend in Las Cruces at our Mission of Mercy. I am tired, but so fulfilled. There was unbelievable sadness that walked into the clinic doors this weekend. I heard stories of despair. I saw the result of bad luck intersecting with not-so-good life choices. I witnessed the tragedy of disparity. But by the time those patients passed through the exit doors, I saw smiles. I recognized that the tears from their eyes were really tears from their hearts—an expression of both joy and of gratitude to those 800-plus volunteers who made their treatment possible. Every patient deserves to be treated with dig- nity. We see people at their worst, and in that state of emotional or physical distress, they can be angry, unpleasant, or gloomy. Thank- fully, we can take a step back and realize how fortunate we are. We can take a moment and forget our own woes, our own problems in our life or in our practice, and just give. Help- ing these patients allows us to step outside of ourselves and contribute to this greater good for our community. It brings light to our dark corners. And it feels good. That good feeling does not just come from helping others. We had an amazing group of dentists show up during the wee hours of 4:00am this past weekend. And some did not leave until 9:00pm on Saturday night, help- ing to break down the entire clinic. Dentists gave of their time, energy, and compassion for the entire weekend. It was inspiring to witness. And it was fun. We laughed, oh my goodness we laughed. It felt like we were in the trenches facing all the complications of helping those patients together—the long hours, the difficult procedures, the challeng- ing environment, and the sometimes-tough Jennifer Thompson, DDS conversations. For that weekend, we forgot about our competitors, let down our guard, and just considered each other friends. It was a privilege to be able to serve alongside them. We all know charitable events are not the solution. But MOM helps to shed light on the failure of our healthcare system that we as dentists experience every day. We know patients face barriers to receiving care that are not addressed by our current dental safety net. We must continue to persuade lawmakers that prevention is the most ef- fective cost-reduction mechanism and that Medicaid and dental benefits programs desperately need reform. We must have systems that encourage patients to seek comprehensive care, not ones that force them into resorting to emergency-based treatment. Providers should reflect the diversity and distribution of those we treat, and incentives to serve in those needed areas should be emphasized. Unfortunately, sometimes opinions are not changed through facts. But as we gain empathy from these experiences, perhaps we can trigger dialogue that transforms into understand- ing and a call to action. The spirit of Mission of Mercy far exceeds that of doing dentistry. To me, it is about cultivating relationships and building friendships. It is about giving hope to those who may not have it. Somewhere between the patient education and listening to their stories, we somehow manage to deliver much-needed care with empathy and be- nevolence. It reminds us why we got into the business of helping people. While mo- ments of complete madness and perfect clarity undulated throughout this weekend, I am so grateful for this experience and for the community that surrounds me. Respectfully Yours, Jennifer Thompson, DDS NMDA President 2018–2019 mobile 919-475-1560 | office 505-327-6233 [email protected]