PAGD Keystone Explorer Summer 2019

In choosing a career as a dentist, we have chosen a life of service to others. We serve our patients, always looking to solve their oral health problems and doing everything we can to help them avoid problems in the future. We often choose to serve our communities through public health and volunteer efforts, working to provide dental care to the underserved or raising the awareness of the importance of oral health of those around us. We serve those who work in our practices, striving to create success in our business that will provide a good living for them and their families. The irony is that in all of our efforts to serve others, we can sometimes neglect to serve ourselves. This issue of the Keystone Explorer will focus on how we can do just that—promote wellness of the dentist. Since you are reading this, I can say that you are already doing something that is helping your personal wellness in many ways: Belonging to the AGD/ PAGD. First, our organizations are known for providing access to top notch continuing education. This helps our members be the best dentists they can be and provide outstanding care to their patients. This can promote mental wellness through an increased sense of self-worth, knowing that you are doing all you can to do the very best for your patients. It can also lead to more success in your business and/ or career, leading to a greater feeling of financial security and a better future. Our organizations also help with our overall wellness by providing a sense of community. Many dentists practice as solo practitioners, working alone in an environment that can create a sense of isolation. The friendships and camaraderie that are a big part of membership in the AGD/PAGD go a long way in helping these dentists have a support system, people that can understand exactly the types of challenges that they face and offering advice on how to deal with them. Even those who work in a group practice, in corporate dentistry, as an associate dentist or in public health greatly benefit from the networking and relationships that develop with membership in the AGD/PAGD. Finally, the wellness of our profession and the public that we serve both benefit from the advocacy efforts of the AGD and PAGD. Through meaningful efforts both in Washington and Harrisburg your membership in these organizations helps their leaders give a voice to our dental community. Knowing that someone is monitoring what government and regulators are doing that will affect our profession and keeping us informed of any developments can give us peace of mind that we won’t be blindsided. I hope you enjoy and benefit from the content of this issue of Keystone Explorer dealing with the wellness of dentists. I also hope that you see the value of your AGD/PAGD membership, how it provides for and promotes wellness of dentists and the dental profession. And finally, I hope that you choose to spread the word about all that the AGD/PAGD deliver for their members and will bring another dentist to our next meeting. Heal Thyself By Scott Hudimac, DDS, MAGD 2 www.pagd.org president’s message