NDA Journal 22 NDA President’s Fall 2024 Message GREETINGS NDA MEMBERSHIP, I hope you’re all doing great and surviving this scorching Nevada summer! It’s definitely been a hot one for all of us! As I get ready to step into the role of NDA president, I’ve been reflecting on the path that’s led me here. And if there’s one word that keeps coming to mind, it’s mentor. While individually, we ultimately have to do the heavy lifting and put in the hard work, it’s mentorship that helps us figure out the way forward. From my days at UNLV (which still feels like just yesterday!) to now, mentorship has been a huge factor in both my professional and personal life. One of my big focuses this year, along with advocacy, membership growth, and boosting value for our members, is mentorship. I truly believe that while our profession starts in dental school, the guidance we receive shouldn’t stop there. We’re working on a pilot program within the NDA to connect mentors and mentees throughout the state in various areas of dentistry. This is about more than just clinical mentorship; it’s about advice on practice transitions, ownership, retirement, and even physical, mental health and wellness. How great would it be to have someone to turn to, not just as a mentor, but as a friend, when you need some guidance? What better way to unite us as a profession across the state than by building a strong dental community where we can support and help each other? I’m really excited to see this program grow into something that includes Patrick R. Silvaroli, DMD support for all aspects of our lives, from legal and financial advice to overall wellness. We have such a wealth of experience within our community, and I think this network can be a game changer for bringing us closer together. In other exciting news, we are thrilled to welcome Ms. Marianna Kacyra as our new Executive Director! She’s already hit the ground running, and I’m confident she’s going to do an amazing job for the NDA and we’re so lucky to have her on board! Now, switching gears to legislative news—2025 is shaping up to be another exciting legislative year. After a successful 2023 session alongside our lobbying partners TriStrategies, we were able to make some gains with the DLR (Dental Loss Ratio) bill and teledentistry regulations addressing DIY dentistry (e.g., Smile Direct Club). We look forward to tackling new initiatives in 2025. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s coming up: External Review Process for Dental Insurance Claims We want to establish a third-party review system for claims disputes. No more insurance companies having the final say, let’s make it fair! Temporary Licensure for Dental Hygienists We’re looking at ways to get out-ofstate hygienists working in Nevada faster with temporary licenses. This will help fill those staffing gaps in the interim while we continue to work on avenues available for increasing the dental workforce. NDA President Article
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