Report from the President: 2008 AGD House of Delegates

The North Carolina AGD delegates met in Orlando, Florida from July 17 to July 20, 2008.  North Carolina is in Region 19 which includes the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.  The Academy of General Dentistry on a national level is composed of 20 regions which include Canada, Puerto Rico, and the branches of the armed forces.  Approximately 200 delegates compose the House of Delegates for the AGD.  These delegates vote, control the governance of the AGD, approve the budget for 2009, and determine the direction of the organization for the upcoming year.

 

The House of Delegates (HOD) voted on a myriad of issues during the 2008 session.  Dr. Paula S. Jones was elected the first female president in AGD history.  The outgoing president, Dr. Vincent C. Mayher installed the other officers of the 2008-2009 Executive Committee, including the newly-elected Vice President Fares M. Ellas DDS, FAGD, re-elected Treasurer Jeffrey S. Cole, DDS, MBA, FAGD, and re-elected Editor Roger S. Winland, DDS, MS, MAGD.

 

The HOD discussed many issues regarding the issue of Access to Care.  This discussion involved the resistance of the AGD to the idea and or implementation of mid-level dental care providers.  This would fragment the care of services and quite possibly place under qualified providers into our profession.  The issue itself raises questions regarding training, certification, examination, and implementation.  There was much discussion about a tiered system of care if this took place.  Ancillary to this discussion was the concept that there is no statistical evidence that there is a shortage of dentists in the United States, but a misdistribution of dentists. 

 

The HOD is striving to have the national organization go as paperless as it can to increase membership efficiency, notify members in a timelier manner, and save considerable monies in the budget for printing, addressing, and mailing costs.  To this end the HOD voted not to print a membership book this year in order to have all membership information maintained and accessed online.  

 

Another issue that the HOD discussed at length was the AGD’s role in Advocacy in representing the general dentist.  The AGD has historically taken a very active role in representing the interests of the general dentist on a local, state, and national level.  This continues to be a role the AGD will involve itself with as state legislatures and regulatory agencies encroach on our ability to practice our chosen profession.  The AGD has taken issue with burdensome advertising rules, independent hygiene practice, non-acceptance of licensing transcripts, and budget proposals to eliminate dental services.  The AGD continues to work with state legislators, national representatives, insurance carriers, the ADA, the ADHA, and many national councils to promote and protect the general dentists interests in providing the highest level of dental care anywhere in the world to his/her patients. 

 

I was privileged to have the opportunity to serve in the 2008 House of Delegates for the AGD.  This opportunity has given me a deep respect for the time and effort so many general dentists give voluntarily to this organization.  My hope and desire is for more of my colleagues to become involved with this excellent dental organization that strives so fervently to represent the interests of the General Dentist.

 

John P. Pruitt, DDS, MAGD, FADI