Remember how hot it was in August? Well, that’s when I was writing this column in my swimming suit, trying my best to stay cool. I spent the first week in August with my family in Gulf Shores, Ala. (all 18 of us - kids and grandkids!). We had a great time. The weather was wonderful with temperatures never more than 85 degrees. It was actually cooler than St. Louis, so we spent a lot of time on the beach.
September is a good time of the year to refocus on your goals for yourself and your practice. The hardest part for me is finding a time and place to get away from all outside distractions. This is a must! I take the most important person in my life (my wife) with me. Sue really helps me to focus, and together we work on our goals for the next year. For your practice, I would suggest a team retreat. Dr. Al Ousborne wrote about this just a few months ago in his “TipsTo Take You to the Top” column. Look it up on the DE Web site. It’s a good example of how to plan this important event.
I attended the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) meeting in Washington, D.C., in July. It was a great meeting! I am always impressed by the size and scope of the AGD meeting, and this one was no exception. A highlight of this meeting is the induction of members as Fellows and Masters of the Academy. These dentists have attended a lot of continuing education courses and passed a rigorous examination. Congratulations to all of them. I cannot understand why every general dentist is not a member of this organization. No other organization represents only the general dentist! For membership information, call (888) 243-3368, ext. 5300, or go online at www.agd.org.
I wonder how many of you know that there is a National Museum of Dentistry (NMD)? The “National” part of the name came about in November 2003 when President Bush signed into law a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress designating the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry as the nation’s official dental museum. The museum kicked off its 10th anniversary year in June at a gathering of the Museum Board of Visitors. During this meeting, the Board elected my good friend, Dr. Roger Levin, to serve as the NDM’s third BOV chair. This is both a well-deserved honor, and an opportunity for Dr. Levin to tell more dentists about this great facility! Congratulations, Roger!
The next time you are in Baltimore, Md., be sure to visit the NDM located at 31 South Greene Street on the campus of the University of Maryland. In 7,000 square feet of exhibition space, more than 40,000 objects related to the history of dentistry are displayed.
The museum is a fun and fascinating place to visit for dentists and nondentists. It provides innovative, age-appropriate, oral health-based educational programming for more than 5,000 Maryland school-age children. Each year, thousands of people discover the wonders of interactive exhibits, historic artifacts, and engaging programs.
The National Museum of Dentistry inspires people to make healthy choices about oral health by creating and sharing learning opportunities that celebrate the heritage and future of dentistry, the achievements of dental professionals, and the importance of oral health in a healthy life. NDM has been designated as an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
An opportunity exists for you to become involved in this wonderful museum even if you cannot visit right away. This project deserves the support of every dental professional in the United States! This is our museum! I urge you to become a dental office member today! The cost is insignificant. When you join, you will receive the added benefits of a Smithsonian Affiliate membership. Go online to www.dentalmuseum.org for more information. Don’t miss this opportunity to be of service to your profession.
Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor - e-mail: joeb@pennwell.com
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