I am an eternal optimist. I am always hopeful about the future. I believe in hard work and surrounding myself with people I trust and respect. But 2020 and COVID-19 really put things in perspective for me and tested those virtues.

Today, I start each day with a deep breath, a brief stretch and a smile because I see the light at the end of a very long tunnel. I am grateful to be a general dentist, have a wonderful team in my dental office, lead AGD and, most importantly, have a wonderful family. I allow myself time each morning to appreciate those details because, like you, this year showed me how quickly things can change and how important it is to be grateful for each day.

It was a year ago when our practices and lives were transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Offices were shuttered, and many of us only treated patients for emergency needs. We worried about taking care of our team members, our families and the practices we built. We struggled with financial hardships, concerns about the health of those we love and uncertainty about what to expect in the future. As president, it has been humbling to be part of the AGD community as we’ve worked together to face enormous and unprecedented challenges.

But, every day, I see glimmers of hope for our future. COVID-19 positivity rates are dropping, and vaccination rates are increasing. In West Virginia, where I live, we have one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. This is exciting, and you can see the sense of relief throughout the communities we serve.

As I reflect on the past year, there are a few key lessons I’ve learned that I’d like to share today:

1. Our collective voices are important. The power of our voices in Washington, D.C., and at the state and local levels has never been more important. AGD has always advocated for the general dentist and worked tirelessly on your behalf. Since COVID-19, we have increased our outreach through a very strategic and ongoing approach led by AGD leaders and members who demanded action. We want regulatory leaders to understand the important role we play in our community’s health as oral care providers and employers. Your voice matters, so stay connected, and take action.
2. Commit to lifelong learning. AGD members are lifelong learners, and the pandemic exemplified our members’ desires to be their very best. The overwhelming response to the “Staying Connected During COVID-19” webinar series illustrated how our members were committed to seeking insights to help return to work and regular operations. You can still take advantage of the free and recorded webinars or sign up for other courses.
3. Stay connected for better health. AGD is a family to me, and it has definitely been here for me over the past year. This has been an incredibly stressful time for us and a time when we could all use extra support. We continue to face pressure and anxiety as we manage the needs of our teams, patients and community. Use your AGD community for help, and access the support and information you need. (Check out our mental health resources online.)
4. Always look ahead. I encourage you to think about where you want to be in three months and never stop striving for your goals. I like to look forward and imagine what the future holds for me, but that has been difficult over the past year with all the uncertainty in our lives. Because of this, I adjusted that strategy slightly; setting goals for three months instead of three years is helping me be more reasonable about my goals.
5. General dentists are essential. Good oral health is important; therefore, general dentistry is essential. We must never let our leaders lose sight of the role we play in protecting our communities. As we face our future, we must continue to emphasize the contributions we make to public health.

We must remain resilient, share resources and ideas, and be there for each other and our profession.

I am honored to work with you, and I look forward to our future.

Bruce L. Cassis, DDS, MAGD
President, Academy of General Dentistry