With the constantly rising costs of healthcare, many Americans and Canadians are making difficult decisions about their health, including sometimes forgoing routine preventive care as a way to save money. This includes dental care, which can result in patients requiring even more expensive and complicated emergency care down the road.

For Mary Joyce Gomez, DDS, director of the St. Bernard Hospital Dental Center on Chicago’s South Side, a usual day could involve writing grants for the clinic’s upcoming projects, preparing data and completing reports, giving presentations to donors, or performing adult and pediatric dental care in the hospital’s clinic or operating room. A passionate advocate for the communities she provides care for, Gomez’s mission is to bring both basic services and hope to vulnerable populations in Chicago.

The Senate has passed a 2020 spending bill that includes a permanent repeal of the Medical Device Excise Tax. The bill is now awaiting President Trump's signature.

Coty M. Shores, DDS, grew up watching his father start a company from scratch and his mother participate in mission work. He carried his parents’ work ethic with him into dentistry.

Seonha Park, DMD, makes a difference in dentistry by staying involved with organized dentistry

Only five years after graduating from the University of Western Ontario in 2011, Sarah A. Mancuso, DDS, purchased her own practice. She first became involved with the Ontario AGD in 2010 as a student liaison. Though the demands of practice ownership are high, Mancuso makes it a point to invest in AGD — in fact, her leadership is making history in Ontario.

Sarah Percy Tovar, DDS, FAGD, FICD, makes a difference in dentistry by supporting the newest and emerging members of the profession. “As a leader at the local and state levels, I have had the opportunity to provide impactful CE to practicing dentists — especially new dentists — through study clubs and statewide conferences.”

Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, has clocked more than 1,000 CE hours. This investment in CE is her way of ensuring she gives her patients the most up-to-date treatment options.

Mark your calendars! AGD2020 course registration officially opens Feb. 24. Courses can fill up quickly, so don’t wait to register. Educational offerings range from advanced hands-on education to clinical and practice management lectures in innovative, one-hour formats. Check out the course schedule today, and start planning your schedule. Those registered for the meeting will be among the first notified when courses are open.

Jessica L. Gibbs, DDS, is a fourth-generation dentist who considers it “a dream come true” to join her father’s practice. Like the dentists in her family before her, Gibbs believes a dentist’s education continues to evolve beyond dental school.

Dentistry needs new dentists to share their ideas and get involved through organized dentistry, mentorship and education. To showcase the talents of the next generation of dentists, AGD Impact reached out to 10 outstanding dentists who have been practicing for less than 10 years and asked them about their accomplishments and goals.

You too can help a colleague start their year off right by inviting them to join AGD through the Refer-a-Colleague program. By participating, you’re not only spreading the word about the value of AGD membership, but also earning rewards.

Plan time this week to check out the AGD Podcast Series, featuring great storytelling and interesting and relevant insights. Here are some of the most listened to and notable podcasts you may have missed in 2019.

Wisconsin AGD President Louis C. Boryc, DDS, FAGD, testified before the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Medicaid Reform and Oversight as it heard AB 81 related to the licensure of dental therapy.

Chirag Vaid, DDS, has spent his career advocating for high quality care in a variety of dental environments. “As part of organized dentistry, I ask myself if a piece of legislation would allow dentists to provide better care. If it doesn’t, then I try to find a solution that will.”

Murtuza Jaffari, DDS, said taking a one-patient-at-a-time approach has strengthened his connection to the important work of dentistry. When you’re going from appointment to appointment, day after day, it’s easy to lose sight of the individuals in the chair.

From speaking at dental schools across the country, leading dental students on global dental mission trips and welcoming predental students into his office, Daryn L. Lu, DDS, gives back any chance he gets.

Roberto A. Moreno, DDS, MAGD, has had several major accomplishments in his first 10 years of practice, including co-owning two practices and serving as president of the Iowa AGD.

January is a great time to start planning your continuing education (CE) goals for the year. Stay on top of your CE tracking to find out how close you are to earning Fellowship or Mastership awards.

AGD's Self-Instruction program now includes exercises based on AGD Impact articles. Designed to fit easily into your busy learning schedule, each AGD Impact exercise contains 10 questions and is worth one continuing education credit.