Viewing page 166 of 380

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

THE NATIONAL DENTAL ASSOCIATION
INTERSTATE 1918
ORAL HYGIENE
THE TRI-STATE DENTAL ASS'N
ORGANIZED MCMXIII
MCMXXXII

NATIONAL DENTAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY to the NATIONAL DENTAL ASSN.
DENTAL HYGIENISTS
DENTAL ASSISTANTS

July 29, 1978 - Wash., D.C.

At its 63rd Annual Session of the National Dental Association (NDA) held in Nashville, Tennessee, the Board of Trustees and House of Delegates agreed on revolutionary changes in the structure of organized Dentistry.  The NDA hired the consultant firm, Boone and Young of New York CIty, to work with a task force of 30 NDA members and auxiliaries.  Headed by Dr. James Lessiter of New Jersey, the Task Force came in with proposed changes to make the NDA more responsive to its membership and the patients it serves.  The changes include:

- The development of a more effective communication system with its new National Office in Washington, D.C.

- The integrating of all dental auxiliaries into the policy-making structure of NDA

- Redefining goals and objectives to make NDA more relevant to current issues in national health legislation and health policy

Chairman of the BOard, Dr. Harvey Webb, Jr. of Columbia, Md., stated that "The National Dental Association laid out its objectives for dental care in poor and minority communities in its 'Charet' in 1972.  The implementation the task force recommendations is the culmination of our goal to have a more effective nad more responsive NDA .  The American public is concerned about the many problems today in the health care delivery system and the NDA is willing to change to meet today's problems with today's solutions."

Dr. Irving Hawkins of Baltimore, Md., Speaker of the House of Delegates, concurred and indicated that this "change...toward increased responsibility by the National Dental Association shows its sensitivity to community interest and needs.  The image of dentistry must become a more positive one that shows the dental profession and the dental patient working in concert to control dental disease and protect the health of the patient at costs that are reasonable."

In another part of the reorganization, the NDA established a foundation for development of Dental Health Education and related programs for its members and the general public.  The foundation will be headed by Dr. Phillip Cooper of Savannah, Georgia.

The incoming President, Dr. Harvey Webb, Jr., Columbia, Md., related his pleasure with the "foresight of the officers and membership of NDA and called upon each member to make maximum input into the reorganization process to assure a successful transition into the modern era where the health profssional and his patients join in a common cause--improved preventive dental care for all Americans."

[[photo]]
DR. HARVEY WEBB, JR.

[[photo]]
DR. CHESTER REDHEAD

170