On May 22 and 23 the ODA held its spring General Council Meeting which featured elections for the Chair of Council and the Board of Directors. Unlike in previous years, elections were held on the Saturday instead of the customary Friday. Many General Councillors objected to this change as the Saturday usually has lower councillor attendance, practitioners had already made plans to schedule the Friday off from seeing patients, and members of our observant Jewish community, who observe the Sabbath on Saturday could not attend the voting. Despite the many objections the elections proceeded on Saturday.
Dr. David Stevenson was re-elected as Chair of General council, and newly elected candidates to the ODA Board of Directors included:
- Dr. Joe Phillips (Region 5)
- Dr. Todd Plexman (Region 3)
- Dr. Gerald Smith (Region 3)
- Dr. Domenic Trotti (Region 4)
- Dr. Homa Jammehdiabadi (Region 4)
We wish our newly elected Board members all the best in their next two year term. This election featured a record number of candidates for the Board of Directors. It has become clear that a number of issues are causing member friction that will require our united association and membership to come together in one unified voice to address these concerns. They include: delisting of dental offices by specific insurers that have profiled offices whose billing practices do not match their algorithm, Sunlife who administers the CDCP has been inconsistent in its predetermination process, and its Fee Guide pays substantially less than our ODA Fee Guide. Member education on balanced billing is needed or the Sunlife Fee Grid will become OUR Fee Guide if members choose not to collect the difference. The erosion of our scope of practice by other providers such as hygienists and denturists is encroaching on our scope of practice.
Our association is facing a new member landscape and must come together in its inclusiveness, accountability to members whose dues pay our association to act in their best interest. And only by listening to our membership and acting with targeted strategies will our noble profession not be socialized like our colleagues in medicine. The OMA has recently undergone a total purging of its leadership. This occurred because its previous leadership did not recognize members’ wants and needs and lacked financial transparency. We encourage our ODA leadership to avoid such a radical transformation by engaging our members and acting with positive, results oriented strategies going forward that will bring us together as a Not for Profit professional association. Now more than ever, our leadership must become nimble and more responsive to our members needs. Best of luck and appreciation to our new Board.
