Delegates say yes to allied membership

By: Debra Belt

The House of Delegates made history Nov. 11 by approving membership for allied dental health professionals beginning in 2007 and casting a vote for representation of the entire dental team through CDA.

A chorus of cheers echoed through the house as the result of the vote was announced, signaling that delegates were comfortable with the terms of the proposal and embraced the idea of inclusive membership and a unified voice for dentistry. 

“The benefit is that we will be able to incorporate the ideas, the rich experiences and the needs of our dental teams in our deliberations, decisions and advocacy,” said Mark Tarica, DDS, of Los Angeles, who served as chair of CDA’s Allied Dental Health Professional Work Group. “CDA members will benefit because we will be able to make better decisions for the profession and the public.”

The vote concluded several years of work and discussion on the issue and carried out direction from the 2004 House of Delegates to research and develop a plan for allied dental health professional membership in CDA. In 2005, delegates rejected a proposal to offer membership to allied professionals.

Tarica, who spoke passionately in favor of the proposal to approximately 400 attendees during the 2006 meeting in Beverly Hills, admitted that one year ago he was “on the fence” about the issue.

“Last year, I felt like there were too many questions and that the education process was not complete,” he explained. “I think the proposal passed this year because delegates had more time to become familiar with the issue and were less fearful of it.”

Delegates engaged in significant debate about the topic during the reference committee hearing that preceded the actual vote. The CDA House of Delegates utilizes reference committees to thoroughly explore and discuss all proposals presented to delegates. All members are welcome to speak in reference committees.

Many delegates, alternate delegates, Executive Committee members, council members and trustees articulated their support of the proposal, including Robert Shorey, DDS, of Sacramento; Tom Stewart, DDS, of Kern County; Irving Lebovics, DDS, of Los Angeles; La Juan Hall, DDS, of Contra Costa; Gerald Gelfand, DMD, of San Fernando Valley; Ernest Garcia, DDS, of Butte-Sierra; Virginia Hughson-Otte, DDS, of San Fernando Valley; Dennis Hobby, DDS, of Stanislaus; Ariane Terlet, DDS, of Berkeley; and Thomas Olinger, DDS, of San Diego.

Some had been previously opposed to or undecided on the idea of allied membership.

“A friend said I have been brainwashed,” Olinger said. “Actually, I have become more educated and enlightened on the value of inclusiveness.”

The proposal accepted by delegates received a two-thirds vote, which was required because of related bylaws changes. The measure calls for membership applications to be available immediately to dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental laboratory technicians and dental administrative staff, with membership beginning in 2007.

The approved model for allied membership calls for organization-wide representation of allied professionals with speaking privileges at Board of Trustees meetings, where there will be one allied guest, and the annual House of Delegates, where there will be two allied guests.

Tarica and others emphasized the importance of allied dental professionals having a voice in discussions on issues relating to dentistry.

“The house felt that having a voice in discussions is equal to, if not more important than, the vote,” Tarica said. “If your argument is good, you will sway the group whether or not you have a vote.”

Additionally, a Committee on Allied Dental Health Professionals will be appointed in 2007 by CDA President Ronald Mead, DDS. Allied representatives will be appointed, as needed, to councils and committees beginning in 2008. Also specified is that after any one category of allied professionals, such as hygienist or lab technician, reaches 250 members, that category will be allocated one guest to the house, with the total number of allied guests not exceeding six.

Membership for allied dental health professionals is a direct CDA membership with dues of $125. If the ADHP member’s local dental society offers an allied membership, $25 will be shared with the allied member’s respective dental society. To encourage membership in both CDA and an allied professional organization such as the California Dental Hygienists’ Association, an incentive of a 10 percent dues reduction is proposed for applicants submitting proof of membership in an allied organization.

According to Mary Sobieralski, CDA allied dental health professional administrator, there are 20 allied membership applications on file, with numerous requests for applications weekly.

Tanya Stein, RDH, of San Fernando Valley has a membership application on file with CDA.

“I turned in an application as soon as I heard about the new membership opportunity,” Stein said. “I think being part of a team is what a dental practice is all about. We work together so that patients have a pleasant experience, so it seems like the best way for us to work for our patients is to join forces.”

Allied membership in CDA has been, and will continue to be, an evolution. Tarica and Olinger said allied membership is a work in progress.

“As time progresses, representation will be evaluated,” Tarica said. “The important thing is that allied professionals have a voice at all levels of the organization.”

For Tarica, a turning point on the issue occurred when he attended his first allied work group meeting.

“When I had the privilege of working with allied professionals in the CDA work group, my fears dissolved,” he said. “Allied professionals have as much passion for the profession as any dentist I know.”

At the house meeting, Tarica summarized his point of view to delegates.

“I have been working with the same dental assistant for 15 1/2 years. She is my professional colleague. I want her and professionals like her to be around the table when decisions are being made.”