Organizations

MADISON, Wisconsin – The Chinese have designated 2011 "The Year of the Rabbit," however, the bunnies are being asked to step aside because the president of the United States' fastest growing health organization, The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) is proclaiming the year 2011 as the "Year of the Mouth." AAOSH is taking a stand that the mouth is the first place to start for overall body health and longer life. In recent years the studies have been piling up connecting poor oral health to the deadliest of diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. Oral health problems have also been shown to have close connections to many other serious health concerns like Alzheimer's, arthritis, pneumonia and pregnancy complications.

CHICAGO, Illinois – The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced the appointment of J. Craig Busey as its Chief Legal Counsel, with responsibilities for managing the organization's Division of Legal Affairs.

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) has launched a newly redesigned website. The new site, still at www.padental.org, features a user-friendly navigation structure, as well as a more intuitive organization of information. A new color palette also was chosen to make the site more eye-catching. The patient section, www.padental.org/patients, contains a wealth of information for the public, and we encourage you to check it out.

WASHINGTON, District of Columbia – The American Dental Association has named Michael Graham Senior Vice President of its Division of Government and Public Affairs, based in Washington. Mr. Graham will assume full duties effective Jan. 3, 2011.

Recipient to bring dental care to underserved communities

SACRAMENTO, California – The California Dental Association Foundation has announced Luis Rivera, DDS, as the 10th recipient of its innovative and charitable Dental Student Loan Repayment Grant Program. Rivera, who graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry in 2009, will receive a maximum of $105,000 to help offset significant student loan debt in exchange for a three-year commitment to work in an underserved community.

SACRAMENTO, California – A pediatric dentist with more than 30 years of experience has been installed as the California Dental Association's new president for 2011. Andrew P. Soderstrom, DDS, who owns a practice in Modesto, outlined his vision and goals for the organization during CDA's recent House of Delegates meeting.

Organizations will be supplied with much-needed products and materials.

SACRAMENTO, California – The California Dental Association Foundation has announced that 10 nonprofit dental organizations will receive its Dental Materials and Supplies Grant.

VOORHEES, New Jersey – Dr. Jack Piermatti, a prosthodontist and managing director of Dental Arts of South Jersey in Voorhees, N.J., has been named to the Board of Directors of the American Board of Oral Implantology. He presently serves as an examiner for the organization, and is on its Test Construction Committee.

CHICAGO, Illinois – The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) has developed and launched a new website that offers more content and easier navigation for dental professionals, members and patients. The enhanced site's home page provides immediate access to the current issue of the Journal of Endodontics, plus various other features and enhancements.

CHICAGO, Illinois – Oral Health America's board of directors recently elected three members into new officer roles. They are: Keith Suchy, DDS, Drs. Sullivan & Suchy LTD, chair of the board; Margaret S. Cottrell, president, ConFirm Monitoring Systems, vice chair; and Steven J. Pollock, president, DentaQuest, secretary/treasurer. Each officer will serve a two-year term, beginning in February 2011.