President’s Message – November 2024

Dear SWSPD Members,

Our Society is delighted to serve the members of our states by carrying out the AAPD mission of delivering the highest quality Pediatric Dentistry to the children we serve. I’m so proud of our members who work tirelessly in the political realm, private practice, and academics for the greater good of children. There is no higher calling! The SWSPD has had the pleasure of inheriting a wonderful organization from legendary leaders like Dr. Bruce Weiner (TX) and carrying on a tradition of excellence.

We have a wonderful leadership team, and I would like to highlight a few doctors who have led excellently.

Dr. Janelle Plocheck (TX), SWSPD Continuing Education Chairperson, has put together high-quality webinars and Summer Meetings with relevant topics ranging from mental health to pain management. Conservative financial stewardship has allowed us to offer several virtual CE courses this year to members at a discounted rate as a member benefit.

Dr. Ryan Roberts (OK), Ski Meeting Chairperson, has been instrumental in planning the ski meeting in a family-friendly atmosphere where attendees can obtain critical CE for the entire year and build upon professional relationships and resources to help guide their practices.

Our past AAPD Trustee Dr. Jeff Rhodes (AR) donated a tremendous amount of time and energy to represent our members at the national level and now Dr. Katherine Chin (CO) has taken on this role.

Every great team has a leader who organizes and communicates issues to leadership and Michelle Jacobi, our Executive Director, has been steadfast in this role by helping to lead our organization through strategic planning; wherein our board refined our bylaws and developed mission and vision statements to guide us.

Out of our mission and vision, SWSPD committed to double our financial support to all residency programs in the SouthWestern District that participate in the AAPD’s Public Oral Health Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C. Additionally, SWSPD contributed funds to support our sister district organization, the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry to help doctors whose practices were devastated by the recent hurricanes.

As you can see, we are moving with purpose to ensure your dues are not wasted but used in a way you can be proud of. In closing, YOUR SWSPD is committed to stewarding our resources to reduce CE and meeting costs for our members, support our colleagues and residents, and stay engaged politically!

Sincerely yours,
David Sentelle, DMD, PhD, MPH