KDA Today
KDA Today
For Immediate Release
Date: Jun 23rd, 2015
Contact: Dr. Beverly Largent
Phone: 800-292-1855
Email: info@kyda.org
My Introduction: A Smidge of Trepidation, Overwhelmingly Full of Pride and Anticipation
I have never been good with introductions. I have forgotten the names of friends when trying to introduce them. There is nothing like a blank mind on one occasion to instill fear of future failures. This is truly a personality defect, one I have yet to overcome. My husband, the enabler, has never met a stranger, and proffers his hand with a ready overture. So, now that you know my great secret, you should also know that I am operating under a threat from Dr. John Thompson to write something embarrassing, if I do not introduce myself as the future editor of the KDA Journal.
My career in dentistry began at the tender age of 18 when I entered the Dental Hygiene Program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. I practiced dental hygiene in Western Kentucky for a little more than ten years before I decided to continue my education. Noticeably pregnant and with a toddler in tow, I enrolled at Murray State University. My goal was to obtain enough credits to allow me to apply for dental school. Much to the chagrin of my advisor, after three semesters I was accepted to the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry. During the semesters at Murray State, my daughter was born. I was quite the stand out in those days. A nursing student from another state asked to follow the delivery of my baby for her credit hours. We were introduced when she summoned the courage to stop me on the side walk. Professors asked how I would pay for dental school, and there were times of blatant discrimination. Without the open attitude of the admissions committee at UK, my career would have definitely been postponed or ended.
I have practiced Pediatric Dentistry for thirty-one years. For most of those years I have been a solo practitioner. For three years, while I was heavily involved in organized dentistry, I was blessed with young men who spent one year in my practice just out of dental school. I am proud that each of them reached their goal to become a successful Pediatric Dentist after a stint in the “coal mines” of my office. Their reports back to me suggest that I had a positive influence and there were no negatives associated with my relationships with their program directors. This has been one of the greatest rewards of my professional life.
Organized dentistry has been a satisfying hobby for all of my professional career. Currently, I am president of Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. I am the retiring president of the Foundation of the Kentucky Dental Association. I have held many other offices; the President of the Kentucky Dental Association and the President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry are the two most cherished. These are great honors, but the best parts are not the offices, themselves, but the people I came to know and count as my friends, and the great education afforded me in these positions. I have lobbied in Congressional offices on the national level for over 15 years, sometimes twice a year, once with the ADA and once with the AAPD. There was always intensive education prior to all events, and the ability to meet with legislators on a continual basis is invaluable. It is a great experience to go to the U.S. capitol, and have a legislator greet you by your first name. I have had the opportunity to attend the professional MBA course at Kellogg in Illinois, and Wharton in Pennsylvania. I have been in media training classes for more than five years. Because of my positions, I have been invited to speak at national forums about dental health. One of the most fun was the Organization of Family Law Judges. I even co-authored a brief for judges presiding in child care cases, so that they would be able to evaluate children’s oral health. Perhaps the most exciting time in my career is now, when I am able to attend the board meetings of the Kentucky Dental Association. I am impressed with the job your representatives are doing, and their willingness to be open and have thorough discussions of the topics which eventually will affect all of practicing dentists in the state.
I look forward to serving as Editor for the Kentucky Dental Association. It is with great pride and trepidation that I move to this stage in my career. I hope that my experiences in organized dentistry will be of value. I have a wonderful mentor in Dr. Thompson, and a tireless editor in Melissa Nathanson, so my path will be less bumpy. I invite all of you to use your voice. I believe that each person can make a positive difference in the life of another, and that this is what we are all called to do. It is my desire to make a small difference, and in doing that, begin to fill the large void left by my immediate predecessor, and those wise men who labored before him.
Press Releases
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Aug 14th, 2015 | First, Do No Harm? |
Aug 14th, 2015 | Can You Hear Me, Now? |
Aug 14th, 2015 | Calling ALL Members and Non-Members: We Need Organized Dentistry! |
Aug 14th, 2015 | A Plan for Our Future, and a New Mission Statement…Helping Member Dentists Succeed and Serve |
Jun 23rd, 2015 | Our new KDA Mission: Helping Member Dentists Succeed and Serve |
Jun 23rd, 2015 | We’ve got a Plan! |
Jun 23rd, 2015 | Irrelevance |
Jun 23rd, 2015 | My Introduction: A Smidge of Trepidation, Overwhelmingly Full of Pride and Anticipation |
Jun 23rd, 2015 | Part II: The KDA’s Dental Access Summit – A Report |
Jun 18th, 2015 | Medicare Part D: Q&A; - American Dental Association - May 29, 2015 |
Apr 28th, 2015 | Thank You for the Opportunity |
Apr 28th, 2015 | Ask not What Your KDA Can Do for you… |
Apr 28th, 2015 | The View from “No Man’s Land” |
Apr 28th, 2015 | KDA’S Dental Access Summit Saturday, January 31, 2015 Report to KDA Part I |
Feb 20th, 2015 | Into the Belly of the Beast |
Feb 20th, 2015 | For the Record |
Feb 20th, 2015 | It’s all about the membership in 2015! |
Feb 20th, 2015 | Think Big! |
Dec 29th, 2014 | Things are Moving Faster than Fast! |
Dec 29th, 2014 | Who Wouldn’t Want to Be a Part of This? |
Dec 29th, 2014 | When Is the Right Time? |
Oct 24th, 2014 | Dental Insurance Direct Deposit Through A Virtual Credit Card; What Does It Cost Me? |
Oct 21st, 2014 | Who Can I Hire for $100 a Month? |
Oct 21st, 2014 | Last Call |
Oct 21st, 2014 | I’m here to Help |
Oct 21st, 2014 | Get passionate! This is Our Profession! |
Oct 21st, 2014 | Postscript for an Editor’s Passing |
Oct 21st, 2014 | “…and he did what?!”: Giving a Professional Second Opinion |
Aug 21st, 2014 | KENTUCKY HEALTH NOW: The GOALS of our GOVERNOR |
Aug 21st, 2014 | Synergy |
Aug 21st, 2014 | Nobody Goes Into Dentistry Because They Love Molars! |
Aug 21st, 2014 | Your KDA is Working Hard for You! |
Jun 16th, 2014 | Think Big. Think Positively. Think Proactively. |
Jun 16th, 2014 | Denigration |
Jun 16th, 2014 | YOU HAD TO BE THERE! |
Jun 16th, 2014 | New Friendships and Lasting Connections Creating a Stronger Interest in Organized Dentistry |
Jun 16th, 2014 | New Friendships and Lasting Connections Creating a Stronger Interest in Organized Dentistry |
Apr 24th, 2014 | I Only Have A Loose Screw! |
Apr 24th, 2014 | Dare to Dream! |
Apr 24th, 2014 | I am the KDA! You are the KDA! WE are the KDA! |
Apr 24th, 2014 | The Dentist’s Guide to Social Media Marketing |
Feb 20th, 2014 | Where Do We Go From Here? |
Feb 20th, 2014 | Medicaid: An Example of Missing the Goals for Oral Health in Kentucky |
Feb 20th, 2014 | UKCD’s First Regional Dental Program: The First Ten Years |
Feb 20th, 2014 | UofL Brightening the Smiles of Children |
Feb 20th, 2014 | Go Tell It on the Mountains |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | It Is What They Left Behind |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | Letting the Secret Out |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | Dr. John Thompson Awarded Distinguished Editor Award |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | Teamwork Creates Champions: the Kentucky Meeting: March 13-16, 2014 |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | Listen to Interviews with our Speakers! |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | Welcome Dental Students and New Dentists! |
Dec 23rd, 2013 | 2014 Kentucky Meeting Details |
Oct 17th, 2013 | I Still Like Maps! |
Oct 17th, 2013 | Ground Game |
Oct 17th, 2013 | Kentucky Department of Insurance, HB 497 and Non-covered Services |
Oct 17th, 2013 | Dr. Janet Faraci Lee’s Legacy |
Oct 17th, 2013 | Dr. Janet Faraci Lee Leadership Development Award |
Aug 12th, 2013 | The Affordable Care Act: What does it mean for Our Members? |
Aug 12th, 2013 | All Membership Is Local |
Aug 12th, 2013 | White Crosses |
Aug 12th, 2013 | KDA Membership…Where Do We Go from Here? |
Aug 12th, 2013 | Thoughts from a New Dentist: the Top Three Reasons that I am Involved with Organized Dentistry |
Aug 12th, 2013 | How can KDAIS Benefit You, as a KDA member? |
Aug 12th, 2013 | Beyond the Website: Marketing on the Modern Web |
Aug 12th, 2013 | Delinquent Accounts….Collections…..YUCK! |
Aug 12th, 2013 | Every Patient Matters. So Does Every Transaction. |
Jun 13th, 2013 | The Foundation of the Kentucky Dental Association: Positioned to Make a Powerful Statement |
Jun 13th, 2013 | Something I Wish I Didn't Know! |
Jun 13th, 2013 | Preaching to the Choir |
Apr 15th, 2013 | United We Stand, Divided We Fall |
Apr 15th, 2013 | So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu |
Apr 15th, 2013 | Exchange What? |
Apr 15th, 2013 | The Pediatric Dental Benefit: Must Offer, May Purchase… |
Apr 15th, 2013 | Participate in Your KDPAC! Contribute and Deliver |
Feb 12th, 2013 | It’s a Dentist Thing |
Feb 12th, 2013 | A Profession in Flux |
Feb 12th, 2013 | Living Is What You Do When Life Gets In the Way |
Feb 12th, 2013 | The Tip of the Iceberg: Actions by the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services Which May Sink KMAP |
Oct 19th, 2012 | House Bill 1 and What It Means to You |
Oct 19th, 2012 | Membership Matters |
Oct 19th, 2012 | Self-Regulation |
Aug 21st, 2012 | Sarrell Dental: Beyond the Operatory |
Aug 21st, 2012 | The Perception of Dentistry |
Jun 18th, 2012 | What Part of the “Affordable Care Act” Has Been Affordable? |
Jun 18th, 2012 | Leadership or Politics? |
Jun 18th, 2012 | I Had an Uncle… |
Apr 6th, 2012 | The "New Old" Still have Teeth |
Apr 6th, 2012 | What a Year, so far! |
Apr 6th, 2012 | Many Thanks for a Great and Memorable Year |
Feb 21st, 2012 | Happy New Normal |
Feb 21st, 2012 | All for One and One for All! |
Dec 19th, 2011 | The Wide World of Sports |
Dec 19th, 2011 | Access to Care? |
Oct 28th, 2011 | To the KDA Executive Board and the entire KDA |
Oct 28th, 2011 | Report of the Sixth District Trustee |
Oct 18th, 2011 | Managed Care and Dentistry in Kentucky: a Dentist’s Dilemma |
Oct 18th, 2011 | Word-of-Mouth on Steroids! |
Oct 18th, 2011 | Why We Shouldn't Lose Sight of Our Purpose... |
Aug 4th, 2011 | Mentor a Young Dentist and Change a Life |
Aug 4th, 2011 | OMG, what is EBD? |
Aug 4th, 2011 | CAPWIZ: Legislative Advocacy Made Easy |
Jun 13th, 2011 | Outside Our Line |
Jun 13th, 2011 | I Might Soon Be Coming to a Town Near You... |
Apr 18th, 2011 | Let Me Ask For a Minute of Your Time |
Apr 18th, 2011 | I Pledge to Be your Humble Servant… |
Apr 18th, 2011 | Blindsided |
Apr 18th, 2011 | On Your Side, Not Your List |
Feb 17th, 2011 | Dr. Andy Elliott for President-elect of the American Dental Association |
Feb 4th, 2011 | Adjusting Attitudes |
Feb 4th, 2011 | A Little Planning Really Helps |
Jan 4th, 2011 | Dental Management of Patients Taking Antiplatelet Medications |
Nov 30th, 2010 | Dental Education Found Worthy |
Nov 30th, 2010 | Delegates Report from the 2010 American Dental Association House of Delegates, Orlando, Florida |
Nov 30th, 2010 | Holiday Greetings to All |
Oct 25th, 2010 | Delegates Report from the 2010 American Dental Association House of Delegates, Orlando, Florida |
Oct 7th, 2010 | What If …? |
Oct 7th, 2010 | What Happens in Alaska, doesn’t Stay in Alaska |
Oct 7th, 2010 | We Need To Do a Better Job of Communicating |
Oct 7th, 2010 | I’m in a Hurry! |
Oct 7th, 2010 | Who Will Speak for Me? |
Aug 6th, 2010 | Kentucky's Dental Practice Act: The Passing of an Old Friend |
Aug 6th, 2010 | The Times They Are Changing |
Jun 10th, 2010 | How a Star was Born |
Jun 10th, 2010 | I Need Your Help… |
Apr 20th, 2010 | President's Message MA 2010 |
Apr 20th, 2010 | KDA and Louisville Water Company Share 150th Birthday and Public Health Vision |
Apr 20th, 2010 | Getting It Right! |
Feb 25th, 2010 | Please Join Us for an Exciting, Event-Filled Year Ahead! |
Feb 25th, 2010 | What is a Legacy? |
Dec 14th, 2009 | There is Hope: Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Kentucky |
Dec 14th, 2009 | Challenging the Myth of the Suicide-Prone Dentist |
Dec 14th, 2009 | Holiday Reflections… |
Nov 6th, 2009 | Don’t Balance Health Care Books by Shortchanging Physicians |
Nov 6th, 2009 | Break your Right Arm and Suddenly You have Time to Study Economics. |
Jun 26th, 2009 | Making the World a Better Place, One Village at a Time! |
Apr 13th, 2009 | Breaking Glass |
Feb 20th, 2009 | At the Heart of any Worthy Project is a Committed Volunteer |