The California Dental Association in August received recognition from the American Dental Association in three membership categories, including “most improved active member retention rate” among state associations with more than 7,500 active licensed dentists.
CDA, an association of nearly 27,000 member dentists, also received an award for “peer recognition,” a first-time category for the ADA’s Annual Membership Awards Ceremony, which was held virtually for the first time due to social gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In another new membership category ― National Signing Day ― CDA and California dental schools were recognized for their collaborative work to transition class of 2019 dental students to practicing dentists.
Peers look to CDA for ideas and inspiration
CDA was one of 14 state dental associations to receive the peer recognition award for its leadership, innovation and influence.
Describing the new award category, the ADA wrote, “Oftentimes we look to our peers at state and local dental societies for ideas and inspiration to influence the work we do” and that the new category provides “an opportunity for you to acknowledge those state and local dental societies and individuals influential to your role.”
"CDA thanks the ADA for recognizing our ideas and innovation, from our founding in 1980 of the first dentist-centric insurance company to our ability to quickly reprioritize our efforts to best serve our members in the midst of a pandemic, such as by organizing a robust all-virtual C.E. convention in September,” said CDA President Richard Nagy, DDS.
Also this year, CDA released a suite of back to practice resources to help dentists return to safe practice as the state began to relax its closure mandate, advocated successfully for continuing education waivers for licensure and worked with the Newsom administration to secure PPE for all California dentists through the state’s supply.
Nine executive directors of local dental societies throughout the U.S. also received the peer recognition award, including San Francisco Dental Society Executive Director Deborah Elam.
Building the pipeline of new members
The ADA this year added “national signing day” to recognize dental schools that collected 80% or greater national signing day applications from class of 2019 dental school graduates.
But the award acknowledges the collaborative work that state dental associations, local dental societies, dental school faculty and ASDA chapter leaders undertake to welcome new graduates into the profession. “This is not a solo mission,” the ADA wrote about national signing day. “We applaud you for your teamwork.”
Dental schools in 24 states received the award including, in California: Loma Linda University, School of Dentistry; UCLA School of Dentistry, Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC; Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry and Western University School of Dental Medicine.
CDA has received ADA membership awards in other categories in recent years, including in 2018 for converting the highest numbers of women and diverse dentists to membership.
Learn about the benefits that CDA members receive, including one-on-one guidance on regulatory compliance, dental benefits and employment practices from CDA’s practice support experts; continuing education opportunities; savings on products and services through CDA Endorsed Services; and eligibility for dentist-centric coverage through The Dentists Insurance Company.
Sign up online to become a CDA member today.