Throughout the CDA Foundation’s 25th anniversary year, its volunteer leadership is reflecting on legacy programs and sharing how they’ve transformed over time. The Wellness Program has a special place in the nonprofit’s history. And it’s scope has expanded to offer more proactive and sustained support. Here’s how the program has evolved:
Then: Supporting substance abuse recovery, saving careers
The Well-Being Program, as it was called when established in 1985, was geared toward aiding the recovery of dentists impaired by substance use so they could safely return to practice. The program was rooted in compassion and professional accountability—values held by the Foundation today—and emphasized confidential support and structured recovery pathways.
Regional Well-Being Committees were critical in identifying, guiding and mentoring their colleagues in need. At the same time, the program was aligned with the Dental Board of California to maintain professional standards and public safety. This approach protected patients and the profession by ensuring impaired dentists received critical help, including monitoring and support through substance use disorder recovery.
This model served a vital role at a time when mental health and addiction were heavily stigmatized and resources were sparse. It saved careers, held families together and helped many dentists return to meaningful, productive practice. And the hard truth is that dentists need support for far more than substance use disorders alone.
Now: Expanding the total wellness lens, fostering resilience
Today, the program takes a broader, more proactive approach to provider health, addressing the full spectrum of mental, emotional and physical well-being in the dental community. The name change from Well-Being to Wellness reflects this expanded scope.
“What began as a focused, compassionate response to addiction has expanded to address burnout, chronic stress, anxiety and depression affecting dental professionals across California,” shared Dr. Matthew Korn, Wellness Program chair.
Just as important, the committee is dismantling the stigma around mental health so dentists no longer feel they must suffer in silence. “This work is not regulatory. We are not the California Dental Board,” Korn noted. “The Wellness Program is confidential, accessible and designed to support healing, not punishment.”
This year, the committee’s traditionally private award honoring contributions to dental professional wellness will be presented publicly for the first time. “This change underscores how far the culture of support, recovery and community outreach, especially for isolated dentists, has truly come,” Korn added.
The Wellness Program maintains its original role for those experiencing crises, but it also is now a resource for all California dentists, not just those in recovery. The program’s commitment to reducing stigma and promoting whole-person health includes:
- A new emphasis on stress and burnout prevention and building resilience.
- Resources and events to foster mental health awareness, understanding of the wellness continuum and peer-to-peer connections.
- Online tools, education and referral pathways for dentists and dental teams at all stages of their careers and wellness journeys.
As dentistry evolves, so do the pressures on all dental team members, whether these are pressures to increase patient loads, manage administrative burdens or resolve personal health struggles and changing family dynamics. The Wellness Program meets these challenges head on, offering compassionate support that’s deeply rooted in the dental community.
The program joins a larger cultural movement within the larger health landscape: embracing mental well-being as essential to clinical excellence, ethical practice and access to care. Learn more about the Foundation’s 25-year legacy and how to get involved in compassionate, equitable and community-driven solutions.