It's been a rewarding and exceptional year at DOCS Education!
By Genni Burkhart
In 2023, the accomplishments at DOCS Education were abundant, and we are thankful to our members and staff for making this happen.
We have expanded our services, launched new initiatives, and created more educational opportunities for our members. We’re proud of our teamwork approach to providing the highest quality dental sedation learning experience to oral health professionals.
As we review the highlights and accomplishments of 2023, our sights are set on a prosperous 2024.
The Incisor Newsletter and Blog Marks its Fourth Win in Publication and Writing Excellence
DOCS Education’s bimonthly newsletter, the Incisor, was honored in the 35th Annual APEX Awards competition for communication professionals as a recipient of a 2023 Award of Excellence in Newsletters-Writing, Entire Issue. This marks the third consecutive win and fourth overall win for the Incisor. Take a bow, Incisor team!
Your Favorite Articles of 2023
It’s evident that Incisor readers enjoy updates related to regulations and practice management, and dare we say a little true crime. The results are in, and the top seven most-read Incisor Articles for 2023 are:
1. RDH Insight: Understanding the Dental Hygienist Shortage
Facing staffing issues in hiring and maintaining registered dental hygienists for your practice? Hear directly from an experienced RDH on possible causes and successful solutions.
2. Don’t Be Spoofed! The Latest Scams Targeting Dental Practices
In the same way as technology advances, so do scams targeting dental offices and medical providers. How prepared are you and your staff?
3. Is Walmart Health Competing for Your Dental Patients?
Walmart Health is expanding clinics and partnering with a modern oral health company to increase access to oral health and target patients who value cost and convenience.
4. DEA UPDATES: Are You MATE Compliant?
DOCS legal counsel explains the importance of new DEA updates and staying MATE Compliant regarding prescription drugs.
Society's ongoing fascination with true crime leads us to examine some devious dentists who have made past and present headlines.
6. Bulkfill Polymerization Shrinkage is the Enemy!
Raymond L. Bertolotti, DDS, PhD, examines the latest developments on overcoming polymerization shrinkage issues.
7. For These Accomplished Athletes, Dentistry Is Their Favorite Side Hustle
One of the fastest people in the world also aspires to become a dentist. The Incisor asks, how many other notable athletes are also dentists? It turns out there are quite a few!
Our Favorite Articles of 2023
While it’s hard to pick just one favorite, some of the top picks for 2023 by the Incisor staff include:
With eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia affecting millions of Americans, the dental professional may be the first to see the warning signs. In Part I of a two-part series on this health issue, we look at the different conditions and their impact on oral health.
As potential "first responders," dental professionals must be able to identify the warning signs of eating disorders.
Invisible, humiliating, and debilitating, medical gaslighting leaves patients feeling invalidated, unheard, and powerless over their health.
Science has made astounding progress in diagnosing, treating, and preventing HIV. Given the oral-systemic health connection, the impact on oral healthcare is significant.
Patients with sensory processing disorders depend on compassion and understanding when visiting the dentist, a cornerstone of sedation dentistry.
DOCS Education Highlights
There were plenty of exciting events and updates across the DOCS Education organization. Some of the highlights in 2023 include:
- The Elite Learning Series included DOCS Education faculty and dental leaders such as Dr. Kois, Dr. Koerner, Dr. Goerig, Dr. Matheny, Dr. Larkin, and Dr. Bertolotti, with exciting guests like National Geographic’s Hazen Audel and bestselling author and behavioral change expert, Karen Salmansohn. We’ll start 2024 with DOCS Education Regulatory Counsel David T. Palmer, J.D., Dr. Feck for Sedation Safety Week, and Dr. Timothy for an in-depth webinar on cone-beam computed tomography.
- A highly successful and informative 15th Annual Sedation Safety Week with 2023 Safe Sedation Dentist of the Year: Rasheeda Johnson, DDS, MBA.
- DOCS Education welcomed David Palmer Esq. as our new regulatory counsel. David T. Palmer, J.D., is uniquely qualified to advise and advocate for sedation dentistry. He draws on a regulatory background that started from his first experiences in law school, working directly for local judges as a Judicial Clerk at the county courthouse.
- DOCS Education launched a second IV training site, and more dental Boards accepted the DOCS course for permit approval, including some video testimonies.
- DOCS Education has expanded online content so members have access to more education. We’ve added 50 new courses! In 2024, we’ll make the courses more interactive and update many favorites.
- Live events returned in 2023 with DOCS faculty speaking in Aspen, Singing River, and at WAGD and SDDS.
- A total of 26 dental practices had DOCS faculty in-house for focused training in 2023!
- We’re excited to announce the DOCS Education 25th Anniversary LIVE event on October 18-19, 2024 in Denver, CO!
From the entire DOCS Incisor staff to you - Happy Holidays! We wish you a peaceful and prosperous New Year. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to bringing you more exciting stories and content that will help you make informed decisions as savvy leaders in dentistry.
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Author: With over 13 years as a published journalist, editor, and writer Genni Burkhart's career has spanned politics, healthcare, law, business finance, technology, and news. She resides in Northern Colorado, where she works as the Editor in Chief of the Incisor at DOCS Education.
