diversityforum

Foundation Sponsors Sixth Annual Diversity Forum

The chill of an early January day couldn’t diminish the excitement and goodwill emanating from within the confines of the Queens
County Dental Society, the host site of the New York State Dental Foundation’s sixth annual diversity forum. Some 40 people,
including dignitaries and officers of ethnic dental associations as well as the New York State Dental Foundation and the American
Dental Association, gathered to discuss how individual groups can work together and within the context of larger groups toward a
common goal of improved public health and an enhanced image of the profession.

Dr. Chad Gehani, a Foundation Trustee, has been a driving force behind the annual forums, which initially developed as an attempt
to bridge what at the time was a considerable gap, in terms of communication and understanding, between various ethnic groups
and more mainstream organizations like NYSDA and the ADA. “The model that we have been able to accomplish in New York,”
states Dr. Gehani, “is something that other states can and should look to, in terms of replicating, and we welcome the opportunity
to work with others on how to grow and nurture relationships between dentists of all backgrounds.”

Among the speakers were Dr. Steven Gounardes, NYSDA President; Mr. Roy E. Lasky, NYSDA Executive Director, and Dr.
Kathleen Roth, ADA President, who stressed the importance of mentoring.

Patricia Newton, BA, MAT, ADA Associate Executive Director for Membership & Dental Society Services, and Beverly Skoog,
Coordinator of Career Guidance for the ADA Council on Dental Education & Licensure, moderated a panel discussion on what
can be done to attract underrepresented minorities to dental schools and to the dental profession. Some of the attendees felt that
increasing numbers of students are becoming aware of the profession, but that the costs incumbent upon undertaking that
education are literally scaring them away from applying.

Among the groups represented at the forum were: the Dominican Dental Association; the Puerto Rican Dental Association; the
National Arab American Dental Association, the Indian Dental Association, and the National Dental Association.

In April, the Foundation will once again sponsor an educational program in New York City geared toward ethnic dentists. For
more information on this event, check out our events page.

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ph: 518-465-0044
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