A few weeks ago I posted about speaking to a thousand dentists at a PDS Health conference. The reaction told me the post uncovered a passionate and emotional subject that needs more rational discussion. A few weeks have passed. I want to clarify my positions. Much of what was said about me in those threads was inaccurate. I speak for myself. I have been in leadership at all three levels of organized dentistry for over twenty years. I am proud of my tenure. I am past president of the ADA. I am past president of the Colorado Dental Association. I have no leadership role in organized dentistry today. I speak for myself. I speak of my time in leadership because no one can speak better about my experiences in leadership than me. They are my experiences. Much of my experience is still relevant today and potentially in the future. It was my time and no one can take that away from me. Some of the reaction was personal and disappointing, but I'm here for the work, not the noise. **What I actually believe:** The doctor patient relationship is our sacred cow. All treatment decisions should be in the spirit of the best possible options presented to our patients in the spirit of improving their health. All treatment decisions should be made between the doctor and the patient free of any outside influences. This is how I have always practiced. When I was president of the ADA, we built a clinical autonomy statement for exactly that reason. Practice owners, DSO structures, PE firms chasing returns: none of them get to dictate care. **On private equity:** Private equity's goal is multiples for investors. Dentists' goals are to provide the best care for our patients. Those goals don't align. PE has the opportunity to be very dangerous in dentistry due to this value disconnect. **On DSOs:** Great dentists do great work in DSOs, just like great dentists do great work in private practice. Bad actors exist in both. When I spoke at that conference, I was there for the dentists, to invite them under the ADA's tent, because they belong there. Many don't feel welcome. This must change. Many of them have different needs or wants from organized dentistry. The profession is stronger when we unify around ethics and patient care instead of dividing by practice model. **On change:** If we want change, we have to be in the room where it happens. That means talking to people or building relationships with organizations we don't always agree with in the spirit of establishing common ground. I support dentists in any practice role they choose. I was very intentional about that while in leadership and I would imagine the current ADA leadership feels the same way. I am excited about what PDS Health and others in the dental industry are doing, especially around medical dental integration. **On insurance reform:** This has been a focus of mine for over ten years of my leadership journey and most of my practicing career. It will be the topic of another post.

Humiliation to Humility

Aristotle said, “Knowing oneself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my leadership (life) journey and through this reflection, I am learning a great deal about myself.

The shift from Humiliation to Humility - one of the most powerful tools that shaped me as a leader. 

In 1998, I hit rock bottom. I nearly died from excessive drug and alcohol use. Although I had been to rehab the previous year, I relapsed shortly after discharge because I failed to follow the recommendations—I thought I knew best. As hard as I tried, I could not outthink this disease.

When I finally realized I couldn't fix my broken brain with my broken brain, I faced a critical decision: end my pain or confront it head-on. Defeated but not dead, I was consumed by the shame and humiliation of failure—something I had never experienced. I chose to live and face the battle ahead. 

When I made that choice, the humiliation I faced shifted to humility. 

As I got better, I became inspired to live my best life. I started with 12-step recovery groups and learned to take suggestions; after all, I didn’t trust my own best thinking.  What did I have to lose?

Working with a mentor, I dove into the recovery program. It had worked for him, perhaps it could work for me. I was out of ideas on how best to heal.  I began to understand how resentments and fear hijacked my brain and learned to identify my unhealthy relational patterns. This work dramatically increased my self-awareness, enabling me to choose healthy coping mechanisms instead of alcohol when triggers occurred.

Addiction remains ingrained in my neural pathways, always waiting for reactivation. To avoid opening these pathways—a game of “Russian Roulette” —I abstain from all mind-altering substances. Through continued work in 12-step groups and mindfulness techniques practiced consistently over many years, I have successfully bypassed old patterns and forged new, healthy neural pathways.

Accessing these new parts of my brain unlocked fresh energy, fueling a new level of creativity and a passion for living my best life. I had been graced with a second chance—a rare opportunity to reinvent myself—and I took full advantage of this energy.

My life began to come together. I learned to be present. I felt myself growing and improving. I also embraced my humanness, accepting that self-actualization is a continuous journey, not a final destination of perfection. I found fulfillment in this constant pursuit of self-improvement.

I humbly recognized the need to admit my shortcomings and actively seek to overcome them. I had to become teachable and adopt a growth mindset. It hasn’t always been a smooth path; I made plenty of mistakes.

The growth truly began when I shifted from feeling humiliation to embracing humility.  A shift that I continue to practice regularly. 

This mindset shift ultimately became the most powerful tool I utilized as a leader.

#theadventurecontinues #anythingispossible #sober #Ihaveadream #changemaker #OralHealthIsHealth #thinkdifferent #PrioritizeWellness #theygolowIgohigh #OneSixtyOne #biko 

Rafting with Max

My Son Max (20)

I went rafting down the Animas River with my son Max this past Sunday. This summer, he is a raft guide in Durango, CO. I drove out for the weekend to see him. We did a few hikes, but my hope was for him to take me down the river - Just the two of us. I got my wish!

As with anything in nature, there is a certain amount of danger involved whitewater rafting. Even though it isn't a particularly dangerous river, as a guide, he is responsible for the safety of everyone in the boat. Also, I am sure he wants everyone to have a fun experience.

He made it very clear prior to getting on the raft that he is the guide, I am the passenger. He told me he will give me instructions on when/how to paddle, and he will pick the routes through the varying flows.

I used to do a lot of canoeing on lakes when I was young. The goal was to go straight and fast. I found out river rafting is much different. He kept telling me to let the river take us down, I don't need to constantly paddle. Every time we hit a section of rapids, he would say things to me like, "get ready, it's going to be tricky here.' This was usually followed by "2 forward strokes", or "1 reverse stroke," or "Stoke Hard!"

At first it would drive me crazy because I wanted go straight and I thought constant paddling was helping. I wanted to insert my "control." He said, "Dad, I got this - just paddle when I tell you and we will have a great run!"

It turned out to be a new opportunity to practice step three from my recovery program.

Step 3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

I turned it over to him as he took control of the boat. Every time he said "Forward 1 stroke" I paddled one stroke. He was eyeing the best routes, taking us through the most exciting rapids and eddies. We slid perfectly between the rocks. It was a rush letting him lead us. He is truly a master of this river.

During the slower sections, we would relax as the current kept us moving downstream. He shared about how much he loves the river and living in Durango. This kid used to be lost. Today, he was in his element with a clear direction of his life. And because I am sober, I get to witness it.

He told me the final section was his favorite. It is more remote and it presents better opportunities to see wildlife. It was a wide section of the river with a lot of rocks.

A great blue heron was perched on one of the rocks. Max told me to watch the bird. It was looking for food down flow of the rock it was perched on. As we got closer to him, I could see him looking for fish. He turned to look at us, and effortlessly flew to the next rock down the river to repeat his quest. We watched him do this 5 or 6 times.

On the final rock, he took off and skimmed along the surface of the water. He dove down. When he came up, he had a fish in his mouth and landed ahead of us on another rock perch. We watched him shake the fish around and swallow down his long neck. While I am sure the people fly fishing nearby were upset at the missed opportunity, we watched with awe.

Not my picture, but you get the idea...

Soon after we came to the take out area where we had parked our car. As we pulled the raft out of the river and loaded it onto the roof of our car, I expressed how much fun this adventure was for me. His smile beamed the expression of pure joy. I'm sure he thought it was going to be just another trip down the river for him. It was an experience we both will treasure.

I wasn't expecting to practice step 3 today. I find when I integrate the steps into my daily life, my days are amazing. I'm sure glad I did, this day was amazing!

#theadventurecontinues #anythingispossible #sober

The Hero's Journey

The "hero's journey" takes an ordinary person and challenges them through various extraordinary events. This humble person grows confidence in the story as he/she conquers the obstacles presented in the path.  

As observers of the story, we root for them.  We see ourselves in that role. That hero could be us. 

If we're lucky, at some point, we realize we are on our own hero's journey. Every day, we are presented with challenges/opportunities where we can make the world a better place, live in our purpose, etc.  

The American Dental Association has been presented with an unexpected challenge this week when Ray Cohlmia, our executive director, resigned.  

As president, it puts me in a unique situation.  

What tools will I use to help lead our organization through this challenge? 

My favorite movie depicting the hero's journey is Star Wars.  

There's no light-saber or millenium falcon to help me fight the evil empire.  But there is plenty of experience and wisdom available to help me negotiate the challenges ahead. 

The "Yoda's" (or guides) are there to remind me of who I am and what I am capable of as a leader.  

Speaking of Yoda - "Do or do not. There is no try."  This is a time for definitive action by leadership - and we are up for the challenges ahead. 

When describing the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo says, "She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid. I’ve made a lot of special modifications myself.”

When I reflect back on my journey, I've made several "special modifications" myself, too. 

I've been collecting and cataloging my experiences throughout my life.  Every experience, both good and bad, had a lesson that I reflected on.  As a result, my toolbox has many tools to help me be the best leader I can be.  

These lessons have given me a multitude of leadership competencies. I have a strong resiliency. I have a clarity of purpose- both personal and my role leading the organization.  And trust me, I have used many of these recently.  

I also know when I need to recharge and reflect.  

I am proud of the work we are doing. I am proud to have served with Ray Cohlmia and have nothing but the utmost love and respect for him. I wish him well in his next chapter. And he wishes the same for us. 

The American Dental Association is bigger than one person. We have a history spanning 165 years. We have strong officers, a strong board, strong volunteer leaders across the tripartite, a strong interim executive director, a strong senior team and a most importantly- a clear vision.  

This chapter of the hero's journey now returns us to a blank page.  It's time to write the next chapter!  

#theadventurecontinues  #anythingispossible #sober #ADAPresident #ADAchangemakers #thinkdifferent #OralHealthIsHealth #PrioritizeWellness #theygolowIgohigh American Dental Association

The Power of Vision

The Power of Vision

Fresh from a strategy retreat with my board, my brain has been overflowing with ideas. When creating strategy, we must first define a vision.  

American Dental Association Board of Trustees
Santa Fe, NM
Strategic Retreat 2025

What is a vision?

My good friend and mentor Bob Frazer defines vision as “a path to the future from the heart”

I'm a vision-driven leader.  

Creating new paradigms fuels me.  I live in the realm where “anything is possible.” I love igniting the spark in others!

An inspiring vision sets us on a journey. It is not a straight path.  It becomes a winding mountain trail t with switchbacks, obstacles and detours.  But the view from the top is breathtaking!

An inspiring vision draws communities together. Expected and unexpected players show up to help.  

An inspiring vision gets results.  In my experience, significant vision precedes significant success.  

Visions create opportunities. 

I have created several vision statements in my personal life.  The most recent one read, “I will contribute maximally to my profession.”  Soon after, the opportunity opened up to serve on the ADA Board of Trustees. 

A good friend created a vision board for me which I stare at every day. Wherever my eyes land, becomes my theme of focus for the day.

When I decided to run for ADA president, I scrawled on a sticky note, "I WILL become ADA President in 2025," and slapped it onto my vision board. Now, every morning, it stares back at me, a daily reminder of the commitment I made to myself.

Vision-board

I still have it there as a reminder of the power of that vision and the responsibility the position demands.

I am proud to be in this role and I am proud of the vision the ADA’s Board of Trustees are creating to make our organization the best it could possibly be.  

Life presents us with a fundamental choice: 

Chart our own course, trimming the sails and navigating towards a chosen horizon,

Or - Do we drift aimlessly like a ship without a rudder, tossed about by the winds of chance?

Which will you choose?

What is your "moonshot"?

#moonshot

#theadventurecontinues #anythingspossible #sober #ADApresident #ADAchangemakers #thinkdifferent #OralHealthIsHealth #PrioritizeWellness American Dental Association

ADA Membership: Vital to Our Profession

Early in my dental career, my boss emphasized the importance of ADA membership for maintaining our professional status. He believed so strongly that he covered my membership costs. At the time, I didn't see the value, but a few years later, I needed help . Organized dentistry was there for me and I was able to turn my life around. Since then, I've dedicated my career as a practicing dentist to advancing the profession through leadership roles in MDDS, CDA, and ADA.

We are the driving force behind progress in the dental profession, and I commend all the leaders nationwide who are contributing.

The ADA needs your support to uphold our professional standing. If you're already a member, thank you. Please encourage your colleagues to join.

Practice owners, be a member and consider covering membership costs for your associates. Young and mid-career dentists, be a member and actively shape your career path.

We may not always be perfect or agree on everything, but we all desire a fulfilling life and the ability to provide the best care for our patients and communities. A unified voice in advocacy has never been more crucial. Science, practice, education, practice models, benefits. 

Every practicing dentist benefits from the ADA's work. We are the proud voice of the practicing dentist.  

https://www.ada.org/join-the-ada

Why Don't We Just Write the Beginning?

Many of us have wonderful ideas for change that can improve the world, our communities, or even our own lives. We envision creating something new, disrupting the norm, or establishing a niche. We become energized by these ideas, talking, writing, and dreaming about a brighter future.

Sadly, for most of us, this is where it all ends. When it's time to take that brave step forward and create a plan, we get stuck. Internally, negative self-talk takes over. Externally, naysayers emerge, voicing their doubts and negativity. These voices, both internal and external, are powerful and can easily derail progress.

Whenever a disruptor enters the market, the status quo pushes back, doing everything in its power to challenge or stop the disruption. Many people are comfortable with the status quo and would rather stay in their comfort zone than embrace the possibility of something different, even if it could be better.

Change is hard.

Change disrupts our routines,

Change creates uncertainty,

Change is often inconvenient.

Change is constant and unpredictable - it's the one thing in life that is always certain.

Recently, a friend and I were discussing a big idea for change. We imagined all the possibilities and amazing outcomes that could result from it. But then we started to doubt ourselves, wondering what the naysayers would say, where we'd find the resources, who would help, and who would try to stop us. We were talking ourselves out of moving forward.

That's when it hit me: "Why don't we just write the beginning?" We don't need to have the ending figured out. We can create a plan, knowing it will be a rough road and that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy. This simple shift in perspective helped us return to a place of creativity and courage.

This is a courageous path, and when striving for something big, we need to find ways to stay courageous. We don't have to do it alone.

As Johann Wolfgang van Goethe said, "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness...the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too."