Read the committee descriptions below to learn about their purpose and the general duties that goes along with serving on each of them. You may find that the MDA has a committee that’s perfect for you!
Access to Care
The MDA Access to Care Committees assist the MDA Board of Trustees by monitoring trends and recommending policies and programs to address access to care. The committee also represents the MDA within established policy at oral health and other stakeholder meetings relative to access to care.
General Duties
- Collect data, monitor and evaluate access to care issues throughout Michigan.
- Make recommendations related to improving oral health status for those who do not have the resources to seek oral care on a regular basis.
- Bring stakeholders together to encourage collaboration in addressing access to care issues.
- Recommend and evaluate education programs for members and the public relative to access to care.
- Collaborate with other MDA committees as necessary, such as the Committee on Governmental and Insurance Affairs and Public Relations Advisory Committee.
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Annual Session
Annual Session committee members assist the Board of Trustees by developing and implementing the Annual Session within established budget.
General Duties
- Review and abide by policies of the association pertaining to exhibitors, clinicians, guests, auxiliary personnel, and other aspects of the annual session with central office staff.
- Offer recommendations for enhancing the Annual Session experience.
- Provide on-site assistance with logistics including registration, exhibits, signs, guide service, A/V local arrangements, table clinics and special events.
- Act as ambassadors of the Annual Session and assist speakers, hosts and attendees if needed.
- Maintain open lines of communication with other MDA committees to solicit input regarding the Annual Session.
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Continuing Education
By serving on the Continuing Education committee, you’ll be assisting the Board of Trustees by developing and implementing MDA continuing education programs.
General Duties
- Develop continuing dental education programs for a) Annual Session and b) ongoing seminars throughout the year that will provide quality educational programs to members and their auxiliaries at affordable prices.
- Determine continuing education rates based on budget expectations.
- Maintain open lines of communication with other MDA committees to solicit input regarding suggested programs and speakers.
- Host a minimum of two speakers at the Annual Session and attend at least one MDA CE event annually.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
By serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, you’ll be assisting the Board of Trustees by ensuring that the voice of diverse dentists is heard within the MDA, recommending actions to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion within the MDA and its component societies and the public members serve.
General Duties
- Monitor demographic trends in the profession, membership and leadership.
- Identify opportunities to enhance inclusion for dentists of diverse backgrounds.
- Recommend actions to enhance equity within the profession and organization.
- Evaluate and recommend ways to enhance member value for diverse dentists.
- Review demographic trends, membership trends and the 2021 Member Value research and make recommendations to enhance membership participation among diverse dentists.
- Manage the implementation of initiatives developed by the Diverse Dental Organization group, including the Diversity and Inclusion Fund, the microsite and videos, educational panel presentations and shadowing program.
- Review initiatives and resources from other organizations, associations, state dental societies and the ADA in order to identify options to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion of the Michigan Dental Association.
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Employee Benefits Advisory
When serving on the Employee Benefits Advisory Committee, you will assist the MDA executive director regarding staff compensation and benefits matters and assist the Board of Trustees in the evaluation and approval of the employee health, dental and retirement benefits.
General Duties
- Ensure a review of the employee compensation program every third year by an external consultant, so that total compensation (wages and benefits) are competitive and current as compared to market.
- Monitor the performance of the compensation plan consultant; make a recommendation to the Board if a change in consultants is warranted.
- Ensure that staff have regular meetings with pension administrators, annually review the MDA contribution to employee’s pensions and make a recommendation to the MDA Board on the contribution at the Board’s September meeting.
- Make recommendations to the Board on the HSA funding amount for the employee health benefit.
- Annually review the employee dental benefit costs and maximums; make recommendations to the Board so that the program remains competitive.
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Executive Director Evaluation
Serving on the Executive Director Evaluation Committee is reserved for the MDA immediate past president (chair and board liaison), MDA president, MDA president-elect, and up to two members of the Board of Trustees appointed by the president. These individuals assist the Board of Trustees by developing and implementing an evaluation process for the MDA executive director.
General Duties
- Set agreed upon goals and performance measures for the executive director.
- Conduct an annual evaluation of the executive director.
- Conduct contract negotiation when necessary, seeking outside consultation as needed.
- Annually, produce an informational report to the Board on the executive director’s compensation package.
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Finance Committee
Serving on the Finance Committee is reserved for the MDA treasurer (chair), up to five MDA Board members as determined annually by the MDA president, and may include MDA member(s) with financial expertise, and the MDA Insurance & Financial Group and MDA Foundation treasurers who serve as consultants. These individuals assist the Board of Trustees by providing oversight of financial matters, recommend and monitor policies, and drafting the annual MDA budget.
General Duties
- Recommend financial policies that protect the Association’s assets.
- Maintain internal controls to safeguard Association assets.
- Draft the annual budget for the Association.
- Oversee the Association’s annual audit.
- Ensure that accurate, timely and meaningful financial statements are prepared.
- Recommend policies that govern the management of investments and ensures that MDA resources are used appropriately.
- Provide short and long range planning for funding options of MDA activities and events.
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Governmental and Insurance Affairs
Volunteers serving on the Governmental and Insurance Affairs Committee will assist the Board of Trustees by evaluating and recommending the MDA’s policy and position on pending legislation, while also recommending policy when needed.
General Duties
- Determine the value of existing and proposed legislation, government regulations and insurance/third party reimbursement policies to the dental profession, and make recommendations to the MDA Board of Trustees to assist the association in taking positions on specific legislation, regulations and policies.
- Develop and disseminate guidelines, programs and other relevant governmental, regulatory and insurance information to the membership through appropriate vehicles.
- Assist, guide and report to the Board of Trustees on the grassroots legislative action program.
- The expertise of this committee, other MDA committees, and legal counsel shall be utilized where appropriate.
- Move forward established MDA policy on legislative and insurance topics.
- Regularly report legislative activity to the Board and membership.
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Membership
Volunteers on the Membership Committee will assist the Board of Trustees by monitoring professional trends affecting membership participation, recommending MDA policies on membership, providing input into membership recruitment and retention initiatives and recommending actions to enhance member value.
General Duties
- Provide feedback on strategies related to member retention, nonmember recruitment, student outreach.
- Recommend strategies to facilitate strong relationships between the MDA and its components.
- Serve as liaison to the ADA Council on Membership; monitor and support its initiatives as appropriate.
- Propose strategies and initiatives to support membership growth.
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New Dentist
By serving as the voice of the new dentist within the MDA, volunteers on the New Dentist Committee assist the Board of Trustees by recommending the development of initiatives to help new dentists make a successful transition from student to dentist, provide relevant resources, engage them in organized dentistry and foster new dentist leadership development.
General Duties
- Consult on strategies related to new dentist retention, recruitment, student outreach, and cultivating relationships between MDA and new dentists in Michigan.
- Serve as a liaison to the ADA’s New Dentist Committee and develop action proposals regarding special initiatives/committee charges as designated by the MDA Board of Trustees.
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Peer Review/Dental Care
Members on the Peer Review/Dental Care Committee will assist the Board of Trustees by providing volunteer oversight of the established Peer Review/Dental Care process, and to communicate with and oversee the related component and specialty peer review committees.
General Duties
- Recommend to the Board, policy and significant changes to the Peer Review/Dental Care Manual.
- Recommend appointments to the specialty subcommittees.
- Insure that proper procedures are being followed by component and specialty peer review committees.
- Maintain the Peer Review Manual and doctor/patient brochures.
- Hold training programs for component and specialty committee members as needed.
- Maintain a communication stream with the component and specialty peer review chairpersons and any related ADA Council.
- Hear cases involving a dispute with an insurer and non-members, for a fee, when a contract exists. Currently, MDA holds a contract with Delta Dental.
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Peer Review/Ethics
Due to the special nature of this committee, there is no set size or term limit for the committee volunteers. By serving on the committee you will assist the Board of Trustees by providing oversight of the established MDA Committee on Peer Review/Ethics process.
General Duties
- Refer to component society ethics committee’s complaints of alleged violation of theStandards of Ethics brought to its attention.
- When an alleged violation is not acted upon by the component ethics committee, it shall be the duty of this committee to initiate action when appropriate in its judgment.
- Receive and consider member-dentist appeals from the actions of component societies in cases of alleged infraction of the Standards of Ethics of this Association.
- Receive and review cases forwarded by the component without action by the component.
- Assist and advise the component dental society ethics committees in any problem related to professional ethics or the application of the code to a particular situation.
- Maintain a liaison with the ADA Council on Ethics, Bylaws and Judicial Affairs.
- Discuss matters of professional ethics and advocating for ethical behavior on behalf of the profession.
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Peer Review/Health and Well-Being
To assist the Board of Trustees by providing volunteer oversight of the established MDA Peer
Review/Health and Well-Being and to serve as the committee which addresses the overall wellness of the membership.
General Duties
- Monitor trends in dentist health and well-being and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees for member benefits, continuing education, and informational resources to enhance the wellness of MDA members.
- Develop guidelines for the provision of assistance or guidance to a dentist who has become unable to conduct a dental practice because of chemical, substance, or other addictions, mental and emotional impairment and physical disabilities. Assistance for a dentist who is dependent on chemical substances could be in the form of support and as a resource for information on licensure or licensing discipline.
- Develop methods, coordinate and facilitate assistance to dentists, dental team and family members, who are abusing, or have become dependent, upon chemicals or substances and this abuse/dependency has not yet affected the individual’s practice of dentistry or personal life.
- Assist a member or his/her family in the event a practice is interrupted due to acute or chronic illness, accident or death. In the event of practice interruption, the committee will work with component members to provide aid and assistance to maintain the member’s practice until such time as the member could assume responsibility. In the event of death of a member, the component members are encouraged to provide assistance in the sale or disposal of the practice and the physical assets to the benefit of the member’s estate.
- Monitor the case list to ensure continuous contact is made with each individual who is being assisted by the committee members.
- Report any dentist where the committee has evidence that the dentist is an imminent threat to the health and welfare of the public and/or to him or herself, and who is unwilling to work with the committee or make changes that would protect the public.
- Maintain a dialogue with the State of Michigan’s Health Practitioner Recovery Program (HPRP)
- One member of the committee to serve as the MDA liaison to the State of Michigan’s HPRP Committee.
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Public Relations
To assist the Board of Trustees by monitoring, reviewing and recommending MDA public relations activities including the public awareness campaign, the component public relations program, and other public communication initiatives.
General Duties
- Provide the member perspective and dental professional expertise on MDA public- facing projects including: public campaign creative development and production; in- office patient communication materials; public campaign program performance evaluation; component public education programs; and MDA public communication strategies.
- Address consumer research studies and implications; sponsorship/partnership review; media schedules; media relations; and public facing communication channels.
- Work with other MDA committees as necessary to convey consistent and effective messaging, MDA’s mission, vision and values to key stakeholders.
- Maintain a relationship, monitor and leverage activities of the ADA Council on Communications as appropriate.