Making the Case for Dentistry in Washington

Ann Arbor, MI — November 9, 2010 — “It was a lot of hard work, but it was fun.  We learned about the legislative process and ways to work effectively with senators and representatives, and members of their staff, to try to advance legislation that’s important to the dental profession,” said Dr. Nikki Sweier as she talked about a series of visits she and another U-M School of Dentistry faculty member recently made to Capitol Hill.

Sweier, a clinical assistant professor in Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, and Dr. Russell Taichman, a professor in Periodontics and Oral Medicine, are participating in the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute.  The year-long program is giving them and 22 other dental educators and administrators from around the country opportunities to enhance their leadership skills.

In September, ADEA staff briefed the group about oral health care issues and lobbying.  The two Michigan faculty members then applied what they learned in meetings with Sen. Debbie Stabenow and staff members of Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. John Dingell.

In their meetings with Michigan legislators, Sweier and Taichman said they discussed dental services provided to Medicare and Medicaid patients, and Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding for dental residents.

“Because of the way GME is worded in one of the health bills, dental residents are not reimbursed for their training in dental school clinics, but their counterparts in medicine are reimbursed for their training in hospitals,” Taichman said.  “We hope to get that changed so dental residents are also compensated.”

Asked if their meetings with legislators and staff members made a difference, Sweier said, “I would like to think so.  We hope that what we told them is uppermost in their minds when they consider health care issues because oral health care is important to total health.”

Building on those Washington experiences, Sweier and Taichman said they will use what they learned and later collaborate with other participants in the Leadership Institute developing position papers that address key issues in oral health.  Their experiences will also be useful in other venues.

“The process of gathering information, knowing what points to emphasize, and then speaking about those issues in meetings with legislators or members of their staff can be applied anywhere, including at school or at local, state, or national levels of dentistry,” Sweier said.  “My experiences in Washington have given me some new skills and perspectives that, I think, will help me be a better leader here at Michigan.  I wish everyone could participate in the Leadership Institute.”

Contact: Sharon Grayden, Communications Director (734) 615-2600, dentistry.communications@umich.edu, or Jerry Mastey, Editor, School of Dentistry (734) 615-1971, jmastey@umich.edu.