Family Vacation. President Ratner; daughter, Lindsay; son, Ben; wife, Amy, enjoy Alaskan cruise.
From Now On Meeting the Challenges of an Altered World A Conversation with NYSDA President Craig Ratner, D.M.D. NYSDA’s 2020-2021 President, Craig Ratner, D.M.D., feels like he’s straddling two realities. There’s life before COVID-19, and the new, altered state that has followed. What a time to be taking the helm of the Association! To his colleagues who have remarked on the difficulties he is facing, Dr. Ratner responds: “I saw firsthand how our Association came through the fire— stronger in some ways and in other ways, learning what we must change. As we put these lessons into motion, we must not look back over our shoulder. For me, it is all about what we will achieve in the future. And that’s why the theme I’ve established for my tenure as president comes down to three simple words: ‘From Now On.’” Three words. And three proposals for strengthening NYSDA to meet the challenges of a future—which Dr. Ratner describes as having been forever changed. “There will be new challenges and crises ahead,” he forecast in his address to this year’s House of Delegates, “and we will prepare ourselves to meet them head on.”
18 JUNE/JULY 2020 The New York State Dental Journal ●
The “how” comes down to what Dr. Ratner describes as the three proposals, or, platforms, that will define his presidency. They are: Participation—Everyone needs to be actively involved in our Association. As Dr. Ratner sees it, “More participants working together toward any goal ensures that the goal is reached faster, with better results.” Communication—Making every effort to ensure that members are not only kept informed about matters, but that the information is delivered to them through their preferred medium—whether it be traditional print, online or a new medium yet to be identified. Advocacy—Building on NYSDA’s record of successes advocating for dentistry in the halls of government and among regulatory agencies. Dr. Ratner wants to go further, making sure that members are kept apprised of ongoing efforts and progress being made. Dr. Ratner knows he’s on an accelerated timeline. “One year may not seem like a lot of time to make real change,” he wrote in
