GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRY AFFAIRS
When we
WORK together, we WIN together Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Like Ford, PDS Founder and CEO Steve Thorne is building an enduring institution at PDS we all can be proud of today and in the future. I strongly believe that establishing strong relationships with our external, strategic partners in addition to working cohesively together internally are essential to helping us become the greatest dental company in America. I’ve been blessed to work with some of the best in the industry. Internally, I’ve been fortunate to partner with many of our Regional Partners including a recent collaboration with Todd Pachello in Minnesota. Government & Industry Affairs sponsored a photo booth at the state dental association’s annual meeting and our own Award of Distinction winner Shyanne Boike and multi-office owner dentist Dr. Kate Egan, along with other team members from the region, manned the table and booth. It was a big success and a lot of fun. As an advisory board member for the PDS Foundation I am fortunate to work closely with Kyle Guerin, Director, Foundation and Corporate Social Responsibility, and his team. Last year our lobbyist in Georgia connected me with ModivCare, a nonprofit organization that provides non-emergency transportation services to patients who may not have access to consistent, safe rides to health care appointments. We tested it out in a few states and they’ve agreed to expand it this year during Smile Generation Serve Day. By removing one of the biggest hurdles vulnerable and underserved patients have, we are helping them receive the care the need, want and deserve.
Steve Thorne, Founder and CEO, met with industry leaders at this year’s ADSO annual meeting held March 29-April 1, 2022. I’m also extremely active with our industry trade associations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Dental Educators Association (ADEA) and the Association of Dental Support Organizations (ADSO). Last month, the ADSO had one of their biggest, most inclusive and successful events in their history. As a member of the curriculum committee, I was honored to play a part in that success. We brought together some of the biggest and brightest names in dentistry. Virtually every stakeholder was represented--deans of dental schools, the past president of ASDA, multiple carriers, ADA leadership, distributors, manufacturers, standardization groups and regulatory agencies and more. The camaraderie and collaboration seen and felt during that meeting was nothing short of inspiring. Only by working together can we truly win, and who doesn’t like winning? Game On, 2022.
GARY PICKARD Senior Director, Government and Industry Affairs
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