COVID has clearly affected dental office staffing. Many assistants and hygienists did not return to work following the spring 2020 temporary closure of most dental practices. Many employers in all industries are having trouble staffing their businesses, and dental offices are unfortunately in the same position.

In response to this problem, 2021-2022 IDA President Dr. Steven C. Hollar has appointed a Workforce Taskforce to work on our profession’s workforce shortage. Members will be tasked with addressing short term needs, “How do I fill the vacancies I have right now?” as well as long-term needs, “What can be done now to make sure we have the staff we need five, 10, 15 years from now?” There is no overnight fix for this problem, but the IDA recognizes the problem and is working on member and business solutions. They will be exploring strategies for encouraging experienced hygienists, assistants and front office personnel who left the profession, to return to the profession. They will also be studying ways to recruit new prospects into the profession, while also investigating any needed expansion of allied team educational programs around the state.

Members of the Workforce Taskforce include:

• Dr. Steve Ellinwood (Isaac Knapp District Dental Society), Chair
• Dr. Skip Cheesman (Indianapolis District Dental Society)
• Dr. Lisa Conard (Ben Hur Dental Society)
• Dr. Luciana Kano-Wilson (South Central Dental Society)
• Dr. Jeff Stolarz (Northwest Indiana Dental Society)
• Dr. John Williams (Indianapolis District Dental Society)
• Dr. Dave Wolf (Indianapolis District Dental Society)
• Andrea New, IDA Director of Volunteer Engagement

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry President-Elect Dr. Jeannie Beauchamp has selected Dr. Tom Ison as the 2021-2022 Parliamentarian of the AAPD. The AAPD Parliamentarian not only serves in a functional capacity on the AAPD Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, and before the General Assembly, but is chosen personally by the incoming President for character, leadership skills, and ability to facilitate the Board’s goals and objectives.

Dr. Ison has held leadership roles at the local, state, regional, and national levels. He has been president of both the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry and the Kentucky Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. At the national level, he previously served as trustee for the AAPD.

Dr. Ison moved to southwestern Indiana in 2019 and has a full time pediatric practice in Newburgh.