Fresh ideas arrive with first-time visitors to leadership conference

Washington鈥擠r. Joshua Austin brings those “fresh ideas” the Washington Leadership Conference welcomes.聽

“Honored” to be asked by his local component society and “excited” to be on Capitol Hill talking to members of Congress about his profession, Dr. Austin was one of more than 100 first time attendees at the annual springtime WLC.

“The speakers we’ve had are just amazing,” he said during a break in the May 11鈥?3 conference. “And with the information we’ve been able to glean I’ve been very impressed.”

To be sure, the American Dental Association leadership, members of Congress, political strategists and media pundits came to the WLC courting Dr. Austin, a general practice associate in San Antonio, Tex., looking to establish his own practice soon and planning to return for WLCs yet to come.

“We need your fresh ideas,” said Dr. John S. Findley, ADA president, in welcoming more than 100 tripartite dentists, volunteers and staff to their first Washington Leadership Conference. “We need your experience,” he told some 400 WLC veterans, many returning for a decade or more.聽

“I applaud you for being here today,” said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), one of two members of Congress who practiced dentistry and one of two congressional speakers who came to the WLC asking for professional advice on the issues of the day, health reform prominent among them.

“Your knowledge is highly important when you talk to members of Congress,” Rep. Simpson said before returning to Capitol Hill to introduce a House resolution honoring dentistry and the American Dental Association on its 150th anniversary. “I appreciate your taking time to be here to educate my colleagues about what is important in the health care debate.”聽

“I applaud your dedication to your patients,” said Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), lead sponsor with Reps. Simpson and Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) of the ADA-backed Essential Oral Health Care Act, a bill offering incentives to states to increase access to oral health care services through dental Medicaid programs.

“When you’re meeting with your members of Congress, I urge you to share your perspective on what types of reform are needed,” Rep. Ross said. “And ask them to cosponsor my bill, which is your bill, the Essential Oral Health Care Act.”聽

The Washington Leadership Conference offers a two-way conversation, and many attendees arrange meetings with their members of Congress to discuss the issues. Dr. Austin was on his way to several such meetings himself.