Vda Academy Graduates Second Class Of Certified Dental Office Professionals Announces New Affiliate Membership Category For 2026, Elise Rupinski

Virginia Dental Journal

The VDA Academy celebrated the graduation of its second cohort of Certified Dental Office Professionals at the Virginia Dental Showcase. Participants completed a year-long program featuring in-person courses and webinars on topics like medical billing and employee retention. Starting in 2026, the program transitions to a virtual format under the new Affiliate Membership category.

2025 Virginia Dental Showcase Recap, Megan Wyman

Virginia Dental Journal

No abstract provided.

The Fulcrum Podcast, Shannon Jacobs

Virginia Dental Journal

This document summarizes episodes of "The Fulcrum Podcast," focusing on dental malpractice, marketing strategies, and the evolution of Medicaid dental services in Virginia.

• Episode 10 features Dr. Al Rizkalla discussing dental malpractice, emphasizing informed consent, documentation, patient communication, and the importance of ethical care. He highlights common claims against dentists and the value of hiring trained staff and utilizing malpractice insurance resources for risk management.

• Episode 12 includes marketing experts Keith Washington and Shannon Perry from ProSites, who discuss enhancing dental practice marketing without overburdening teams. Key topics include the evolution of dental marketing, branding, digital marketing strategies, and the …

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Remembering Dennis P. Gallagher, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

Dennis P. Gallagher, a dedicated advocate for dentistry, served the Virginia Dental Association (VDA) for nearly two decades. His expertise, commitment, and mentorship shaped significant legislative victories and inspired colleagues. Remembered for his integrity and personal touch, Denny’s legacy continues to influence the VDA’s advocacy efforts and the dental profession.

Virginia’S Medicaid Dental Program Celebrates 20 Years, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

Virginia’s Cardinal Care Smiles Dental Program celebrated its 20th anniversary, highlighting its evolution from pediatric care to comprehensive dental benefits for adults and pregnant members. Key contributors, including Dr. Terry Dickinson and Mr. Patrick Finnerty, were honored. The program’s success relies on advocacy, provider participation, fee adjustments, and patient education initiatives.

Vda Pac Update, Laura Givens

Virginia Dental Journal

The VDA PAC aims to raise $375,000 by 2025, with $213,233 collected so far. Southside Dental Society exceeded its goal, but other components need support to meet the $166,767 shortfall. Members are urged to contribute via www.vadental.org/vda-pac. Election Day is November 4th; visit https://www.elections.virginia.gov/ for voting information.

An Interview With Dr. Marlon Goad, Marlon Goad Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Marlon Goad, the newly appointed VDA President, shares his vision and goals for the organization in this insightful interview. Motivated by his deep connection to dentistry and the challenges faced by future professionals, Dr. Goad aims to address key issues such as workforce shortages, reimbursement concerns, and the rising costs of education. He emphasizes the importance of the Transparency Bill and increasing VDA membership to strengthen the collective voice of dentistry in Virginia. Dr. Goad’s upbringing in Southwest Virginia instilled values of hard work, perseverance, and community, which continue to inspire his leadership and commitment to giving back. He …

Introducing Artificial Intelligence Into Your Practice, Paul Supan Dds, Munira Muluke Dmd, Ms

Virginia Dental Journal

The article "Introducing Artificial Intelligence Into Your Practice: How to Begin the Journey in 2025" by Paul Supan, DDS, MA, MPH, and Munira Muluke, DMD, MS, explores the integration of AI into dental practices. It highlights the rapid evolution of technology in dentistry and emphasizes the accessibility of AI through free or low-cost commercial off-the-shelf tools. These tools can assist with creating personalized patient communications, educational materials, and visual aids. The article provides examples of general-purpose AI platforms for text and image generation, such as ChatGPT and DALL·E, and discusses the benefits of starting small before transitioning to advanced dental-specific …

The Drill, Ryan Dunn

Virginia Dental Journal

The August 2025 episode of The Drill podcast, hosted by Virginia Dental Association (VDA) CEO Ryan Dunn, focuses on addressing the dental professional shortage in Virginia, media coverage of the issue, and advocacy efforts with political leaders. It also covers the ADA's discussions with NCOIL and MetLife on dental insurance policies, introduces the latest Virginia Dental Journal featuring research and a column on dental AI, and provides updates on the VDA's podcast, The Fulcrum, and the upcoming Virginia Dental Showcase 2025. The September 2025 episode highlights discussions on licensure by endorsement, foreign-trained dentists, and previews events like the VDA/VCU …

Focused Leadership, Transparent Communication, A Stronger Future Together, James Mercer Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Abstract Dr. James Mercer, ADA Trustee for the 16th District, provides updates on key initiatives and challenges facing the American Dental Association (ADA). He highlights the upcoming House of Delegates meeting, which will address a record number of resolutions, many submitted by non-traditional groups. Financial sustainability remains a priority, with the board approving a re-forecasted 2025 budget that reduces expenditures by $20 million, following earlier cuts of $9 million. Reserve spending between 2022 and 2025 totaled $142 million, with significant investments in innovation and growth, including $53 million for the new Association Management System (AMS). Implementation challenges with AMS have …

See You Next Time, Sarah Friend Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

The editor, Dr. Sarah Friend, reflects on the profound relationships she has developed with her patients as a general dentist in a small town, where professional and personal lives often intertwine. She shares her experience of being unexpectedly sidelined by illness, which led her to contemplate her own health, the importance of listening to one's body, and the challenges faced by isolated patients without caregivers. Dr. Friend recounts the emotional impact of losing patients, likening it to losing family, and highlights the importance of cherishing connections and prioritizing self-care. Through personal anecdotes, she emphasizes the unpredictability of life and the …

Why I Chose To Lead: A Journey Of Family, Resilience, And Service To Dentistry, Marlon Goad Dds

Virginia Dental Journal

Dr. Marlon Goad, President of the Virginia Dental Association (VDA), reflects on his unconventional journey into dentistry, shaped by resilience, family, and mentorship. He highlights key challenges facing the profession, including declining membership among young dentists, workforce shortages, rising education costs, and the growing influence of corporate practices. Dr. Goad emphasizes the importance of VDA membership in fostering community, advocacy, and professional growth. As president, he is dedicated to addressing these issues, supporting young professionals, and ensuring the future of dentistry in Virginia remains patient-centered and united.

Democratic Education In The Literature Classroom: Integrating Political Literacy And Political Emotions Into Agonistic Literary Discussions. A Response To “Agonism In A Classroom Discussion On Strindberg’S Miss Julie”, Baptiste Roucau

Democracy & Education

In an era of rising polarization and populism, how can we transform the literature classroom into a site of democratic education? Drawing on agonistic scholarship, Tysklind et al. (2024) offer the agonistic literary discussion, a novel pedagogical approach aiming to prepare students for the complexities of democracy by forming collective identities and navigating conflictual consensus. To build on the authors’ work, this response article proposes two additions—political literacy and political emotions—and cautions against the risk of antagonism. Agonistic literary discussions can integrate political literacy through teaching relevant knowledge and careful questioning, enabling students to situate characters’ experiences in political contexts …

Action Civics As A Powerful Tool—Not A Panacea—In The Provision Of High-Quality Civic Education. A Response To “The Domino Effect”: How Early Adolescence Describe Their Capacity For Civic Engagement", Daniela Kruel Digiacomo

Democracy & Education

Action civics happens when young people do research, action, and reflection on social or political issues they care about. In this third decade of the 21st century, action civics is often found in after-school and/or out-of-school contexts, and substantive research now shows its power and potential for providing transformative learning experiences for young people, as is evidenced again in "The Domino Effect: How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity for Civic Engagement"—one of the feature articles of this issue. At the same time, action civics, precisely because it is so often conceived and enacted in out-of-school time spaces, is not, and …

Exploring The Democratic Challenges And Potential Of Alternative Education, Maria Menegaki

Democracy & Education

Does an assembly make a school a democratic space? What happens if a participant is not interested? Democracy for innovation or democracy for social transformation? Can a democratic school be neutral and apolitical? These are some of the questions this article will try to discuss by focusing on democratic aspects of alternative educational proposals. Based on an anthropological, ethnographic, and comparative study of three alternative schools and educational projects in Catalonia, this article sheds light on the challenges and contradictions but also the potential hidden behind such initiatives. More specifically, it first explores educational change in Catalonia through time and …

“The Domino Effect”: How Early Adolescents Describe Their Capacity For Civic Engagement, Michelle Bauml, Jonathan W. Crocker

Democracy & Education

This qualitative study explored how 28 early adolescents described their capacity for civic engagement as they participated in a civic education camp in the United States and engaged in action civics inquiry projects about local issues. Focus group interviews revealed that these youth recognized the capacity of people their age to raise awareness and advocate about issues they care about while acknowledging their limits as youth and conceding that adults have advantages of age and power. Participants also described their capacity to take personal responsibility for their actions and efforts and to leverage relationships to influence others. Findings suggest that …

One-Way Optical Data Transfer Using A Screen And A Light Sensor, Brandon Wuest

Defensive Publications Series

A method is described for one-way optical data transfer that may be used to configure electronic devices, such as wearable devices or smartwatches, which may lack certain input hardware like cameras or have displays where manual data entry is less practical. The system can employ a transmitter application on a device with a display (e.g., a smartphone, personal computer, or tablet) to encode data into a modulated optical signal, for example, a flashing pattern of light and dark areas. An encoding scheme, such as Manchester coding, may be used to generate a self-clocking signal. A corresponding receiver service on a …

(((Qpie))) Prior Art Disclosure 3 Of 9: Quantum Perspective Is Everything, Teddy Burroughs

Defensive Publications Series

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Perspective Is Everything – What we are Believing, Expecting and Feeling in Life Matters

(((QPIE)))Prior Art Disclosure 3 of 9: Quantum Perspective Is Everything

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QPIE: Quantum Perspective Is Everything

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System And Method For Optical Sensing Using Capacitance Measurement Of An Electronic Component, Barry Chen, Mike Wang

Defensive Publications Series

Detecting sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation in consumer electronic devices, such as wearable devices or hearables, can involve dedicated components like photodiodes and associated circuitry, which may add to cost and device complexity. This disclosure describes a system that may repurpose existing hardware for optical sensing. The technique can use a capacitive sensing circuit, such as a capacitive touch integrated circuit, to measure a change in capacitance of a component like a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode when exposed to light. Upon illumination, a photovoltaic effect within the diode's p-n junctions may increase its junction capacitance, a change that can …

Gender And Racial Gaps In Student Shadow Debts, Melissa Jones, Jodonnis Rodriguez, Amanda Stype

Journal of Student Financial Aid

This exploratory study delves into the intricate landscape of student debt by spotlighting the demographics of non-returning university students who grapple with unpaid bursar bills, a type of shadow debt not visible in traditional assessments of loan borrowing and repayment. Analysis of such shadow debt at one regional Midwest institution reveals that underrepresented minority students and female students are disproportionately burdened, facing 117% and 19% higher odds of unpaid institutional balances being sent to collections, respectively. These findings illuminate the urgent need for 1) tailored interventions that can bolster the resilience of at-risk students, effectively addressing and alleviating the financial …

The Nature Of Inspiration In The Health Writings Of Ellen White, Don Mcmahon

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Crossroads In Adventism: An Inside Perspective On The Modern Seventh-Day Adventist Church, William Johnsson

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Unity Of Divinity And Humanity In Revelation: Comparing Biblical And Ellen White Perspectives, Martin Hanna

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Bibliographic Essay Of Publications About Ellen G. White, Merlin D. Burt

Ellen White and Current Issues Symposium

No abstract provided.

Reviewing Leverage In Indian Aifs: Regulating Share Pledge Financing, Shalin Ghosh

National Law School Business Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Practice Of Perfect Mistakes, Kelly Allen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Cheryl VanderMolen Neway, a fashion designer and textile artist residing in Fairfax, Virginia, provided the cover art for the Fall 2025 issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The photograph features a flowing, floor-length duster jacket entitled, The Free Spirit, 2024, made from an upcycled denim jacket with lace and hand-dyed linen, using shibori and indigo-dyeing techniques, modeled by Shamola Crosbie. Cheryl’s designs serve to express emotion, meet her need for creative exploration, and empower her community through fashion. Using resist-dyeing techniques paired with upcycled textiles and salvaged materials, she creates vibrantly unique clothing and mixed-media artwork …

An Authentic Leader Never Dies: Lessons Learned From The Seminal Work Of Elizabeth Yerxa, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This Opinion in the Profession is based on the enduring legacy of Elizabeth June Yerxa, a pioneering leader in occupational therapy and occupational science, following her passing in December 2024. Rather than a traditional "in memoriam," the author uses the present tense to emphasize Yerxa's ongoing influence. The paper highlights four key themes from Yerxa’s work: the commitment of occupational therapy to social change, the importance of an occupation-centered education, the term “engaging in occupation”, and the establishment of occupational science as a foundational discipline. Yerxa’s advocacy for critical thinking, holistic perspectives, and the integration of diverse fields …

Implicit Bias Training Standards In Health Care: Did Michigan Get It Right? A Policy And Ethical Framework Analysis, Megan Gailliard, Kieran Fogarty, Mary Lagerwey

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In 2022, Michigan joined a handful of states requiring implicit bias training for its health care professionals. In its ideal application, implicit bias training of health care professionals will result in a reduction of the implicit biases held by health care providers. This bias reduction will, in theory, contribute to improved equity in the delivery of health care services. Ultimately, the less biased health professional, now delivering health care services with a more equitable hand, will help reduce health disparities in the State of Michigan.

This analysis of Mich. Admin. Code R.338.7004 - Implicit bias training standards for licensed and …

Promoting Sense Of Belonging Among First-Generation Students In Occupational Therapy, Pola Ham

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

First-generation students in occupational therapy programs face unique challenges that can impact their sense of belonging and academic success, potentially hindering efforts to diversify the profession. There is limited data on occupational therapy students who identify as first-generation students. However, the literature has noted improved efforts toward a sense of belonging in higher education among students leads to feeling a sense of connectedness with their peers and faculty, aiding in overall well-being, academic performance and retention. In contrast, a lack of these efforts can lead students to experience a diminished sense of belonging to the institution. This article examines the …

Mentoring Matters: Enhancing Occupational Therapy Capstone Experiences Through Effective Mentorship, Sara J. Stephenson, Gretchen L. Bachman, Michelle L. Bollom, Alexandria N. Calca

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Mentoring plays a crucial role in occupational therapy education, particularly in doctoral capstone experiences. Yet, specific assessment tools tailored to the profession are lacking. This study aimed to gather insights from occupational therapy stakeholders on mentor qualities and skills essential for capstone success. The authors employed a descriptive, cross-sectional study design using an interactive poster featuring the Mentor Competency Assessment (MCA) domains and the ACOTE-defined capstone focus areas. Data were collected at two occupational therapy events using ordinal ranking methodology.Fifty-three participants identified their occupational therapy roles and ranked mentor skills and capstone focus areas. Effective communication was consistently identified as …