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August, 2009 edition

New Happenings with the National Museum of Dentistry

Rosemary Fetter, executive director of the Dr. Samuel Harris National Museum of Dentistry, has retired after 10 years of leadership. She joined the staff as director of development in 1996, the museum’s first year of operation, and was promoted to director of development and administration two years later before becoming executive director in 1999.

During her tenure, the museum became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was designated by Congress as the official museum of the dental profession in the United States. Fetter also established a board of corporate advisory committee, a national allied advisory committee and a national advisory committee with a dentist representative from each state. She worked on the development of a traveling exhibition program and the MouthPower oral health education program that helps children learn about good oral health. Fetter has 20 years of experience in higher education and museums and will be awarded with an honorary fellowship in the American College of Dentists this fall.

The museum also recently celebrated its 13th anniversary with the unveiling of the new “Smile Experience” exhibit that reveals how the art and science of cosmetic dentistry creates healthy smiles. Fetter was honored during the ceremony along with Irwin Smigel, DDS, known as the father of aesthetic dentistry, and Michael Sudzina, MBA, outgoing chair of the museum’s board of visitors.

The board of visitors is a voluntary group of professional and community leaders who advise and support the museum in achieving its vision to celebrate the history of dentistry and raise awareness of the importance of good oral health in overall health. The board has elected Leslie W. Seldin, DDS, as its new chair.

Seldin served for many years as a member of the board and chair of the museum’s Pillars Campaign. He is a retired general dentist, an educator, author, editor and spokesman and has served in various leadership positions in organized dentistry. A graduate of the Columbia School of Dental and Oral Surgery, Seldin presently serves there as associate professor of dentistry and chairman of its dean’s advisory council.

Kathleen Roth, DDS, will now assume the role of chair of the museum’s Pillars Campaign.

Dental Trade Alliance Launches “Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait” Awareness Campaign

The Dental Trade Alliance (DTA) has recently launched its “Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait” awareness campaign to dental professionals and consumers alike, in an effort to warn consumers about the risks of postponing regular dental checkups and recommended treatment due to the current economic climate.

The multifaceted campaign’s marketing components include an “Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait” logo and slogan, a Web site for dental professionals (www.oralhealthcarecantwait.com) and consumers (www.visityourdentistnow.com), dental trade and consumer print and online advertising, a professional and consumer public relations program, public service announcements, patient education brochures and posters, a dental practice marketing tool kit to promote the “Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait” campaign in local markets, and online video for distribution via YouTube, etc.

This edition of Extra was prepared by Frances Moffett.