Hello fellow PDA members.  My name is Jim Mancini.  I am running for the office of the President Elect of the Pennsylvania Dental Association.  I am currently the Ninth District Trustee in the PDA.  As a member of the Board of Trustees, I am very familiar with the state of the PDA, as well as the needs of our members that have been expressed through the Board.  As many, many of us know, our profession is suffering from a lack of available auxiliary staff.  Specifically hygienists and assistants.  This subject has been debated at the Board for several years.  My observation of this situation , as discussed in the article from the September/October Pennsylvania Dental Journal, is that the profession of dentistry is not pushed at the high school level.  Our profession is not mentioned by teachers and school counselors to students interested in career options.  Last year, with the board’s approval, myself and several other members have attended conference events for high school and college counselors to promote dental careers.  Armed with handouts that discuss the various career opportunities in dentistry, we hope to educate these folks as to the great career possibilities available in dentistry.  As President of the PDA, I plan to continue this endeavor.  Our shortages are not going to be solved over night.   Hopefully, this initiative will help us long into the future.

I practice public health dentistry as the Dental Director of Meadville Medical Center. Prior to embarking on my career in public health, I was a private practice dentist in my hometown of Robinson Township ( near Pittsburgh).  I love our profession and have enjoyed my entire career.  I’m involved with the PDA because I want our profession to flourish.  I want our younger dental colleagues to have the same enjoyable career that I have had.  A leadership position in any organization is a privilege extended by the members.  I know that and will always remember that.  I apologize for not having the free time from my office to visit each of the districts and locals as has been the norm in the past by other PDA candidates.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve both our members and our profession.