When I was discussing with my family the invitation to consider becoming the next Editor of the WDA Journal, my daughter said “Really? You can’t even type without looking at the keyboard!” My response was “I’m a dentist, not a writer. I would never cut a crown prep while looking at an x-ray, so why would I type and look away from the keyboard?” That’s how my journey began.
The truth is, I have never had a Journalism class, and the last English course I took was Shakespeare’s Major Plays in 1979. What drives me is not my writing skills, but my passion when I see the great things organized dentistry can do when we as dental professionals all work together. As I told the House of Delegates when I accepted the position as Editor, I see my role as someone who is there to facilitate the conversation, and to welcome all members to the conversation. If all I can do is to write something that inspires, lights a fire, or challenges the way a reader thinks or feels about an issue, then I have done my job.
So what do you want to talk about? Or perhaps more importantly, what do we need to talk about? What are your thoughts and concerns? The changes that we have recently made in WDA communications, like this blog, now offer us tremendous options that we have never had before. We would love to hear from you. Start the conversation in the comments below or contact [email protected] with feedback, comments or suggestions.
Great article Dr. Darling! Love the new blog format, and I’m excited to see how the new Membership Communications blossoms and grows. Thanks for all you and the team do!
Thank you Ryan for your support, and thank you for your efforts to get MUSoD students involved with our new communications platforms.