The September/October issue of Today’s FDA is online now! Click below or go to floridadental.org/publications to read this issue.
Today’s FDA is Online Now!
Tag: diversity
Top 5 Reasons to Volunteer
5. Volunteering makes you healthier.
Positive emotions, like optimism and joy, strengthen the immune system and reduce stress. Experts report that focusing on others interrupts usual tension-producing patterns. In fact, volunteering also has been shown to lessen chronic pain or heart disease symptoms.
“In my mind, an important factor regarding volunteerism is you need to do it for yourself. Do it to benefit yourself and you won’t regret it.” ~ Dr. David Russell, FDA Foundation President
4. Volunteers learn about our government and social programs.
A solid understanding of these resources strengthens professional advocacy efforts and helps to solve community problems.
“I never knew there were so many community agencies and service groups that are interested in their clients’ oral health until Karen and I formed the Hillsborough County Oral Health Coalition. The agencies’ representatives met with us to discuss common problems and determine steps that eventually will cause an improvement in the oral health of everyone their organizations touch. Together, we approached the legislators within our county and were able to advocate for changes that will raise awareness of the importance of oral health. It was a rewarding experience!” ~ Dr. Terry Buckenheimer, ADA Trustee
3. Volunteering promotes diversity, fosters empathy and encourages civic responsibility.
It stimulates personal growth by improving social skills, builds new friendships and broadens your support network.
“I have been on more than 35 foreign mission trips — six were with the University of Florida dental students. I enjoy them. The reason I do them is a feeling of responsibility to use what God has blessed me with to serve others. What always happens is I get blessed more than the people I am caring for.” ~ Dr. Bob Payne, FDA Foundation Vice President
2. Volunteering can advance your career.
You meet new business contacts and gain professional experience you otherwise might not have. It also can expose you to professional organizations or fellowships that could be beneficial.
“It is natural to want to give back to this wonderful profession that has given me so much. Volunteering has allowed me to meet amazing people all over the country and especially in Florida. From children I have met while participating in career days at local schools to dentists and corporate leaders throughout the country, giving back has actually ended up giving me more. The friendships I’ve developed are a lasting treasure.” ~ Dr. Idalia Lastra, FDA Foundation Treasurer
1. You make a difference.
Volunteering provides a way to have a real and lasting impact on the world.
“Churchill once said, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’ Volunteering for the FDA Foundation has given me — and so many others — a life of purpose. You can make a difference, too. Give your time.” ~ Dr. Bill D’Aiuto, FDA President-elect
Celebrating Our Diversity
By Yolanda Marrero, SFDDA Executive Director
The South Florida District Dental Association (SFDDA) boasts one of the most diverse communities in Florida — and we love it! One needs only to travel US 1 from the Southernmost Point in Key West to South Broward to experience the various foods, music and entertainment that make up our district. The cuisine includes an amazing mix of Floribbean and Latin fusion from the islands of the Caribbean, including: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Trinidad and Haiti, to name a few; and foods ranging from South and Central American to French, Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern Greek and Jewish fare. And our languages, religions and pastimes are as varied as the foods above.
Consequentially, the SFDDA membership is comprised of several cultures, ethnicities and religions, and almost is equally divided in gender and age. It is rich and wonderful, and has provided us with opportunities to become aware of each other — giving us a sense of pride for the diversity in which we thrive and an understanding of how important it is in our personal and professional growth.
The SFDDA leadership reflects this diversity, and that is “powerful stuff.” To have a great understanding of the community and to be able to forge a strong bond between the public and the association is a benefit of embracing our diversity. Each day, we are eager to welcome dentists who have not yet experienced the value of this wonderful organization and know we can learn a thing or two from each other.
We have many events and dinner lectures where you and your colleagues can experience the diversity of our district. We invite you to attend and experience what membership in the American Dental Association and Florida Dental Association through the South Florida district is like. There truly are many benefits for everyone.
Visit our website for a complete listing of events and meetings at www.sfdda.org.
Beyond the Bite 