Keeping the Good Things Going – and Growing

Dr. Lisa Egbert
WSDA Past President

One year ago, in this publication, I suggested that we “keep the good things going” as I began my term as WSDA President.

Looking back on the year, I am proud to say we not only kept the good things going, but we are also seeing much of our work come to fruition.

WSDA’s continuing advocacy on dental benefits reform has dominated a good portion of my presidency. Nine months spent with the Ruckelshaus Center underscored the importance of this work for the future of dentistry in Washington state. One thing is clear: we are moving in the right direction. The Collaborative participants recognized the legitimacy of our concerns on network fairness and dental loss ratio. As a result, new data on network parity will be coming this November from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Two years from now, we’ll also have some of the most comprehensive data in the nation for Dental Loss Ratio. This irrefutable data will be critical in resolving these issues.

While Ruckelshaus yielded tremendous political insights for me this past year, my most important takeaway came from connecting with dentists around the state. The experience solidified for me what organized dentistry can accomplish and I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with so many dentists.

In Wenatchee, I met with dentists who are rebuilding their dental society, which took a hiatus after COVID. It’s exciting to see people coming together again and reaching out to early career dentists. They are learning together, serving the community, and building valuable friendships.

In Moses Lake, I saw firsthand how a component’s relationship with local lawmakers builds trust in the profession. During my visit, Sen. Judy Warnick and Rep. Tom Dent attended the meeting and listened to dentists share personal stories about the challenges we face — from workforce to dental benefits and more. These relationships will matter come January in Olympia.

The leadership of the WSDA board has also made an impression on me. This board does more than just talk – it acts. It is bold, making decisions at a high level and delivering on those goals. We are expanding what we are doing at WSDA — launching new programs and growing those already created. We’ve added new wellness and student loan resources. We’re including other states in ComplyBetter and bringing new organizations into L&I Advantage. We’ve focused on growth and all WSDA members are going to benefit.

In addition, I want to highlight our senior management team. Our amazing staff takes the board’s direction and creates positive results. I can’t wait to see what they’re going to come up with next, what new initiatives they’ll launch, what adventure will happen next. We are fortunate to have an exceptionally talented team supporting us at WSDA.

As for me, I am off on my own new adventure, shifting my focus to the national level as the next District 11 Trustee for the ADA. While I look forward to representing our district for the national association, it’s a bittersweet transition for me, one that’s only possible because of the deep leadership bench we have at WSDA. I am grateful to the board for their support, and to Dr. Chris Dorow, who has agreed to serve another year as past president. I’m also deeply appreciative of my husband, Dr. Mark Egbert, who knows all too well the demands of a national leadership position.

I have long believed that WSDA is a community, and we need to take care of each other. Over the past year, I have seen WSDA fulfill that promise and build an even stronger foundation for future success. Advocacy, Support, Excellence — I’m counting on all of us to keep the good things going!