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GPNewsFlash March 2015


CAGD President Dr. Sireesha Penumetcha speaks and acts from the heart

When you meet the CAGD president Dr. Sireesha Penumetcha, you will immediately notice how she speaks and acts from the heart. Dr. Penumetcha’s passion for general dentistry drives her to lead the CAGD while running a private practice and taking care of her family. Her focus this year will be on strengthening the core values of the AGD, from continuing education, to advocacy, fellowship, and professional growth, simply helping general dentists in California succeed. Read about why Dr. Penumetcha is excited to lead the CAGD.

Visit the President’s Corner on our website.

Member Spotlight: Dr. Vera Fristch (San Leandro) and Dr. Jeremy Lansferd (Paso Robles)

Dr. Vera Fristch, San Leandro

Dr. Vera Fristch was excited to attend the CAGD annual
meeting this year to enjoy what she has always come to
expect form the AGD: quality CE, relevant topics and
great apeakers. She joined the AGD in 1995
immediately after graduation to meet and talk about
concerns that mostly affect general dentists, and to stay
updated with what is happening in general dentistry,
especially on the political arena as there are constant
changes affecting our practices. Dr. Fristch also
commented on how much she appreciates all the AGD
advocacy efforts on behalf of the general dentist.

Dr. Jeremy Lansferd, Paso Robles

Dr. Jeremy Lansferd was interested in the hands-on
bone grafting course offered at the CAGD annual
meeting this year. He joined the AGD in 2004 and
received his FAGD in 2008. Dr. Lansferd appreciates
many benefits the CAGD offers, such as the overall
focus on CE, CE tracking, political representation on
behalf of the general dentist. Membership in the AGD
also offers him something to strive for: FAGD, MAGD
and LLSR. While in the army GPR program, his mentors
were AGD members and he saw what they have
achieved as members. He looked up to them, and they
gave him something to look up for.

CAGD Annual Meeting held at the Historic Memorial Club
in San Francisco in January

Continuing Education

Hands-on Extraction and Bone Grafting on Pig Jaws.
Left to right: Dr. Martin Chee (San Francisco),
Dr. John Jang (Arizona), and instructor Dr. Mike Chen

Contemporary Solutions for High Efficiency Dentistry
with Dr. Wilson Kwong


Fellowship during lunch

Left to right: Dr. Liliana Stojic (Sacramento), Dr. Hyun
Bang (Foster City), Dr. Kristi Chiang (Anaheim)

Connecting with the latest innovations in dentistry

Join us at the AGD 2015 San Francisco: It is packed with activities for everyone

Let us show what a great convention Californians throw!

Imagine that you can’t treat your wife, husband, or partner!
Take action now: Contact your legislator to exempt licensed dental healthcare providers

The CAGD has been following the Dental Board of California review of sexual misconduct regulations. That review highlighted the two primary statutes addressing sexual misconduct by licensed dental providers: Bus. & Prof. §726 and §1680(e). The statutes define two very different standards for sexual misconduct for a dentist in relation to the patients they treat.

Our concern is that Bus. & Prof. § 726 includes sexual contact that a licensed dental provider would have in their private home with their spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship, if the spouse or person in an equivalent domestic relationship were also a patient of the provider. There is an exception for physicians and surgeons, but not for a licensed dental provider.

Please click here to e-mail your Assembly member, Senator, the chair of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee and the chair of the Assembly Business and Professions Committee and ask them to amend the statute to create an exception for licensed dental health professionals.

Leadership in the AGD is leadership in life: Becoming the astute servant

You may have wondered, “Are true leaders born leaders?” Well, Dr. Maria Smith, the AGD vice president, addressed this question brilliantly at the AGD Leadership Symposium in November 2014. “Have you ever met anyone who is not that way?” asked Dr. Smith. Leadership is earned through hard work and it is not bestowed on a person; it takes effort and time day by day.

I had the pleasure of attending the AGD Leadership Symposium last month in Chicago, along with other 61 dentists from all around the United States and Canada. The theme was “Leading the Future” and it was a wonderful experience!

Leadership is not new to us at all. In its simplest form, leadership is a survival instinct; there are many examples in our lives where we are leaders within our own circles – in our practices, communities, and families. It was not a surprise to me that the focus of the AGD Leadership Symposium was on leadership in life in general as well as leadership in the AGD. It was about becoming the astute servant leader: serving our profession, patients, employees, and our families first; and eventually we will be served.

Industry professionals focused on leadership in life. They discussed personal values, behavioral styles, attributes of exceptional leaders, and concluded with a leadership self-development plan. Some of the emphasized aspects of their program were how values motivate us to act and how understanding our behavioral style and those of others helps us become better communicators.

The AGD leaders, quoting their own experiences, focused on the value of leadership – for dental organizations as well as for volunteers. The fulfillment is worth the effort. “I would have never been half the person I am if I had not volunteered,” said the AGD treasurer Dr. Mohamed Harunani. Volunteering is an opportunity to grow personally and professionally while serving others.