It has been my privilege to serve as the chair of the MDA Insurance & Financial Group Committee on Endorsed Services since its inception in 1996. Working alongside me to bring a large and ever-evolving variety of endorsed programs to MDA members are volunteer dentists who selflessly give their time for the good of all members. We have had many members and dental students volunteer to serve during the past 25 years. I’d like to acknowledge the current committee and thank them for their contributions: Dr. Toni Ausum, Dr. Andrew DeHaan, Dr. Mark Johnston, Dr. Samuel Blanchard, Dr. Elizabeth Ralstrom, Dr. Sabrina Salim, Dr. Margaret Gingrich, Dr. Michelle Dziurgot, Dr. Riley Schaff; and University of Michigan dental student Reid Donakey and University of Detroit Mercy dental student Lauren Young. I also thank MDA Insurance President Craig Start, MDA Executive Director/CEO Karen Burgess, MDA Membership Director Angie Kanazeh and committee staff liaison Cindy Hoogasian, director of MDA Services, for their contributions.
This committee has been unusually busy for the past several years. In 2020, we brought MDA members four new endorsed programs, which are included in this edition of CheckUp. We have up to five more teed up for 2021. All our endorsed programs provide our members with discounts on products or services and return royalties to the MDA to help keep your dues in check. When you use our endorsed vendors, you pay yourself twice. Once by saving money on products or services that have already been vetted by your peers—incidentally saving you time and legwork—and the second time by saving you on membership dues.
I encourage you to use our endorsed vendors to meet your personal and business needs, and to call Cindy Hoogasian at
800-860-2272, ext. 465, with questions.