September 29, 2021
 “The Essential Role of Dentists in the War on Diabetes.”  |  Lecture by Casey Hein, BSDH, RDH, MBA

Lecture Topics:

Staggering statistics on the trajectories of diabetes, the interrelationship between diabetes and periodontitis, and emerging point-of- care technologies coalesce to produce a clarion call for dentists and dental hygienists: it’s time to take your place in the war on diabetes.

Please join us as we explore how oral healthcare providers can make a significant difference in identifying patients who have asymptomatic or poorly controlled diabetes, and how glycemic control influences periodontal stability in the reduced periodontium of a patient with diabetes. Addressing diabetes has always been of paramount importance; however, with what we’ve learned about how diabetes may increase susceptibility to life-threatening viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and associated complications, there has never been a more critical time for OHPCs to join the fight against diabetes.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Better educate patients about the biological mechanisms implicated in the interrelationship between diabetes and periodontal disease.
2. Utilizing various screening tools, identify patients who have asymptomatic or poorly controlled diabetes and refer those at risk to the appropriate healthcare provider.
3. Perform chairside glucose testing, identify patients who would benefit from this service and assign the appropriate procedural code.
4. Determine how patients’ HbA1c results should inform the classification of periodontitis, including staging and grading in patients who have diabetes that is untreated or the stabilization of the reduced periodontium during periodontal maintenance.
5. Implement first steps to integration of diabetes intervention and to motivate your team to participate.

Speaker Bio:

With over has over 40 years’ experience as a dental hygienist in private practice, public health, education, and government, Casey is an internationally- recognized speaker and extensively-published author. She first began speaking about periodontal-systemic links in 2003 and founded the first publication on oral-systemic science, called Grand Rounds in Oral- Systemic Medicine. She is a pioneer in implementation of periodontal-systemic science, medical-dental collaboration, and providing primary care services, traditionally delivered by physicians and nurses, in dental offices. Casey was an Assistant Clinical Professor in Periodontics and Director of Education of the International Centre for Oral-Systemic Health at the University of Manitoba, leading the development of the first comprehensive curriculum about oral health for non-dental healthcare providers. This won for the University the prestigious William J. Gies Award for Outstanding Innovation. She was accepted into the National Speakers’ Association in 2008, and she has been continuously voted among Dentistry Today’s Top 100 Clinicians/Consultants. Casey maintains a faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor in the School of Dental Hygiene at Manitoba, and enjoys a busy speaking schedule, writing, consulting, participation on a number of advisory boards, grandchildren, and road biking. In July 2020, she launched online courses and live webinars on a robust blackboard technology at www.caseyhein.com.

December 1, 2021
“Diagnosis and Management of Oral Cancer – an Update.” | Lecture by Robert Ord, MD, DDS

Lecture Topics:

1. At the end of this presentation the attendee will understand the change in demographics that have occurred in oral Cancer in the last 20 years, in particular the increased incidence in women, patients <40 years old and non-smokers. The differences in this type of oral cancer from that in the elderly, male smoker and drinker will be highlighted.
2. At the end of  this presentation the attendee will be aware of the changes in surgical management especially related to the management of the neck in early stage disease and advances in reconstruction.
3.  At the end of this presentation the attendee will understand some of the new molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of oral cancer discovered through cutting edge research. The concept of immune responses to cancer and the development of immune – modulating therapy will also be detailed.

Speaker Bio: 

Dr. Robert Ord is an academic surgeon with an interest in clinical research in the field of head and neck oncology. Dr. Ord has worked in academic surgery for the last 26 years and has been involved in research studies and trials during this period. As a clinical surgeon Dr. Ord has built a reputation in the field of oral cancer which has enabled him to build a busy clinical practice seeing 250 oncology patients a year, and establish an academic oncology Fellowship training program. Dr. Ord has participated in joint studies with other institutions including NICDR, NCI and the Greenbaum Cancer Center.  He is currently a professor and chairman in the Department of Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Maryland.

February 2, 2022
“Risk Reduction in the Practice of Dentistry” | Lecture by Natasha Wesker, Esq

Lecture Topics:

1. Overview and explain the Maryland Dental Practice Act
2. Simple ways to avoid risk in today’s litigious environment [i.e. risk mitigation]
3. How to manage and damage control risk after the “bomb explodes” [ i.e. risk management]
4. Best practices for hiring, training, retention and termination of staff
5. (If time permits) Informed Consent, Documentation and Scope of Practice

Speaker Bio:

Natasha is a health Care Attorney with 25+ years experience in insurance defense, HIPAA  compliance, risk mitigation/management, employment, health occupations  prosecution, including discipline, licensing, and credentialing.  Her litigation defense experience includes health care provider advocacy in private  practice: defense of malpractice actions and disciplinary proceedings;  negotiation of contractual disputes and employment separations; general  counsel responsibilities; HIPAA oversight and compliance.  Her prosecution experience includes advice and counsel, investigation and  prosecution as Asst. Attorney General serving health occupations state agencies. Natasha serves as general counsel for multi-specialty health practices providing advice, guidance  and legal counsel on practice issues: contract negotiation, licensing, compliance,  discipline, risk management/mitigation, employment, credentialing, informed  consent, record-keeping.  She also provides defense and advocacy of health care providers in licensing, disciplinary  matters, practice compliance, managed care audits, credentialing, residency, and  employment negotiations.  She is a HIPAA consultant for Google /Andreessen Horowitz funded health care company, ciitizen.com.

April 6, 2022
Lecture by Pamela Peeke, MD

Lecture Topics: Coming soon.
Speaker Bio: Coming soon.