Washington--The Association commended a public-private approach advanced March 4 at an Institute of Medicine hearing to improve access to care and called for the engagement of private practice dentists in the two-year study.

The ADA has received inquiries from some members about their experiences with Brican America LLC.

Like many Americans, dentists were deeply affected by the recession last year and are cautious about the year ahead, judging from the response of members participating in the ADA Quarterly Survey of Economic Confidence.

Los Angeles--In what they hope will eventually lead to fewer deaths from pancreatic cancer, researchers have identified four early detection biomarkers of the disease in human saliva.

After a comprehensive review and search, U.S. Bank has been selected to provide credit card services for ADA members, ADA Business Resources announced last month.

Washington--The Association will testify March 4 on access to care and "workforce capacity" as the National Academies' Institute of Medicine launches a two-part study of national oral health policy.

ADA publications earned three silver and two bronze awards in the 31st annual Salute to Association Excellence, a competition sponsored by Association Trends, a national trade group for associations.

Washington--ADA members can receive discounted rates in the nation's capital at the Donovan House Hotel, with seasonal rates as low as $199 per night.

San Diego--The Pacific Partnership 2010, which currently includes the USNS Mercy hospital ship, is seeking dental and other health care volunteers to join its humanitarian effort to Southeast Asia this summer to help out in Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and assist with getting volunteers to Papua New Guinea with rest stops in Singapore and Darwin, Australia.

Appreciating the valuable contributions dental assistants make to the dental profession is what Dental Assistants Recognition Week is all about.

Washington--The U.S. House of Representatives Feb. 24 overwhelmingly passed ADA-backed legislation to repeal the 65-year federal antitrust exemption for health insurers. The 406-19 vote gives new life to legislation to repeal the McCarran-Ferguson Act exemption for health insurance companies.

Tempe, Ariz.--Later this month, a two-day orientation and kickoff here will mark the next phase in development for the ADA's Community Dental Health Coordinator project.

Educating new members of the dental team was the focus of a Jan. 27-28 forum that brought 22 representatives of the ADA and American Dental Education Association to ADA Headquarters.

Washington--A report issued Feb. 23 by the Pew Center on the States gives 35 states and the District of Columbia a C, D or F grade for their lack of government policies that help ensure dental health and access to care for children, but stresses that strategies like increasing Medicaid funding, implementing school sealant programs and fluoridating community water supplies could make dramatic differences in the oral health of children.

Jonesboro, Ark.--The way Dr. Benjamin Burris sees it, "With the right motivation and a little bit of luck we can have an impact on the political process, even a nobody from nowhere Arkansas who just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

The deadline for submitting notification to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of any 2009 breaches of unsecured protected health information is March 1.

Energy Star, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy program designed to promote energy efficient products and practices, recently awarded Whirlpool Corp. with its 2009 Sustained Excellence Award. The award recognizes Whirlpool for offering consumers energy and water-efficient appliances through its portfolio of brands.

London--GlaxoSmithKline announced Feb. 18 that it has voluntarily stopped manufacturing and distributing its zinc-containing denture creams because the company is concerned about "potential health risks associated with long-term excessive use of zinc-containing denture adhesives," according to a statement on the GSK Web site.

Washington--The Association will pursue "an aggressive lobbying strategy" for ERISA reform and noncovered services legislation, the Council on Government Affairs said in a report on its Jan. 22–23, 2010 meeting in the nation's capital.

Along with academic credentials and an impressive resume, Kari Cunningham began dental school with strong encouragement from her family and dedication to a career goal that she had had since childhood. What she didn't have were many student colleagues who were also African American.