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American Dental Association House of Delegates
 
The Delegate Selection Committee (DSC) of the Dental Professional Advisory Committee (DePAC) is soliciting nominations and self-nominations to represent the Public Health Service (PHS) as a delegate to the American Dental Association (ADA) House of Delegates. One delegate position is currently available. The delegate will be elected by the ADA members of the PHS constituent body of dentists (PHS Dental officers stationed within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or non-HHS organizations to which officers are assigned, and civil service dentists employed by HHS).
 
A brief example of the work of past PHS delegates can be found through this link: http://www.phs-dental.org/depac/newsletters/12-03.PDF (front page).
 
Eligibility Requirements for the Office of Delegate
 
Eligible candidates must meet the following requirements:
  • Be a dental officer on active duty in the U.S. PHS Commissioned Corps with at least 4 years of service remaining from 1 July of the year in which he/she is elected, or a civil service dentist in a full-time position within one of the Operating Divisions or Staff Divisions of HHS.
  • Have no outstanding disciplinary issues.
  • Agree to serve a 4-year term consisting of 2 years as an alternate delegate and 2 years as a voting delegate.
  • Hold, at minimum, the temporary grade of O-5 for a Corps dental officer or GS-13 for a civil service dentist as of 1 July of the year the term of office begins.
  • Be a member in good standing of the ADA.
Term of Office
 
The term of office of the delegate is 4 years, with 2 years as the alternate delegate, and the following 2 years as the voting delegate. The term of office will commence on 1 July of the year in which the delegate is elected. A delegate may serve only one 4-year term. Exceptions may apply under certain circumstances: a delegate may be asked to serve an additional year or to substitute for a delegate at a caucus or House of Delegates session.
 
Responsibilities of the Delegate
 
  • Attend all sessions of the ADA House of Delegates during the 4-year term of office.
  • Attend the ADA Fourth District Caucus (consisting of the Federal Dental Services as well as Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) if possible, during each of the 4 years of the term of office. The caucus is held several months prior to the annual House of Delegates meeting. The location of the caucus rotates among the States and territories that constitute the ADA Fourth District.
  • Represent the position and the interests of the PHS constituent body of dentists, rather than individual interests.
  • Write an article for each issue of the Federal Dental News as a representative of the PHS constituent body of dentists; the articles are authored by the voting delegate, with input from the alternate delegate.
  • Informing the PHS constituent body of dentists of important issues that will come before the ADA House of Delegates and soliciting input. The alternate delegate and the voting delegate will work together on this activity.
  • Providing a report in written (electronic or hardcopy) format to the PHS constituent body of dentists detailing the outcomes of issues relevant to public health that came before the ADA House of Delegates. The alternate delegate will assist the voting delegate in providing a summary of the important resolutions and the actions that were taken.
  • Work with the office of the Chief Dental Officer and the ADA to keep the PHS constituent body of dentists informed of issues that affect the professional practice of dentistry.
  • Inform the DSC chairperson and co-chairperson with as much advance notice as possible of any situation that may prevent him/her from carrying out the duties of the position.
More about the House of Delegates itself can be found via the ADA Web site: http://www.ada.org/ada/about/governance/hod.asp
 
Nominees will need to submit essays explaining their reasons for and declaring their commitment to representing PHS as a delegate. Please send the essays electronically to LCDR Wisner by the close of business on Friday, 16 December. The essays will be distributed to the PHS constituent body of dentists for voting.
 
Any questions may be addressed to:
 
LCDR Stella Wisner
ADA Delegate Selection Committee Chair
E-mail: swisner@bop.gov
Phone: 213-485-0439 ext. 164
 
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