Inalienable Rights

The Statue of Liberty stands proudly in New York Harbor. It stands as the universal symbol of freedom and democracy. This symbol stands for what makes our country great.

I love the practice of dentistry. I love the freedom that it offers us.

We have the freedom to cooperatively treat our patients, helping them achieve their goals in a predictable and satisfying manner. Patients are free to choose to go to any dentist they like. Dentists are free to choose to treat anyone they like and do any procedures that they like and vice- versa. As a result of these freedoms, we are an example of a free-market healthcare system that works.

Our professional autonomy (freedom), however, isn’t free. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” The values of the profession must be actively upheld by us — the practicing dentists. If we are not diligent and stand for what is best for our patients, our profession will no longer be autonomous.

Author Peter Drucker said in the ’70s, “Those that are content to rise with the rising tide will also fall with it.” And when it falls, if we did nothing to better and preserve our work, we have no right to complain. In other words, if we are passively riding the waves, we will have no choice but to accept our fate when the wave crashes.

We are responsible to serve the needs of our communities. We have an obligation to stand up for the individuality of our practice philosophies. Our uniqueness is what makes our practices special and attractive to our patients. We cannot let outside entities influence our standards, our ethics and our decisions. We do what is best for our patients because it is in their best interest.

This past year, Colorado has introduced an adult Medicaid benefit to our state. They have allocated over $100 million to provide these services to those who are eligible. It is estimated that over 300,000 adults are now eligible for this benefit. The CDA worked closely with legislators and the governor’s office to create this benefit. As dentists, we directly witness the impact that dentistry has on those who need it.

We improve oral and overall health, we restore function, and we provide smiles.

We continue to fight hard to shape the benefits and make sure that our communities have access to our finest care. Our communities need Medic- aid providers to serve this need. We understand that the system is a work in progress, and are working daily on your behalf to address concerns to help the system run much smoother in coming weeks and months.

At the same time, we have the responsibility to provide care to Medicaid patients. Currently, there is extensive discussion among policy- makers and the public regarding gaps in Colorado’s dental health. If we are to make the case to the public that qualified dentists are the answer to access concerns, then it is incumbent on our profession to step up to the plate.

The fate of our profession is in our hands. “With freedom comes responsibility.”

Author Jim Collins wrote, “No matter how much the world changes, people still have a fundamental need for guiding values and sense of purpose that give their life and work meaning. They have a fundamental need for connection to other people, sharing with them the common bond of beliefs and aspirations. They have a desperate need for a guiding philosophy. More than any time in the past, people will demand operating autonomy - freedom plus responsibility - and will simultaneously demand that the organizations of which they are a part of stand for something.” We take this statement seriously.

What does the Colorado Dental Association stand for? The CDA is advancing oral healthcare to our communities — in the best way possible. It is here to support its members so we can provide the best, most appropriate dentistry to our patients.

Recently, the Colorado Dental Political Action Committee (CODPAC) met with 40 state legislators and candidates individually. It was an extensive task that involved hundreds of volunteer hours and immense coordination. The purpose of this endeavor was to further our relationships with key influencers, educate the legislators on our issues, and then strategize our legislative agenda.

We sent them information about key legislative priorities and our objective to make it as easy as possible for dentists to deliver the best possible care to our communities. We dialogued about possible solutions regarding these subjects: increasing Medicaid reimbursements, improving student loan forgiveness programs, dental insurance reform and preventing the introduction of a new mid- level dental provider in our state.

The legislators seemed genuinely impressed with our ideas, our passion and our mission.

The hard work that we have been doing over the past several years resulted in several congratulatory statements of support by the legislators. Respect for our profession has greatly improved. Today legislators look at us as experts to help guide and shape policy around oral health and oral health care delivery. But if we don’t fulfill our obligations, our influence will be gone.

Thank you to our CODPAC colleagues representing us. Thank you to our members for contributing to CODPAC and the American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC). These dollars are the best investment that you can make to preserve the freedom that we have. Please tell your communities how important it is to get involved either with monetary or voluntary contributions. Remember, we all must do our part in giving to the profession.

On the west coast there is a proposal to build another statue. This one is being called the statue of responsibility (http://statueofresponsibility.com).

It will symbolize this notion that freedom isn’t free. We are responsible for setting the standard and delivering the finest oral healthcare in this state. We take this seriously and by our actions, we will continue to enjoy our freedoms.

If you would like to make a donation to CODPAC/ADPAC please contact the CDA at info@cdaonline.org or 303-740- 6900 or 800-343-3010.

If you like this blog post, I would love to hear about it.  Please comment or share it on Google+, Facebook, Linked in, Twitter, etc.  If you are looking for a dentist in the Denver area, we are always looking for new patients.  Please visit our website http://www.tcdodenver.com/ or like our facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/TCDOdenver.  Or you can contact us  the old fashion way - call us at 303-321-4445.

Thanks for reading!  BK

25 Things About Me

As my 46th birthday approaches, I decided to take a different approach to my usual rants here on my blog.

This was a facebook thing several years ago.  I retrieved my list from 2008 and updated it. It was a good reflection exercise for me.


Here are 25 things about me in no particular order -

1. I used to alter my mind with substances but found that it didn’t agree with my present or future plans…

2. I am inspired by positive changes in people, places and things...

3. Someone from my high school told me once that I when I grow up, I wouldn’t listen to heavy metal anymore….”F@%k -you old friend, I still do!”

4. My kids are exactly like my wife and I, and it is scary! We are raising our children Jewish…however, sometimes Sunday school interferes with our ski weekends and my mountain running “problem”…Sorry Rabbi Mo!

5. I love to run, bike, triathlon, snowshoe etc.… my favorite running partners over the years have been Gina, my Dad, my brothers and sisters, Gary Benson, Charlie Perez, Maggie Close, Liza Gualandi, John Stevens, Conrad LaPorte, Steven Griffith, Dave Lindeman, Brian Reick, all my Team-in-Training groups, my dog Kida and now Crosby.  Thinking back, Gary Benson has been sharing adventures with me for close to 25 years.

6. I love to run/play in the mountains. In fact, last fall I ran the Grand Canyon, South Rim to North Rim and back to the South Rim in less than 18 hours.  Other notable athletic accomplishments – Leadville 50 mile mountain bike race, mountain biked from Telluride to Moab, multiple marathons, trail marathons, and snowshoe marathons. (yes you read that right SNOWSHOE marathons)

Which segues nicely into….

7. My life is an adventure, just ask anyone!

8. I am a deeply spiritual person. I try to improve my faith every day. Sometimes I falter and my intentions don't align with my actions. I am human and there are lessons to be learned everyday….There is spirituality in imperfection.

9. I am excited to see so many friends that are on similar paths as I. I am proud to walk this path with all of you! You give me strength and hope when I cannot see it for myself.

10. I have an awesome dental practice, and an amazing team of people that I work with. (employees, patients, consultants, referring doctors, specialists, etc). I am proud of the lives that we impact through our dentistry. . I love being a dentist. I believe that the smile is the window to the soul. I do everything that I can to help my patients’ soul shine through.

11. Progressive music genre: “Complicated music for complicated people” – I think that Geoff Tate of Queensryche was speaking to me when he said that!

12. I would play guitar for a living if I thought it would support my lifestyle.

13. Two friends (Mike Ford and Pat Gibbons) died recently from complications of the flu.  Their lives were cut short, but their impact on the world was huge and their spirits carry on in so many lives that they touched.

14. My wife is a saint to put up with me on a daily basis!

15. I am glad to have reconnected with so many friends from the past on social media.  I am so happy for all of you who choose to share about your lives.  I hope to reconnect in person with you in our various travels.

16. The economy may not have a bright immediate future. However, our attitudes do, if we choose accordingly.

17. In October, 2007, I testified before the United States Congress on behalf of the American Dental Association. I was to explain to them about the ravages of methamphetamines on oral health. My true message was that there is a solution to the disease of addiction. Treatment works. Sometimes it may take a few times but it is the best solution going. And, it saves lives!

18. I am about to become the President of the Colorado Dental Association – I am nervous, excited, and amazed that any group of people would choose me to lead an organization.   I hope to leave the organization better than when I took it over.  I work with an amazing board and CDA staff that keep this train rolling in the right direction!

19. The best thing about being a father is that I get to live my childhood again through them. I am blessed to have a loving family to share their experience on how to do this thing! It is easy to father a child, it is an accomplishment to be a father.

20. Religious people are afraid to go to hell in the afterlife. Spiritual people have been to hell (here on earth) and don’t want to go back!

21. I have had many mentors in my life to which I am most grateful. They saw things in me that I couldn’t see in myself and then encouraged me to grow those gifts.  I try to pay it forward by mentoring others. Thanks to all of you, especially mom and dad....

22. My wife thinks that social media is weird but she is starting to warm up.

23. My dream house is in the mountains near a rolling, open meadow strewn with wildflowers and a stream running through it.

24. I played basketball in high school.  As a rebellious teenager, I began to hate it at the time. Looking back regretfully, I could have played at a higher level if I put the effort in.  Basketball has so many life lessons in it.  I took my son Max to the Coach K basketball camp two of the past three years.  Last spring, I reached out to my old basketball coach from high school (Ken Sartini). Over dinner we caught up on what had been going on in our lives the past 20 plus years.  I thanked him for being a great teacher and mentor to me.  I still talk to him often, what a gift!

25. One more….Chicago Cub’s, next year is now! Come on already!

If you like this blog post, I would love to hear about it.  Please comment or share it on Google+, Facebook, Linked in, Twitter, etc.  If you are looking for a dentist in the Denver area, we are always looking for new patients.  Please visit our website http://www.tcdodenver.com/ or like our facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/TCDOdenver.  Or you can do it the old fashion way - call us at 303-321-4445.

Thanks for reading!  BK

Life's Platitudes

“Life’s” Platitudes

Don't you hate those wise, thought provoking quotes? I usually do too, but in recent events, a few of these rang true for me.  This blog entry is dedicated to my friend Mike.

Platitude #1 - Life is Short….

My friend Mike passed away a few weeks ago.  He died of complications of the flu.  This aggressive strain quickly moved into pneumonia, which led to acute respiratory distress. This forced the doctors to insert a breathing tube to help him get oxygen into his blood stream and he was placed into a medical coma.  After ten days, his heart went into full cardiac arrest and he was unable to be revived. He was 49 years old. 

“Crazy,” I thought. “Healthy people don’t die of the flu!  How could this happen?  Why!?!?!”

The night before he died I gave a presentation on leadership.  This talk was to alumni of a drug and alcohol treatment center.  I spoke about concepts that I am passionate about help me to live my life with some level of significance.  The concepts include: Love my family and friends unconditionally; help others; live courageously, humbly and with integrity. I do a lot of prayer and meditation - especially when I exercise.  And my mindset is usually pretty good. Sometimes I'm better at it than others.  But for the most part, these daily affirmations really help me stay focus so I can be effective.

I knew my friend was in a coma but I didn’t think he was going to die.  I shared my worries with the audience, “You never know when your time will be up.  Better live every day to the fullest extent without regret.”  I know - platitudes....But they aren't relevant, until something like this happens.  

I proceeded to tell the group that my friend was in the hospital and his circumstances were grim.

He died too soon for my liking.   It is human nature to ask why did this happen.  With any of life’s challenges, there is a lesson. (another platitude...)

After a lot of praying, meditating and consulting with friends, I have learned that life is short - get my affairs in order, love my family, friends and work, live each day to the fullest.  

Platitude #2 - Life’s a Bitch….

Initially I was sad.  He isn’t here anymore.  He was a friend that, although I didn’t see him that often, when we got together we could talk heart to heart. 

He had a great dental practice. He was universally loved.  He really knew me, I really knew him – so I thought. 

A few days after he passed, I went to his office to help finish some work on a few of his patients that needed follow up care.  After spending time with his office staff about the tragedy, I was given a glimpse into his life over the past few months.  He had been struggling.  My interpretation was that he was lonely, he was stuck in a rut – possibly even depressed.  His practice was struggling financially.  He might have been struggling financially as well. 

Even under this stress, he still marched forward -helping friends, patients, etc.  Maybe he helped so he wouldn’t have to face his challenges.  Perhaps he was stuck and the only way he knew how to get out of his rut was to help others. 

On his desk was a photograph of Mike, myself and another mutual friend.  The picture was at his open house for his business.  The office space was unique, bold and comfortable.  At the time the picture was taken, life for him was so full of possibilities. 

What changed?   What happened?  Why didn’t he ask for help?  Any of his friends would have dropped whatever they were doing to help.  All he had to do was ask.

Lesson – Outside appearances are not always reflective of what is going on in the inside.  Ask for help when struggling.

Platitude #3 - Life is Beautiful…..

I received many phone calls from disbelieving friends and colleagues. I recited the facts of the situation that I knew.  I gave out the info on his funeral. 

At his funeral, hundreds of people showed up. It was a beautiful celebration.  Friends and family from different parts of his life all shared stories.  We laughed, we cried, we consoled each other.

I shared a story on how I met him.

He was an alcoholic.  Almost 11 years ago, I organized an intervention to help him get his life turned around.  At the time, he didn’t want my help.  He was obstinate, stubborn and arrogant. He was in denial and he thought he could beat the problem on his own. 

I too am a recovering alcoholic.  My trajectory turned around in 1998 when life got really bad.  For whatever reason,  I was graced with the willingness to do whatever it took to treat my problem.  A responsibility that helps me maintain my recovery is to share my story. Another key component of my recovery is helping other lost souls like my friend.

A few days after the intervention, he surrendered his will and reluctantly went to treatment for his problem.  He returned a few months later a changed man.  I had been involved in many of these interventions.  When they return from treatment, some want to thank me and some want to hit me.

Fortunately, he thanked me.  In fact, he credits me for saving his life.  I never felt comfortable with that fact.  I was just giving to him what was freely given to me - The gift of hope.  Someone was there for me when I was ready. I owed it to that person (and myself) to pay it forward.

This is why we had such a unique friendship.  We both had suffered greatly and we had overcome our struggles.

As I got over the anger of his death, I entered into the mindset of gratitude.  I am grateful that we had marched together in recovery for almost 11 years of our lives.

I recall a personal story from the book “Alcoholics Anonymous”.  The story tells of a lady’s personal struggles and how she overcame her struggles while building a new life.  The end of the story says, “In exchange for a bottle and a hangover, I have been given the Keys to the Kingdom.”

My friend and I both have been given the “Keys to the Kingdom." 

When I first met my friend, he was close to death from alcohol poisoning.  Jaundice overtook his body as his liver was failing.  After treatment, Grace offered him a second chance at life.  He took advantage of this opportunity and made a life for himself filled with significant relationships and events.  He helped hundreds of other people in the same manner that he claims I helped him. 

He struggled too – but that is life.  I still feel cheated that he was taken away from this world way too soon.  It was his time to turn in his set of “Keys”.

I don’t think he would have traded his life for anything.  Neither would I....

Lesson learned – You never know who is listening, what they hear that touched them with significance, or when they hear it  - so share my experience with the world. 

Be grateful for what I have. 

Find a lesson in every challenge that life throws at me.

If you like this blog post, I would love to hear about it.  Please comment or share it on Google+, Facebook, Linked in, Twitter, etc.  If you are looking for a dentist in the Denver area, we are always looking for new patients.  Please visit our website http://www.tcdodenver.com/ or like our facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/TCDOdenver.  Or you can do it the old fashion way - call us at 303-321-4445.

Thanks for reading!  BK

Integrity Marketing

I am working on a leadership presentation that I am giving in January at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention.   I am also giving an abbreviated version of this presentation at the American Dental Association's New Dentist Conference (NDC) in July.  The  NDC planning committee asked my friend Rita Zamora to follow me with a presentation on Social Media and Leadership. If you don't know Rita, you should!  A link to her facebook site is  Dental Relationship Marketing.

My presentation will challenge the participant to look inward for personal exploration by identifying their core values and purpose in their lives. See What do you stand for?

Rita and I had a discussion last week about what we are respectively planning to present.   After speaking with her, I had a profound revelation about what social media really is.  Through our conversation I discovered that social media is an outlet to tell/show the world what you stand for (Core values) and how you spend your time (Purpose).

I love social media.  I use it often. We have a facebook site for the practice Facebook -TCDOdenver, but it is only one aspect of how we portray ourselves to the world.

In order to remain a viable business, we need to have a constant stream of new patients entering our practice. For this reason, we market ourselves.  We are always looking for new ways to market our practice.  Currently, we do a lot of asking our existing clientele for referrals, we market to referring dentists, we have a website, we have a decent following on facebook, twitter, and linked in.  And lastly, we have an ad in the local neighborhood newspaper. When I feel inspired, I blog.

Our top referral source is our existing patients, followed by our referring dentists.

It seems every dentist that markets themselves have the same theme in their advertising.  "We have the best new technology, comfortable setting, comprehensive care, affordable, etc."  I am sure that every dentist believes that the marketing they do accurately portrays their practice.

How does one stand out when everyone looks the same?

Potential clients search for a dental office that they think they will feel comfortable in.  Consumers are more educated today than they ever have been.  They have a wealth of information at their disposal.  Patients will choose to call based on their current needs and the identification of values that they find from their research.

Sound familiar?  Same as social media.  People will choose you based on identification of similar values.  Your "marketing" has created a persona of you and your office.  Now the most important question, does your "marketing"-based persona match the true persona of you and your office?  Does the true experience for your patients, match the expectations of that patient based on your marketing?

Consistency breeds trust.  Inconsistency creates distrust.

The educated consumer is looking for consistency.  They will not move forward with their treatment without trust.  It is very hard to have a good relationship without trust.

We have chosen to place an ad feature in a new magazine in Denver called "Reign".  It is a magazine that is geared towards the same demographic that we are looking to attract as patients -  People that truly value their health and life and want to experience life to the fullest extent. Here is a link to the ad we placed.

 http://issuu.com/reignmagazine/docs/reign_holiday_2012/107

I feel it is an accurate representation of who we are (core values) and what we do (purpose).

Marketing with Integrity

I can't end this without mentioning other people that we work with that coach us to live in integrity. They say it takes a village!

Kim McGuire - Fortune Management of Colorado
Bob Frazer - R. L. Frazer and Associates
Wendy Phillips - Big Buzz Brands