Greetings Lancaster County Dental Society! I originally wrote this message last summer, expecting it to appear in The Handpiece as an introduction to my role as your new President. However, as many of you heard at our first meeting, The Handpiece has been retired following the editor’s decision to step down.

While change can be challenging, it also brings new opportunities. I’m thrilled to welcome you to the Lancaster County Dental Society’s new website! This will be our central hub for news, updates, and resources for local dental professionals. A huge thank you to our talented website developer, Lindsay, and our dedicated board members who worked hard to bring this project to life. We are all excited to share itsrelease and we hope you find the site useful and look forward to staying connected in this new way! I would also like to thank Dr. Stephanie Stephens for her leadership and guidance as the society’s most immediate past President.

I would also like to recognize Dr. Loren Genetti, Dr. Sarah Wentzel, Dr. Jason Phillips, and Ms. Patti Tossona, who comprise this year’s LCDS board members. I am honored to lead this year’s board and look forward to Society’s exciting events in the months ahead.

A little over two years ago I asked Dr. Stephens how I could become more involved in the Lancaster County Dental Society. My query proved timely as she and the other officers were searching for a new incoming Vice President. Happy to become a more involved member with a leadership role, I readily accepted the position and signed on for a three-year term as a member of the board of the dental society.

Becoming an officer, and being a more active member of the LCDS, has positively impacted my personal and professional life. I am grateful to have found such an amazing group of colleagues and friends through dentistry. As humans we crave interaction and connection. Perhaps this became clearer to each of us during the dark days of the pandemic when we were encouraged to isolate and disperse rather than congregate and gather. Our LCDS is the perfect place to come together, connect and share our experiences to help and encourage one another both professionally and personally.

To quote past President Dr. Michael Chambers, “The LCDS can be not only a source for knowledge and professional development but also a social network of support.”

My goal this year is to promote and encourage the importance of being involved and present. I personally invite each of you to attend our continuing education events, held not only for the attainment of CE credits but also for the opportunity to network with local professionals and friends. Perhaps you will also consider becoming a more active participant in LCDS by serving as an officer.

Let us all seek connection and work together to grow the future of our valued profession!