WHAT'S HAPPENING
A MESSAGE FROM AADMD'S NEW PRESIDENT
BY ALLEN WONG, DDS, EDD, DABSCD
The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) is an organization that was born out of the need for collaboration among healthcare professionals to help improve the healthcare of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), subsequent to the 2000 Surgeon General's report on healthcare disparities. We were but a local group with great aspirations; our original idea started to gain momentum – and we have since been on a sure path to growth.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: "As we volunteer to help others, we are blessed with joy." Dr. Wong has taught postdoctoral general dentistry for over 20 years in advanced education residency programs and is the director of Pacific's Hospital Dentistry Program and Director of Highland Hospital Restorative Implant program. He has lectured nationally and internationally in the areas of special care dentistry, rotary endodontics, and minimally invasive dentistry. He is active with Special Olympics Special Smiles program as an International Dentist Trainer and an Editorial Advisory Board member for EP Magazine.
A s president, I am privileged to represent the AADMD and help lead it in its journey. In our infancy, we were limited to projects, size of membership, and volunteers. Along the way, we grew in our scope as well as our influence among other organizations. Our strength has been our agility to respond and our willingness to get involved. Our advocacy program has matured and expanded. The AADMD today is making major differences in the area of changing educational curriculum, an investment for future practitioners.
We have been blessed with expansion in medical and dentals schools, with student/ resident groups who have awakened the minds and hearts of healthcare students in the US and internationally. I would be remiss if I did not mention that organizations like Special Olympics International, Golisano Foundation, and the WITH Foundations among others, have contributed greatly to our successes.
The momentum of the AADMD has allowed us to expand the structure of our Board, making it more inclusive and representative of our programming and the constituents we serve. While on this journey, we will learn new things and also have to make adjustments along the way. We look forward to more self-advocacy input, community collaborations, the support of our student/resident groups, our educational programs, and international influences. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the AADMD has responded with education and its support of petitions relating to the rights of people with IDD (equal access to ventilators and the ability to have a caretaker accompany them to emergency rooms); a growing Coronavirus Resource Website; and a phenomenal Virtual Grand Round through our student/ resident group.
A little about me. I grew up in Northern California, blessed to work in our family business, a Chinese restaurant. Both my parents were immigrants from China with minimal formal educa tion, as even primary education was expensive in China. I worked in our restaurant since I was in elementary school and continued through college. My parents started with little but showed me how important it was to give back as well as appreciate our blessings. They instilled in me the value of education and taught me to strive to do my best in whatever I did. The lessons I learned working in a restaurant made me appreciate the value of service; they taught me that if you truly put your mind to a task, you can achieve your goal.
I chose dentistry as a profession for my love of science and working with my hands. But working with people with special needs is what has touched my heart—it helped channel my career towards the education of the next generation of care providers. The many mentors I have met and continue to meet assure me that I am on right path.
The secret to happiness, in my opinion, is volunteerism. The sharing of one's time, energy, and talents is a gift that gives back. As we volunteer to help others, we are blessed with joy. I am looking forward to working with an outstanding new and expanded AADMD Board and eager to start our journey in our pursuit of joy.
THE 2020 RARE ARTIST CONTEST
Who can enter into the contest?
According to RareArtist.org, anyone connected to the rare disease community can submit artwork; including caregivers, patients, physicians, siblings, and friends. There are three different categories dependent on age; anyone who is 4 and up can enter. You do not need to be a professional artist or hold any sort of credentials in order to enter into the contest.
Anyone can participate in the voting portion of the contest for the public vote via Facebook. Individuals participating in voting are requested to respect the rules. Voters are allowed one vote per art piece every 10 days. You do not have to have a submission in the contest to vote. You do not have to be affiliated with a rare disease in order to vote. The spirit of the contest is about spreading awareness. You are encouraged you to share artwork with your communities in the public vote.
RARE TALENT: Resilient by Jenn Arnold, who lives with Hidradenitis and Suppurativa, was an award winner in the Adult Digital Art & Photography category in the 2019 RareArtist program.
What are the prizes?
Contest awardees are granted cash prizes and an opportunity to showcase their art work at the Rare Artist Reception during Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill ( rareadvocates.org/rdw-2). When entering the contest, the artwork entered should represent the age of the artist. If you are submitting on behalf of someone else, please submit by the age of the artist, not of your own. Cash prizes according to age groups are as follows:
▪ Children (4-11): $100 ▪ Teen (12-18): $250 ▪ Adult (19+): $500 Additionally, your artwork will be uploaded to the Rare Artist Website Gallery. Rare Art will also showcase throughout the year at various patient and industry events.
When are the deadlines?
- ▪ The 2020 Rare Artist Contest will be accepting submissions on Facebook (for the public vote) between June 16th and October 1st @5pm EST.
- ▪ The 2020 Rare Artist Contest will continue to accept submis sions through email until October 30th @5pm EST. Voting for the public vote will also close on October 30th @5pm EST.
- ▪ Once all categories of awards have been deliberated, awardees will be privately notified by December 11th, 2020.
- ▪ Public announcement of all 2020 Rare Artist awardees will be on January 15th, 2021.
Where do I go to submit?
For those interested in being included in the public Facebook vote, please go to: facebook.com/RareArtistContest. For those who do not have a Facebook account, or DO NOT wish to participate in the public vote, please send submissions to lcundiff@everylifefoundation.org
Why should I enter?
The primary goal of the Rare Artist program is to spread awareness about rare diseases and amplify the stories behind the art work. Participating in the Rare Artist Contest is another way to get your voice heard. Sharing your artwork in front of Congress and other attendees during Rare Disease Week on Capitol Hill is advocacy. Participating in the voting process on Facebook and cheering on your fellow advocate through social media is advocacy. •