A Look Back At 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, the New Jersey Dental Association is proud to reflect on a year filled with progress, collaboration, and impact. Together, we advanced our mission of promoting oral health, supporting the professional growth of our members, and advocating for the dental profession. From hosting successful educational events and enhancing member resources to championing key legislative initiatives that protect our profession and patients, this year showcased the dedication and strength of the dental community in New Jersey. None of these achievements would have been possible without the unwavering commitment of our members, whose passion for excellence continues to drive our collective success.

Thank you for being an integral part of the NJDA community and for helping us make 2024 a truly remarkable year!

JANUARY

• NJDA's "Disallow" bill and "Virtual Credit Card" legislation were both signed into law.
• Association Member Trust, our partner in providing health plans to members, announced that they were issuing a 1% dividend to groups in good standing.
• With the debut of the DEA MATE Act Series, NJDA members had an easy and affordable way to fulfill the new opioid training requirements set forth in the MATE Act.

FEBRUARY

• Give Kids A Smile, our signature community outreach program, took place with nearly 100 New Jersey practices participating.
• NJDA partnered with Bank of America and Epstein Practice Brokerage to present a sold-out seminar on selling a dental practice and retirement planning.
• The My Career My Community program at Rutgers got underway with the first of nine events to help students prepare for life after dental school.
• NJDA's bill to join in multi-state Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensure Compact passed the Assembly Health Committee.

MARCH

• Rutgers School of Dental Medicine and NJDA worked together to host a mentoring event that paired students with RSDM alumni.
• The 2024 edition of the Licensure Requirements Series kicked off, giving members the easiest and most affordable way to earn their state-mandated CE.
• Lunch Sessions, an online series exclusively for the staff of NJDA member dentists, started its 2024 schedule.
• NJDA testified before the Assembly Health Committee in support of legislation that would make changes to the medical loss ratio formula.

APRIL

• NJDA urged the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance to take action to assist both healthcare providers and patients in navigating the cyber-attack on Change Healthcare.
• The “Disallow Law” that NJDA championed went into effect.
• With a New Jersey Delegation of more than 30 and a national turnout of over 1,200, ADA Dentist and Student Lobby Day in Washington, DC was a huge success.
• NJDA's Business of Dentistry Ownership Series began its 2024 slate.

MAY

• NJDA held its Annual Session in Manahawkin and member dentists and staff enjoyed a boutique educational conference focused on AI and wellness.
• NJDA testified in support of eliminating New Jersey Sales and Use Tax on personal consumer oral health care products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more.
• RBC Wealth Management joins NJDA as the newest PERK Provider.
  

JUNE

• Dr. Elisa Velazquez was installed as 155th NJDA President.
• NJDA announced the first class of Member Recognition Award Recipients.
• The NJDA House of Delegates voted to have NJDA participate as a 'pilot state' for a new membership model in 2025.
• The annual NJDA Celebration recognizing President Dr. Renee Arace was held in Garfield.
• The 2024-25 state budget was signed into law with two NJDA priorities fully funded: Dental Lifeline Network and the Special Needs Dental Unit at Rutgers.

JULY

• NJDA received five national Membership Awards at the ADA’s Power of Now Management Conference in Chicago.
• NJDA’s “virtual credit card law” which requires insurance carriers to give providers a choice over claim repayment methodology went into effect.

AUGUST

• The second annual Cocktails & Conversations event took place at NJDA Headquarters.  This time, NJDA partnered with the Rutgers Alumni Association on the successful event.
• NJDA’s Board of Trustees adopts a new strategic plan, mission statement, and vision statement.
• NJDA collected feedback and submitted comments to the State Board of Dentistry regarding the sunsetting of the Dental Practice Act of New Jersey.

SEPTEMBER

• NJDA Officers and CEO began the annual Leadership Tour that sees them visit all 12 local dental societies.
• A series of New Dentist “Meet Ups” got underway with early career dentists getting together prior to local dental society meetings.
• An upgrade of the technology behind ada.org and njda.org went live – members must change their login credentials.

OCTOBER

• The New Jersey Dental Foundation (NJDF) was established as a non-profit affiliated with NJDA.
• NJDA’s legal counsel, Mandelbaum Barrett, rolled out an exclusive discounted flat fee rate to members for the review of Associate Contracts.
• NJDA brought back its popular handpiece repair workshops with a sold-out program at Henry Schein.
• The documentary film "Toothache: The Painful Truth About Oral Health Inequity" was screened at NJDA Headquarters.
• NJDPAC held its annual Day of Golf fundraiser at Trenton Country Club.

NOVEMBER

• NJDPAC hosted a Wine Tasting Dinner in Garfield, giving new dentists a chance to mingle and make an impact.
• NJDA held its 100th House of Delegates Meeting and passed the 2025 Association budget and two important resolutions.
• NJDA's Board of Trustees created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, the Well-Being Committee, and the Governance Restructuring Task Force.

DECEMBER

• 2025 Membership renewals began with lower costs and optional enhancements available for members.
• The New Jersey Dental Foundation unveiled its logo and began fundraising on Giving Tuesday.