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Dr. Jaime Reichlemayr: Your WDDS President | I am honored to serve as president of the Washtenaw District Dental Society for the 2026–27 administrative year. We have a fantastic executive board, and I am thrilled by the level of engagement, enthusiasm, and involvement we have seen from our members. I am excited for the year ahead and for the many opportunities we will have to learn together, strengthen our professional community, and continue supporting one another as dental professionals throughout Washtenaw County. | | | | |
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A little about me: I graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2015 and completed a General Practice Residency in Palo Alto, Calif. I feel fortunate to have what I consider the best job, practicing as an associate at two wonderful offices: Oak Valley Dental Associates in Ann Arbor and Woodland Family Dentistry in Saline. Over the years, I have also had the privilege of serving on the WDDS Membership Committee, as a director on the WDDS Board, and as part of the Michigan Dental Association Nominating Committee.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to our outgoing president, Dr. Riley Schaff, whose knowledge, leadership, and dedication have been immeasurable to our chapter. I am also excited to work alongside Dr. Alena Fear, our president-elect, who has done an outstanding job as program chair in developing a strong continuing education lineup for the year ahead. We look forward to kicking off the program year with our all-day meeting on Sept. 25, and I am excited for all that is ahead for WDDS.
Dr. Jaime Reichlemayr
President
Washtenaw District Dental Society
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Save the Dates for these 2026-27 Meetings | |
Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming WDDS general meeting days. Meetings will be held at Weber's Inn Ann Arbor, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. They are:
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Wednesday, Oct. 14: Dr. McKenzie Maynor and Dr. Jesse Kane presenting "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: Pearls for Implant Placement, Temporization, and Final Restoration." Program is still in development.
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Monday, Nov. 9: Dr. Sarah Tomaka will present “Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office: Preparation and Management.”
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Monday, Jan. 11: Susan Brimacombe returns to share her presentation titled “Ergonomics in Dentistry Part 2.”
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Monday, March 8: “Mental Health and Burnout Prevention for Dental Professionals” with Dr. Juliette Daniels.
Make plans to attend these WDDS general meetings. It’s a great opportunity to network with your colleagues and earn continuing education credit.
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New Dentist Meeting Dates Announced | |
Have you been practicing dentistry for 10 years or less? If so, we'd like to invite you to mark your calendars for the following dates. These events include dinner, drinks, and one CE credit. It is a great opportunity to build your community while earning CE credits.
- Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (CE)
- Monday, Oct. 26, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (CE)
- Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026 | 6 - 8 p.m. — "Maximizing Tax Efficiency with the Right Retirement Plan," with Ted C. Schumann II, MBA, CFP (CE)
- Thursday, Feb. 4, 2027 | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (SOCIAL)
Locations will be announced in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!
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M-SenIOR Program Provides Implant Overdentures to Low-Income Seniors | |
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s M-SenIOR (Senior Implant Overdenture Restorative) Program provides free implant placement for overdentures to low-income, edentulous seniors across Michigan.
More than a surgical care program, the M-SenIOR Program is dedicated to restoring oral health, educating patients and providers, and advocating for the overall well-being of older adults statewide. In addition to providing treatment, the program offers educational sessions for senior communities throughout Michigan and continuing education courses for dentists statewide. These efforts help patients and providers better understand oral health needs and improve access to care.
M-SenIOR’s broader goal is to raise awareness of the importance of oral health and show how implant overdentures are a medical necessity, particularly for elderly patients with atrophic ridges. By highlighting this need, the program hopes to support future policy changes that expand access to essential oral health care.
More information about the program is available on the M-SenIOR website. Or reach out to Rebeca Robin, program coordinator, or call 734-647-4199.
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WDDS Pilots Sponsor-a-Dentist Program | |
The Washtenaw District Dental Society is launching a new Sponsor-a-Dentist pilot program this month to encourage non-member dentists to attend WDDS meetings and strengthen organized dentistry in Washtenaw County through connection, mentorship, and community engagement.
Members and dental offices are invited to contribute to the Sponsor-a-Dentist Fund at any level. Donations are encouraged in $50 increments, which covers the approximate cost for one dentist to attend a meeting. Sponsors will receive verbal recognition and have their name or logo featured at WDDS meetings. This program is designed to help grow local membership and involvement while giving members a meaningful way to invest directly in the future of the profession.
Donations can be made online at WDDS Payment Portal or by check (payable to WDDS) and mailed to P.O. Box 2584, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
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Don’t Miss ‘What Dental School Didn't Teach Me’ Event on Aug. 4 | |
Join your colleagues for “What Dental School Didn’t Teach Me,” a networking and mentorship event Aug. 4 for dental students, residents, new graduates, early-career dentists, and seasoned professionals.
Enjoy an evening at Venue of 4M that includes free heavy appetizers, drinks, and candid conversation with local dentists and colleagues in a fun, welcoming setting. A panel of dentists from a variety of career paths and specialties will also share practical insights on mentorship, career growth, leadership, work-life balance, and navigating the profession beyond dental school.
Members and nonmembers alike are encouraged to attend. To register, click the button below.
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WDDS All-Day Continuing Education Event | |
Join your colleagues for a full-day continuing education event on Friday, Sept. 25, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washtenaw Community College. Earn six CE credits, including three in pain management and three in implicit bias training required by the state of Michigan for relicensure. The program features Dr. Sanjay Chand presenting evidence-based dental pain management and safe opioid prescribing, and Elizabeth Gadioli leading an interactive session on implicit bias in dental care. Registration, breakfast, and lunch are included. Advance registration is required. Click the button below for registration and more information. Email Amanda Bohle, WDDS executive director, with any questions.
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MDA Annual Session Wrap-up | |
MDA’s Annual Session took place April 30–May 2 in Grand Rapids and featured several positive changes designed to make the experience more convenient and engaging for attendees. Updates included easier daily and full-event registration, included meals and evening activities, and a user-friendly app to help manage course and event schedules. Many attendees commented that this was the best Annual Session they had attended in years.
Washtenaw was well represented at this year’s House of Delegates, sending eight delegates and two alternate delegates to participate in the proceedings held in conjunction with Annual Session. The House enacted resolutions encouraging the MDA Board of Trustees to focus on access to care in rural areas and on increasing dental student exposure to career paths in underserved and rural communities. Dr. Melanie Mayberry of Detroit District assumed the MDA presidency, while Dr. Chris Smiley of West Michigan was elected president-elect. Several WDDS members were also elected to leadership roles, including Dr. Romesh Nalliah as MDA Journal editor-in-chief, Dr. Riley Schaff as MDA trustee, Dr. Steve Gray as ADA delegate, and Dr. Daniel Edwards as ADA alternate delegate.
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Advocacy delays: Michigan Dental Association’s legislative efforts continue to be delayed by the Michigan Legislature, which currently is under split control between the Republican House and the Democrat Senate. While passage of a bill to eliminate the added burden of virtual credit card fees has achieved wide bipartisan support, the current nature of the legislative gridlock has prevented it from passing. Despite the gridlock, Bill Sullivan, MDA vice president of advocacy and professional affairs, and his team are hard at work lobbying to gain traction and advancing a number of legislative priorities in the dental insurance reform and access to care arenas.
Governance review: The MDA is also planning a large review of its governance structure as part of a 12-year governance study. This study garnered comments at the House of Delegates and is aimed at improving the efficiency of the way decisions are made and action is taken for the organization. This study will illuminate ways for the MDA to become more effective and maintain the ability for its members to voice concerns and be appropriately represented. If you have any comments about the current governance or things you wish to see changed, please contact Dr. Riley Schaff (WDDS member and MDA trustee).
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Free AI Resource for Health Care Providers | |
OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Clinicians, a specialized version of ChatGPT designed to support physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and pharmacists with everyday clinical work.
The service is currently free for verified U.S. clinicians and focuses on reducing administrative burden while improving access to medical evidence. It provides real-time, cited answers grounded in peer-reviewed sources, along with tools for drafting documentation such as referral letters, prior authorizations, and patient instructions. The platform also includes customizable “skills” for repeatable workflows and the ability to conduct deep research across medical literature, making it easier for clinicians to synthesize guidelines and stay current. Click the button below for more information.
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Thank you for taking the time to read our Summer 2026 WDDS Newsletter. As we begin a new program year, we are grateful for the continued engagement, leadership, and support of our members. From upcoming continuing education opportunities to mentorship events, community programs, and organized dentistry advocacy, there are many meaningful ways to stay connected and involved.
We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming WDDS events and continuing to build a strong, supportive dental community throughout Washtenaw County. Wishing everyone a wonderful summer and a successful year ahead!
Joshua Deuel, DDS
WDDS Editor
deuelomfs@gmail.com
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