JACD 71-4 - American College of Dentists

National Leadership Symposium
26
Anthony Volpe, DDS
Abstract
Dean Arthur A. Dugoni is celebrated as
the “dean of deans” or American dental
schools. His service as a practitioner,
rich network of relationships, recognition
of emerging opportunities, respectful
treatment of all, and ability to make people
care and promote loyalty are identified.
Significant issues remain for future
leadership to address: dental caries is on
the rebound, insurance is inadequate to
provide needed coverage, prevention must
be strengthened, education struggles
with too few teachers and high tuition,
the mobility of dentists is unrealistically
restricted, and the pool of retired dentists
who want to donate their services is
hobbled by regulations. The ADA can take
the leadership in some of these areas,
but there is much left to be done by the
next generation of individual leaders in the
mold of Dean Dugoni.
Is There Anything Left for the Next Generation
of Leaders?
This is my personal tribute to Art
Dugoni. The name means leadership.
This man has done so much
for dentistry that I wonder if there is
anything left for the next generation of
leaders to do. What I have to say is in
three parts, each different and each
based on a movie theme.
The Dean of Deans
The first movie is an obvious pick: “San
Francisco.” This is the old Clark Gable
classic set in the Gold Rush. The first
part of the Art Dugoni story is to reconstruct
the history. Art has practiced
general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and
orthodontics. I think a leader in dental
education, a leader in dentistry, even a
leader in industry needs to understand
the relationship between the patient and
the dentist.
It may come as a surprise to some in
the audience that Art was not born as
the “Dean of Deans.” He earned that title.
Some of the things he has done to
achieve that distinction include: building
sustained relationships with a huge
network of individuals, taking chances
and moving into important areas before
others recognized or felt comfortable
doing so, and treating everyone the same
way—with the greatest respect possible.
Let me mention just a few of circumstances
in which I have seen Art bring
together individuals or large groups and
make each feel important. When Art
was president of the ADA, every dentist
felt Art was speaking for him or her
individually. On a Federation Dentaire
International program in China, Art held
2,000 people on the edges of their seats
as he talked about the emerging science
in dentistry. Last spring, I was with Art,
the presidents of the ADA and the
University of the Pacific, and then-student
and now Dr. Jamie Sahouria—the first
recipient of the Tony Volpe Award in
Community Service. Everyone talks
about service now, but Art has been
doing it and inspiring others to follow
him for decades. Whether you talk to
him by telephone or in person, as I am
doing here, you have the feeling that you
are the only person he is speaking to.
What a skill!
Second movie theme: “Chicago.” I
guess a leader is never too old to accept
major challenges. That is a hallmark
you are going to see all over again: Art
Dugoni makes people care. Dr. Dugoni
soon becomes president of the ADA
Foundation and succeeds me. And I’m
going to tell you something, if you’re
ever going to be succeeded by anyone,
let it be Dr. Dugoni. (The other order is
not so flattering.)
About two years ago, I sent Art a gift.
I thought I was going to trip him up. I
the gift with a letter written in Italian.
I figured he would be scrambling for six
weeks or even six months looking at
dictionaries trying to figure it out. An
Dr. Volpe is vice president for
clinical dental research at the
Colgate-Palmolive Company.
tony_volpe@colpal.com.
2005 Volume 71, Number 4