AZ Dental Association Celebrating "A Century of Caring" National Convention to Commemorate Centennial


Scottsdale AZ, November 14, 2008: The Arizona Dental Association (AzDA) is pleased to announce that it will celebrate its Centennial during the Western Regional Dental Convention March 12-14, 2009 at Phoenix Convention Center. The theme is "A Century of Caring."

The convention will kick off with a keynote presentation by Karen Cortell Reisman, a cousin to Albert Einstein. Her uplifting and entertaining "one-woman show" is based on letters Einstein wrote to the family and is fused with messages of "hope, resilience, and lingerie." This general session, open to all convention participants, takes place Thursday, March 12, commencing at 1:00pm.

At the Friday, March 13, general session (also commencing at 1:00pm) Ronan Tynan will take the stage. Formerly one of The Irish Tenors, Dr. Tynan is a physician specializing in orthopedic sports injuries. He is the first disabled person ever admitted to the National College of Physical Education and a fierce Paralympics competitor who earned 18 gold medals and set 14 world records, nine of which still hold today. He has sung for two U.S. Presidents and been dubbed the "Voice of the Yankees" for performances of "God Bless America" that bring the house down – including at the September 21, 2008 final game at Yankee Stadium. His message, inspired by his mother, is "always follow your dreams."

Educational programming throughout the entire convention will feature open lectures and hands-on workshops appropriate for all members of the dental team presented by nearly 40 of the country’s most noted educators including Vince Kokich, Jr., DDS (orthodontics), Charles Blair, DDS (financial planning), Mary Govoni, RDH (ergonomics/dental assisting), Joe Garagiola (tobacco cessation), Uche Odiatu, DMD and Kary Odiatu (nutrition, health, fitness), Michael Fling, DDS (occlusion), Frank Milnar, DDS (restorative), Bruce Manchion (communications), Van Haywood, DDS (whitening/esthetics), Jack Griffen, DDS (digital photography/veneers), and many more.

The Western Regional Dental Convention experience also comprises a trade show with 365 exhibit booths and social events such as the Centennial Ball to Benefit the Arizona Dental Foundation whose mission is "To keep Arizona smiling by connecting and mobilizing people and resources to provide education and statewide charitable dentistry to children, elderly, and special needs populations." Convention-goers may also avail themselves of NBA Basketball (Phoenix vs. Cleveland), Cactus League Spring Training Baseball, downtown Phoenix theatre events including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," and local attractions such as desert tours and hot air balloon rides.