The Fulcrum Podcast

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Ryan updates members on VDA workforce initiatives, Dental Days at the Capitol coming up in January, the VDA Member 401(k) pooled employer plan, and encourages members to designate R.K. Tongue as broker of record for health insurance. He notes the success of the 2026 Virginia Dental Showcase and announces a 2027 joint meeting with the West Virginia Dental Association July 16–18 at The Greenbrier.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Update on Dental Assistant Scaling Certificate Program

Dental Days at the Capitol

VDA Member Perks

Bridging Smiles - Joint VDA and West Virginia Dental Association Conference 

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The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association, shares updates on VDA initiatives supporting professional development, practice success, and advocacy.

• Virginia Dental Showcase: Sept. 18–19 at The Omni Homestead Resort, featuring networking, an exhibit hall, and 18 hours of CE covering finance, practice ownership, AI, caries/biofilm, wellness, and more.
• Practice Success: Learn about CART (Confidential Assessment and Review of Treatment), a member benefit for confidential incident review and patient safety/quality assurance. He also highlights the Oct. 6 VDA–VCU Career Fair for practice recruitment.
• Advocacy: New workforce laws expand duties for qualified dental assistants following required training. VDA is developing curriculum and raising awareness about hygiene workforce shortages.
• Medicaid Update: The adult Medicaid dental spending cap remains unchanged for now. Provider input sessions are planned, and practices should wait for formal guidance before making changes.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

2026 Virginia Dental Showcase

CART – Confidential Assessment and Review of Treatment

VDA/VCU Career Fair

Workforce Updates

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

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The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: In this episode, we’ve partnered with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) to bring you the VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast, featuring Dr. Cameron Roberts, DDS, Dental Director for the Augusta Regional Dental Clinic. Dr. Roberts is a VDA Member who provides oral healthcare to underserved individuals in the Shenandoah Valley and is a practitioner with Dental Health Associates. He joins us for a conversation about his personal and professional journey, family history with dentistry, the work of the clinic, the anticipated impact of federal Medicaid funding cuts, and more. 

This episode of the Patients Come First podcast was reposted with permission from the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. 

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer/Host: Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association

Guest(s): Dr. Cameron Roberts

Patients Come First Podcast - Send questions, comments, or feedback to [email protected].

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association, briefly discusses the 2026 General Assembly outcomes, noting that most workforce agenda bills were signed, while the budget (including community college hygiene program funding and Medicaid adult dental funding) remains unresolved and is being monitored. He outlines timelines for an expedited path for foreign-trained dentists to practice hygiene (Board of Dentistry action after July 1) and for dental assistants to perform supragingival scaling after completing VDA-offered training with a prerequisite of 1,800 clinical hours. He highlights the June 22 employment law updates webinar with Hancock & Daniel and the June 15 ADA Live webinar on contracts and coverage. The 2026 Virginia Dental Showcase is fast approaching, September 18–19 at the Omni Homestead, featuring CE and a financial course.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VIRGINIA IS CHANGING THE RULES: What Every Employer Needs to Know About Virginia's 2026-2028 Employment Law Updates

Live ADA seminars to tackle dentists’ biggest insurance issues

2026 Virginia Dental Showcase

 EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: Ryan Dunn, CEO of the Virginia Dental Association, reviews updates across the VDA strategic plan. He highlights General Assembly outcomes and legislation effective July 1. He notes ongoing opposition to a proposed $2,000 annual cap on adult Medicaid dental benefits and describes participation in a two-year Dental Access Partnership to increase Medicaid provider participation. Dunn also promotes the VDA PAC, upcoming labor and employment webinar, free affiliate memberships for front-office team members, and the Virginia Dental Showcase Sept. 18–19 at the Omni Homestead with early-bird registration currently underway. 

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

2026 General Assembly Session Recap

Contribute to the VDA Political Action Committee (PAC)

VDA Affiliate Membership

2026 Virginia Dental Showcase

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: Ryan Dunn and Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association interview Keith Martin, interim president and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, about 2026 Virginia General Assembly developments affecting small businesses, including dental practices. Martin reviews numerous bills that could have an impact on the way you run your practice in Virginia. They cover proposed paid family and medical leave with employer/employee premiums starting in 2028, broad eligibility definitions, and potential stacking with federal FMLA. Chamber wins include defeating right-to-work repeal, and they note budget attention to childcare and housing.

GUEST: Keith Martin serves as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. He leads the Chamber’s strategic direction, operations, and statewide partnerships. Martin previously served the Virginia Chamber from 2011 to 2024 as Executive Vice President of Public Policy and General Counsel, and as Executive Director of the Virginia Chamber Foundation. In these roles, he oversaw the Chamber’s advocacy and legislative agenda on behalf of Virginia’s business community and played a key role in developing the Chamber’s public policy recommendations, including major contributions to three editions of Blueprint Virginia, the Commonwealth’s long-term business plan for economic competitiveness. Most recently, Martin served as Director of Government Relations for Appalachian Power, where he managed legislative and regulatory affairs in Virginia and supported initiatives to advance energy reliability and economic growth across the region. A proud Hokie, Martin holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas Cooley Law School. 

HOSTS: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles with four national and statewide associations while also spending time working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his three- and six-year-old daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA’s 2026 General Assembly Recap

Blueprint Virginia

Right-to-Work

Virginia Chamber

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn and Paul Logan

Guest(s): Keith Martin

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: Richmond dentist Dr. Bob Bigelow discusses the Virginia Dental Association’s peer review/patient mediation benefit. Bigelow, involved for about three years, explains how mediation can resolve many patient complaints before they reach the Board of Dentistry, reducing stress and time for dentists and patients. Common issues include clinical problems, missed appointments, and misunderstandings about insurance or collections. 

GUEST: Dr. Robert W. Bigelow has been a tripartite member of the VDA for almost 17 years and owns a restorative dental practice in midtown Richmond. He enjoys collaborating with other VDA members to enhance patient care. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

HOST: Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his young daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA Peer Review - Additional Information: https://www.vadental.org/peer-review

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Paul Logan

Guests: Dr. Robert W. Bigelow

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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In this episode, Ryan Dunn reports that two workforce bills have passed the House and Senate and await the governor’s signature. The pending Virginia budget proposed a $2,000 annual cap on adult Medicaid dental benefits and opposes a late-session proposal to raise the medical malpractice cap from $2.7M to $6M, urging members to contact senators. Ryan highlights member-only peer review as a confidential, dentist-led dispute resolution option and promotes VDA Member Perks savings programs. With over 21 hours of CE programming, he announces the Virginia Dental Showcase at the Omni Homestead on September 18–19.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles in four national and statewide Associations while also working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA Legislative Alert – Ask Senate to Oppose SB536 Doubling Medical Malpractice Cap

VDA Member Perks

2026 Virginia Dental Showcase

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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In this episode, Dr. Shweta Thackeray, a VCU School of Dentistry educator, inventor, and children’s author, discusses pediatric dental care and strategies to reduce children’s dental anxiety and improve family experiences. She explains how observing fearful children and stressed parents in pediatric clinics led her to focus on anxiety-free care and move away from obsolete aversive methods.  

HOST: Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his young daughters.

GUEST: Dr. Shweta Ujaoney Thackeray is a compassionate dentist who believes healthy smiles begin with trust and positive early experiences. She is dedicated to helping children and families feel comfortable, heard, and confident in the dental chair, with a special focus on reducing dental anxiety through gentle, preventive care. An innovator at heart, Dr. Thackeray is the inventor of a camouflage syringe, the first of its kind, designed to make injections less intimidating for children, helping transform one of dentistry’s biggest fears into a calmer experience. She has also been recognized with multiple academic awards and scholarships throughout her training, reflecting her commitment to excellence and continued growth in her field. Her mission is simple: to combine kindness, innovation, and education to build lifelong healthy habits and confident smiles.

Instagram: @shwetathackeray

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shwetaujaoney

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

A Caterpillar at the Dentist

By: Dr. Shweta Ujaoney  

EPISODE CREDITS

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Paul Logan

Guests: Dr. Shweta Thackeray

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

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SUMMARY: In this episode, Ryan Dunn and Paul Logan provide updates on the Virginia General Assembly's busy legislative session. They discuss the Virginia Dental Association's (VDA) proactive efforts concerning oral healthcare legislation and budget requests. Key topics include the fate of House Bill 537, which sought to prohibit water fluoridation, and Senate Bill 99, which sought to lift the medical malpractice cap for young patients. The episode also covers various budget requests, including funding for the Virginia Community College System's dental hygiene programs, the VCU School of Dentistry's new facilities, and opposition to cuts to Virginia’s dental Medicaid benefit. They also cover VDA bills, which provide pathways for skilled international dental providers to apply for hygiene licensure and enable dental assistants to expand their roles. VDA members are encouraged to contact their legislators and to continue their advocacy and engagement.

HOST: Ryan Dunn is the CEO of the Virginia Dental Association. Ryan has played major roles with four national and statewide associations while also spending time working on Capitol Hill. When he’s not talking all things dental, he’s talking about his family and baseball–and sometimes both at the same time.

GUEST(S): Paul Logan of the Virginia Dental Association. Paul focuses on member advocacy, developing resources for dental students and early career dentists, and working with a broad array of stakeholders to elevate and address Virginia’s dental workforce needs. Paul currently serves on the executive committee of the Coalition for Modernizing Dental Licensure and the College Board of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. Outside of work, he’s trying to keep up with his three- and six-year-old daughters.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

VDA Action Alert on Workforce

Sign up for VDA Text Alerts

EPISODE CREDITS:

Producer: Paul Logan

Host: Ryan Dunn

Guest(s): Paul Logan

Post-Production/Editor: Shannon Jacobs

Subscribe, share, and send your feedback and topic ideas to [email protected].

The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only, and any reliance on the information provided in this Podcast is done at your own risk. This Podcast should not be considered professional, medical, or legal advice. 

Music in this episode from Epidemic Sound