It is an honor and a privilege for me to serve as the NJAGD's President. I, and the team at NJAGD, have a lot of exciting things planned for this year but we need your help to make them successful.

This past May, NJAGD had a hands-on Endodontic course. It was wonderful to see the participants feel so invigorated and excited to learn new technology, learning procedures that they were able to use in their office immediately.

One of my personal favorites is AIM (Accelerate into Mastership), a fast track program to get your mastership from the AGD. It is a participation course held twice a year. It is my opinion that the best part of the course is when the participants present to each other their assignments after 6 months. It is an opportunity to learn from others' failures and successes and get your "15-minute lecturing fame." Of course, the camaraderie is unbelievable.

My main goal this year is to see an increase in these kinds of courses. Also, I would like to see the study clubs crop up. These clubs would be among local dentists with a format to discuss various issues like clinical dentistry, practice management, administrative problems, new advances, and share info they learnt at a course, etc. This will lead to better communication, camaraderie and will do volumes to help keep our focus. I would like to see one in every zip code.

I would also like better communication between the members and the board. The board is yours, if there any issues you feel pressed to discuss, please call 866-GO-NJAGD. Come and check out a board meeting and give your input; be a part of it so that you can give something back to your organization.

Maintaining membership is one of the hardest things for us to accomplish. For the first time, we are actually developing a business plan to increase membership. I urge each and every one of you to refer a colleague or friend that has great things to offer, to come and join our organization.

I will keep you all informed through e-mail blasts regarding any on-going issues and the goings-on about the above.

I believe that we need to hold strong to values and principles that brought us into this field. To help keep our focus, I ask that we all take the time and remember what our original motivation was in entering the dental profession. Whether it was a deep desire to help improve the oral health of America or a passionate leap towards helping nations around the world; today is the day to expand on that dream.

Personally, I came to the states about 18 years ago with 20 dollars and some personal belongings. Today, I have a wonderful family, home, thriving practice and more. Although, I believe I am a success, I know I still have a way to go.

If you wish to personally contact me, my e mail is gentledental@verizon.net. I will try my best. Again, thank you for letting me serve as your president.

Dr. Navin Boggavarapu, DDS, MAGD
President, NJAGD