I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. It has truly been an honor and a privilege to serve a dedicated society of professionals. Your trust, support, and commitment have made this an incredibly rewarding experience. I am proud of everything we have achieved, including the foundation we have built for the society’s continued success. By being members of this exemplary component, each one of you has played a vital part in our success, and for that, I am deeply thankful.

While my term comes to an end, I am excited for our next president, Dr. Riley Schaff. He brings a wealth of experience in leadership and community service.

I would like to recognize Amanda Bohle for a remarkable first year as the WDDS executive director. I am very appreciative to the entire executive board for its unwavering support over the past year.

Though my role transitions to immediate past president, I remain committed to supporting our society and its mission. Thank you once again for the honor of serving as your president. 

With warm regards,
Brandon Shoukri

Pictured above is our great Washtenaw District Executive Board for 2025-26. From left: Dr. Maeve Daly, secretary; Dr. Brandon Shoukri, immediate past president; Dr. Rita Maizy, director; Dr. Alena Fear, director; Dr. Riley Schaff, president; Dr. Shannon Norman-Kotre, treasurer; Dr. Joshua Deuel, editor; Dr. Jamie Reichlmayr, president-elect.

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 joint Washtenaw District Dental Society and Livingston District Dental Society all-day CE event will take place on Friday, Sept. 12 at Washtenaw Community College. This year, we’ll host two wonderful speakers, each for approximately three hours, to provide a co-hosted presentation on airway considerations for the general dentist as well as management of TMD and bruxism. 

The MDA has consistently been generous with time and personnel to help make this event happen each year, and this year is no  exception. However, due to increased expenses associated with putting on in-person continuing education events, members of the WDDS and LDDS will be charged a nominal $30 fee for this event to help offset these increased costs.  

We will see you there! Look for flyers and a signup link coming in May. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our executive director, Amanda Bohle, or president, Riley Schaff with any questions or concerns.

Come join your colleagues at a great mentorship and networking event on Tuesday, June 3 at Mothfire Brewing in Ann Arbor. It starts at 6 p.m. This is a relaxed get-together for newer dentists, students, established dentists, and specialists. Everybody come and enjoy some food and drinks while you network with local colleagues. For more information, contact Amanda Bohle.

Interfaith Dental has reached out to WDDS to see if any Washtenaw-area dentists are interested in volunteering their time in various ways. This program provides dental care to patients with refugee status from any country, offering essential services not covered by insurance or Medicaid. 

Interfaith Dental supports both general dentists and specialists in donating their expertise and allows dental teams to provide care within their own offices. Opportunities include volunteering as a dentist to offer free dental services to refugees or serving on Interfaith Dental’s steering committee.

If you’re interested in learning more, please email Craig Hanson.

Dr. Michele Tulak-Gorecki, past MDA president and current ADA trustee, is running for ADA president-elect! Let’s unite to support her campaign and showcase Michigan’s fantastic dental leadership at the ADA level. 

Why it matters: Your support funds travel, communications, and outreach to amplify her message nationwide.

How to help: Scan the QR code to contribute via Venmo/Zelle ($500, $1,000, $2,500, or any amount) or mail a check to Dr. Mike Maihofer.

Get involved: Contact Dr. Vince Benivegna at 517-930-0154 or Dr. Pat Tepe 608-445-9857 for details.

Learn about AI: Mark your calendars for a program titled “Utilizing AI to Drive Patient Satisfaction with Your Communication System.” It’s a new WDDS event on a new date and location – Wednesday, April 16 from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Monty’s Public House, 3140 Packard St., Ann Arbor. Learn about AI from MDA-endorsed Complete Dental IT. AI is in the news these days, so you won’t want to miss this informative presentation. Questions? Email Amanda Bohle or call 586-202-9445. Sign up here. 

Looking for involvement: Want to provide feedback/ideas for WDDS? Looking to get involved with WDDS? There are several options – you could serve on a committee (there are several open spots), offer to lecture, join the executive board, or learn more about organized dentistry. To explore your options, just fill out this form and Amanda Bohle, WDDS executive director, will follow up. 

WDDS member highlights: Join us in celebrating the recent retirements of the following WDDS members — congratulations on your incredible careers!

• Dr. Josef Kolling
• Dr. Thomas Johnson
• Dr. Mary Jo Sandberg
• Dr. Daniel Kennedy

A special congratulations goes to Dr. John Hamerink on the birth of his third child, a baby boy, Hughie, born on Christmas Day!

We also want to take a moment to extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Piiamari Bowers. We were deeply saddened to hear of her sudden passing and are holding her loved ones in our thoughts.

Have a member update to share? Whether it’s a retirement, a new baby, a new practice, or the loss of a colleague, please share! Send updates to Amanda Bohle, WDDS executive director, or Josh Deuel, WDDS editor. Let’s stay connected and celebrate our members together!

Amanda Bohle, Executive Director 
PO Box 2584
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
734-761-2445
wdds.director@gmail.com

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