ADA News

Award winners: Accepting the Cumbre Awards  are (from left) Mark Moores, New Mexico Dental Association executive director; Laura Drangmeister, director of the consultant DW Turner; and Dr. Robert Manzanares, NMDA president-elect.

Albuquerque, N.M.—The New Mexico Dental Association and its state public affairs consultant won gold and silver "Cumbre Awards" from the Public Relations Society of America’s state chapter for internal communications and media relations. "Cumbre" is Spanish for peak or summit. 

"It's an honor to receive recognition from within the public relations industry," said Dr. Robert Manzanares, NMDA president-elect. "We are excited to utilize our past success with these programs as we move forward."

The NMDA activities recognized for excellence are part of an ADA-assisted public affairs effort.

The gold award for internal communications: The NMDA and consultant agency DW Turner created and implemented statewide grassroots training to educate members on the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico campaign www.nmdental.org and other issues including Medicaid cuts, tax increases, workforce expansion, the environment, a feasibility study to determine need for a dental school and the first New Mexico Mission of Mercy event scheduled for Oct. 15-16, 2010. Members also learned how to contact their state representatives and make their voices heard on professional issues.

A look at the ADA State Public Affairs Program The ADA State Public Affairs Program works with state dental societies to develop and implement strategies for "effective advocacy" and "position" in the public policy arena. Established in 2006 and operational in 2007, the SPA invites state dental societies to apply to the program annually for public affairs support. Volunteer leaders, member dentists, are involved in almost all phases of the SPA, and the ADA Board of Trustees and House of Delegates receive reports on the program. See also American Dental Association Strategic Plan: 2007-2010 PDF at www.ADA.org.

The silver award for media relations: The NMDA and DW Turner received significant media coverage for Give Kids A Smile and National Children's Dental Health Month activities. DW Turner interviewed participating member dentists and developed news releases for six communities to inform news coverage in all six markets. The NMDA received positive feedback from member dentists who participated.

The New Mexico Dental Association expects to extend grassroots training to even more dentists in 2010 and will focus media relations on public education about the Brighter Smiles for New Mexico campaign.