On February 22, Northwest Dentistry sat down with Dr. James K. Zenk, 2005-06 president of the Minnesota Dental Association, to talk about organized dentistry’s work-to-date at the mid-year point in his term. Dr. Zenk is a general dentist in private practice in Montevideo, Minnesota.

NWD: Thank you for joining us, Dr. Zenk. We’d like to start with some background: where you grew up, your education, family, and where in the process you decided to become a dentist.

Dr. Zenk: I grew up in Montevideo, Minnesota, where I now practice. Two-and-a-half hours from the Twin Cities in good weather — otherwise, four. My dad was a pharmacist, which is probably where I got my interest in health care. Picture a town of 6,000 with everything “downtown” — all the health care especially — so I got to know the physicians, dentists, everyone. My dad said don’t become a pharmacist [laughs] and not a physician because you will never be home, and I could see that. But I could also see the dentists, and they participated in all sorts of activities as well as having a reasonable home life.

I like living in a small town. The hunting, fishing, I raise quarterhorses — all these things are perfect for me. I can work, know my patients, go to church with them, I can run home for lunch. And you do feel like you are part of a health care team in a small town. You never think you want to go back to your hometown, though. I did two associateships in other small towns first. But they needed me in Montevideo, so I did a scratch-start in 1981. I married my high school sweetheart and we have three children. It’s a great place to raise a family.

My first two years of undergraduate work were at West Point. The first day of the third year you incur that five-year obligation. Viet Nam had ended, Nixon was being impeached, it was a predominantly engineering school, [smiles] and I was in love with Sonja, so I came to the U. Then came dental school. I was 151st for a class of 150; thankfully one didn’t show up for the first day of school. I got a call from Mel Holland, showed up the second day, and they put me in between Lingle and Leon. [laughs] The second year I was back with the Zs. I got to know a lot of people, and that was a big help. I have since mentored another young dentist who started on the alternate list. I’m just really lucky to be a dentist, and I do believe in paying that back.

When I settled in Montevideo, I started with one employee, Nancy Hendrickson, who is still with me. I now have a full partner, Dr. Keith Olson, and a staff of 12. We’re still growing — I need another dentist and more hygiene staff. Montevideo is becoming a center for medicine in this area.

NWD: How did you begin in organized dentistry, and how did that involvement bring you to the presidency?

Dr. Zenk: It was just a given I would join the professional association. I wanted to participate, go to meetings, especially early on as a solo practitioner (for ten years). I wanted to meet people at all sorts of dental meetings. You learn a lot during breaks and at lunch, you know. We have lifelong friends made through organized dentistry. Participation does take a commitment, so choose carefully or you will get overwhelmed, but it is so organic to what we do. In small towns you are looked to as a leader, so be prepared for that. But I do like high energy.

As president I want to work on what has been successful in all the districts to get this next generation of dentists participating the way ours has. It’s true, the luxury of old friends is something you can’t appreciate when you’re 25, but to that I’d have to add dental friends. I see dentistry as a lifestyle, not just a job.

What brought me to the presidency was, I was asked. I don’t know how my name came up. I served on but never chaired committees, did all the district things; but I always went to meetings, everywhere. It was Scott Lingle, when he was an officer and heading the nominating committee, who called and asked me to do it. We spent the night on the phone talking about the positives, negatives, and the challenges of doing it from central Minnesota. Bottom line, the MDA’s officer “ladder” surrounds people with support, and it works. So that’s how

I came to the presidency: someone believed in me, and I said yes when I was asked. And one more time, here I am working with dentists I never even would have met otherwise.

NWD: What did you bring to the presidency? What are your areas of special interest?

Dr. Zenk: The main value I felt I could bring was being a rural dentist. I almost represent two districts, coming from the southernmost part of the West Central District. I see a lot of dentists not being able to replace themselves, and it is a real crisis where I live right now. It puts a burden on the dentists who are here, and can scare new dentists who might want to come. They worry about the Medical Assistance population, and if you are not from a small town you may not have a realistic idea of what part this plays in a practice. That’s one place mentoring becomes so valuable.

I wanted to bring a sensitivity to this as a problem our association needs to address. The School of Dentistry’s dean Patrick Lloyd has made a real connection to this issue; he was the first to say he wanted to be a part of the Rural Workforce Task Force and has brought some key players from the U. While we have members from state government and nine rural dentists, we had to have that sensitivity at the U, and we have it: 54% of entering dental students are from Greater Minnesota. They are here. Now it’s up to us to mentor them and invite them to the small towns of Minnesota or welcome them back, if not immediately, then at least keeping that option in their minds.

We have really gained on the mentoring piece. Now we need help from the state Department of Education: career days required in schools, job shadowing, mentoring opportunities, health career classes. Our other role right now is developing community models. There are successful models that see Medicaid patients, attract dentists to their areas, set up recruiting committees, market their communities. The University will put an externship program in our Willmar hospital just like Hibbing has. Dr. Lloyd’s vision is third- and fourth-year students having a two-month externship opportunity. Dentists from our area may volunteer to be perceptors for half or full days each month, to teach, host, and show the prospective dentists West Central Minnesota. Personal contact is what is going to keep us in their minds and show them that they will be welcomed. The big piece of this puzzle, of course, is funding.

NWD: Did you bring a personal job description?

Dr. Zenk: No. I came with an open mind and no specific agenda. As I said, I do bring a viewpoint from dentistry in Greater Minnesota that is not always the same as metro dentists’ experience in areas such as third parties. As president, I want to work on building a better relationship between the MDA and Delta Dental. We’ve started by meeting with the dentists on Delta’s board, trying to establish open communication. Then there is the membership involvement issue. This association has taken on a lot of work in recent years, including the new building to accommodate the wonderful, competent, growing staff.

Even as we develop projects and ideas, it is the execution, especially the funding, that dictates our progress or success. We have an Oral Health Care Solutions project that isn’t getting properly looked at, even for funding a pilot project. It is still very frustrating working with the legislature, and we need the membership active in this area, making calls, doing Give Kids a Smile... Leadership just had media training, by the way, from our media consultant Lindsey Strand. Having the comfort level to handle this part of our duties is wonderful.

As for special interests, I’d add enhancing the relationship with dental educators and examining options for our state 2% Provider Tax. Members’ number one question is "What are you doing about the 2% Provider Tax?" We keep trying. Our current task force is gearing up for the ’07 legislative session. This year is bonding; next year is policy making.

NWD: What comes after the presidency?

Dr. Zenk: I chair the Rural Workforce Task Force, and I’ll continue that. We have such good people working there, but bottom line we need help to get the practitioners to the facilities that are ready and waiting for them in our rural areas. We now have the School of Dentistry’s program for foreign-trained dentists so recruiters can better assess job candidates who aren’t U.S.-trained. Nationally,

I would like to stay an ADA delegate for a year or two for the work being done with the handicapped, developmentally disadvantaged, the whole Medicaid piece. Even as one of the top states in this area Minnesota has problems, so need is very great across our country.

NWD: We are at mid-year in the Association’s activities. Let’s talk about issues and initiatives.

Dr. Zenk: Right now the MDA’s whole eight-member Executive Committee is working so well together I see my role as leading it, trying to keep meetings moving, timely, and the process managed effectively. Current issues are strategies for the Provider Tax; oral health care solutions for Medicaid, with pilot programs; where we are going with evidence-based dentistry; [laughs] and staying out of the way of the Scientific Session Committee and letting them do a good job with Star of the North Meeting. Last year Pat Foy initiated getting people from all parts of the dental community together to talk in an informal atmosphere. This year we have had an educational symposium hosted by our Education Committee in St. Cloud with the professional associations and their educators to discuss workforce and the future of education in Minnesota. Legislatively we will be working with the U in support of their projects. And how about building the Minnesota Dental Foundation! What we were able to send following Hurricane Katrina demonstrated what a foundation can do.

We’re working with the students on licensure and testing issues, and with our new internationally-trained dentists as an expansion of our membership committee. How are they being accepted? What can we do to help in this transition? Add amalgam and the environment, the Wellness Program, nurturing volunteerism, incorporating technology, MINDENPAC, and public relations.

NWD: You came up “through the ranks” and now have the president’s podium. What would you like our members to know about the experience?

Dr. Zenk: I would like to thank Dick Diercks, the MDA staff, the MDA Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees, and all of our members who give of their time to serve our MDA committees. Our membership needs to know they have a very dedicated and talented team working for our association.

I give thanks for the opportunity to serve as your president. It has been a rewarding and fun experience working with our members to grow and enhance our profession. I encourage you if you are asked to serve our association to say yes.