Spring 2026

Thanks, Dr. Schaff!

As the Washtenaw District Dental Society begins a new chapter, we first want to recognize the leadership and dedication of our immediate past president, Dr. Riley Schaff. We are grateful for the service and commitment Dr. Schaff has given to the Washtenaw District Dental Society during his presidency. As immediate past president, he leaves us with a thoughtful farewell message reflecting on his tenure and the future of our society.

Dear colleagues,

Wow — how this year has flown by! It’s hard to believe that my term as president of the Washtenaw District Dental Society has now come to a close, but as I reflect on the past year, I am proud of the accomplishments that we have made to continue to improve our local society and its contribution to our profession.  

When I began my term, I set out to enhance three things that were the focus of many of our Board’s efforts:  

• Involvement of WDDS members at the local and state level.
• Improved communication between all three levels of the tripartite.
• Enhancement of our social media platforms.

I can earnestly say that we have made excellent progress in all three of these areas, creating a pipeline for new leaders and keeping our membership better informed. We have an excellent slate of new and returning WDDS Board members who will continue the progress we’ve made so far into the 2026-27 year.

It has been a true honor to serve my community in this role, and I am incredibly excited to hand the gavel to a wonderful colleague and friend, Dr. Jaime Reichlmayr. Her leadership, keen eye, and warmth will resonate with our membership and continue the sterling reputation the WDDS has around the state and beyond.

This spring, I will be running for MDA trustee at the House of Delegates. Should I be elected, I look forward to continuing to represent your interests at the state level. I dearly thank the Executive Board I have served with this past year, the countless mentors I’ve had along the way who have shaped me to be the dentist I am today, and our executive director, Amanda Bohle, for her tireless efforts and exquisite attention to detail for the WDDS. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful, healthy, happy Spring.

Sincerely, 

Riley Schaff, DDS

New Membership Program: Sponsor-a-Dentist

Through conversations and ideas from many of our members, the WDDS is piloting a new Sponsor-a-Dentist program aimed at attracting non-members to attend meetings. Beginning in June 2026, we are asking willing members to make a donation to our Sponsor-a-Dentist fund at their discretion. These funds will be used to invite nonmember dentists to attend our WDDS general meetings. Any member or office entity that sponsors will receive verbal recognition and their respective name or logo on a slide at our general meetings. Donations can be made at any level in $50 increments, given our approximate cost at $50 per person to attend.  

We hope to allow these funds to be used for any non-members in Washtenaw County to be invited at our members’ behest. The Executive Board and Membership Committee will assist our members as necessary with outreach to help attract members with the hopes that we will not only continue to strengthen our membership rate in Washtenaw County, but also to allow our members to directly contribute to our society in a meaningful way. We thank our members for their generosity and their consideration of this novel program.

CE Event to Cover Mandatory Requirements

The WDDS will be hosting an all-day continuing education event on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to complete several of the CE requirements we all need to maintain licensure. The event will be held in Ann Arbor and will aim to fulfill state-mandated CE requirements including ethics and jurisprudence, opioid awareness, infection control, and implicit bias. Save the date and stay tuned for more details regarding the location and CE schedule!

WDDS Represented at ADA Lobby Day

ADA Lobby Day took place March 22-24 in Washington, D.C., with a number of Michigan dental students, along with WDDS members Dr. Dan Edwards and Dr. Sarah Tomaka, traveling to the nation’s capital to visit with our Michigan congresspeople and their staffs. Topics of discussion included student debt reform, insurance reform, and licensure reform. 

Numerous advocacy efforts on these and other issues are underway at both the local and state level — if you have an interest in getting involved, please email Amanda Bohle.

MDA Annual Session Coming Up: Be There!

The MDA’s 2026 Annual Session will be held April 30 through May 2 in Grand Rapids. This year registration looks different, as there will only be full-conference and one-day passes, with no options for single course registration. A pass is also needed to enter the Exhibit Hall. Those who buy passes will have some meals included, and do not need to register for individual courses; schedules can be built on-site. The new system provides savings and more value compared to a full schedule of individual course registrations.

As always, we’ll have a full slate of delegates and alternates representing Washtenaw at the House of Delegates, and we hope to see many more WDDS dentists at Annual Session! Click the button below for more information and to register.

LARA Warns Licensees about Fraudulent Enforcement Emails

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has issued a scam alert regarding fraudulent emails impersonating LARA officials, including messages referencing an “Action Required – LARA Enforcement Notice #83700.” LARA states that it will not ask for credit card numbers or confidential information by phone, text, email, or letter. 

This is a timely reminder for dentists and staff to verify suspicious communications through official Michigan.gov channels before responding.

Earned Sick Time Act Remains an Important Compliance Issue for Employers

Michigan’s Earned Sick Time Act, which took effect on Feb. 21, 2025, continues to affect employer policies in 2026. The law expanded sick leave requirements, and the state notes that covered employers must display the required poster in a conspicuous location accessible to eligible employees. Dental offices may want to revisit their employee handbook, paid time off policies, and workplace postings to ensure continued compliance. 

For more information or a helpful update, click the button below.

WDDS Social Spotlight: Wolverine Pickleball!

The WDDS gathered at Wolverine Pickleball Jan. 30 for an evening of fun, fellowship, and friendly competition. Fifty people attended this informal event. 

We Honor Two New Retirees

The WDDS is proud to honor two members as they retire — Dr. Kevin Sloan and Dr. James McNamara. Congratulations! We thank them for the many ways they have served our community over the years. Their professionalism, care, and dedication have touched countless lives and strengthened the dental profession in Washtenaw County.

A Parting Thought

As we look ahead to the months to come, we thank all our WDDS members for their continued support, engagement, and dedication to the profession. We hope this newsletter helps you stay connected with the society and informed about the events and updates that matter most to our dental community. We look forward to seeing you at upcoming WDDS programs and gatherings.

Editor: Joshua Deuel, DDS

deuelomfs@gmail.com 

Washtenaw District Dental Society

Amanda Bohle, Executive Director 

PO Box 2584

Ann Arbor, MI 48106

734-249-8189

wdds.director@gmail.com

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